Automobile Magazine from 1995 featured the 1953 Sunbeam Alpine Sports car
as its "Collectible Classic" of the month. The article gave some
interesting insights into the glory and demise of this marvelous, yet
underappreciated model. Here's a few quotes from the article by Ken Gross:
"By 1953, the improved Sunbeam-Talbot 90 Mark 2A became the basis for a
dashing Loewy-designed roadster, the Sunbeam Alpine Sports."
"Creature comfort was the Alpine's long suit. Really a boulevard sports
car, the Alpine was expensive for its time, especially considering its
average performance. Aobut 3000 were sold worldwide before production
ceased in 1955; about 2000 made it to the States."
I personally have always admired this car and up here in Pacific
Northwest we have a very nice example of a white one with red interior
that makes it out to all the All-Brit shows. Peter and his wife have a
freshly restored Talbot 90 convertible they show alongside each other,
what a magnificent sight.
As to the "drought" you speak of, it actually wasn't a drought at all.
Rootes had just launced the nice little Rapier model and offered it as a
smartly designed convertible (from '58, on) and for those top-down thrill
seekers looking for a Rootes option in '55-'57, there was always the
venerable Hillman Minx models.
-Craig Burlingame
'55 Minx Convertible.
On Fri, 8 Mar 1996, Frank Marrone wrote:
> Since the real Alpine was last produced in 1955 and the Series Alpine didn't
> debut until ~1960, what did Rootes devotees do in the last part of the
> 1950s' to satisfy their sports car desires? Were there any Rootes open cars
> offered in that period?
>
> Why was the real Alpine discontinued after only a two year run?
>
> Frank Marrone
> marrone(at)wco.com
>
>
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