>Sunbeam Alpine Ex-works
>Parkside Motor Company
01638 742441
-------------------
I forgot to say:
that's a PHONE *AND* FAX number.
a wee condensed extract for those of you who havent
got McGoverns book:-
"..At the beginning of 1962 the competition department aquired
another three Alpines, with the registrations numbers 9201 RW,
9202 RW and 9203 RW. As usual, the cars were stripped and the
majority of panels were replaced with specially made aluminium
parts. The engines were race prepared and the suspension uprated
(with the 1962 Le Mans in mind). The bodywork came in for some
modification, but not to the extent of the harrington of 1961.
This time the profile stayed the same as on the standard
production car. But the bootlid was raised to the level of the
fin, giving a squared off effect to the rear of the car to reduce
drag...
(...cool photos...)
....Only two of the cars were used at Le Mans in 1962:
Car no 32 - 9202 RW, drivem by Peter Harper and Peter Proctor
Car no 33 - 9203 RW, drivem by Paddy Hopkirk and Peter Jopp....
...they were trying to get too much power out of the small
engine, which was never designed for the 120-plus mph
top speed they maintained...
...at around 10am the Hopkirk Jopp car retired with more
engine trouble...
...9203 RW never returned to Le Mans but was eventually sold to
the Alan Fraser Racing Organisation. It was used on cicuits
throughout the UK until it crashed at one event. It was never
rebuilt, but was put undercover. Only recently it turned up in
Dorset and its new owner (an SAOC member) is now busy restoring
it to its former glory..."
from "Alpine - The Classic Sunbeam", 1980
*Definitely* a historic wee car, no argument.
jeez, you'd think I was on sales commission or something ;-)
Andy
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