True, but the Rapier hardtop was essentially a Hillman Minx convertible with a
roof welded on (the Rapier Convert was almost identical to the Minx
convertible). Most body components will interchange between a Series Minx and
a Series Rapier. The same is true of almost all mechanical parts. The
Fastback Rapier differed more from the Arrow then the Series Rapier did from
the Minx.
Jan Eyerman
Past owner of 2 1/2 '69 Alpine GT's
Past owner of Rapier Series II
Paul Garside <Paul.Garside@ubinetics.com> wrote:
As you say, Jan, known as the Sunbeam Rapier in the UK, and was very much a
coupe version of the Hillman Hunter, rather than a development of the Rapier
Mk V.
Rootes were styling magpies, with a tendency to follow US styling trends.
The original Sunbeam Rapier is credited to Raymond Loewy's studio, so the Mk
I particularly, with the full-width grille, does look very like a Studebaker
Hawk that shrunk in the wash!
>Roy Axe of Rootes, then Chrysler UK and then Chrysler USA did the styling
of
>the Alpine GT (called the Rapier in England). Design work started at just
>about the time of Chrysler involvement so Chrysler input is possible. The
>Arrow seems to have a great deal of 1964-66 Valiant styling cues. The
oddity
>is that the Rootes cars show styling influences of PAST and current
Chrysler
>USA products, NOT future Chrysler products. If Chrysler styling had any
>notable input, the Rootes cars would have looked more like Chrysler
products
>of 1969 then 1965. "Style Auto" magazine had excellent articles on the
>styling of the "Arrow" and "Alpine GT" cars. It went into details of the
>background of the designs and showed the styling mockups from the
beginning.>
>Jan Eyerman
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