Sunbeam Alpine
The Sunbeam Alpine was introduced in 1953, but the story really began two decades earlier with the launch of the 1.2-litre Hillman Minx in 1935. After the war the Minx was rebodied and relaunched as the Sunbeam-Talbot Ten. Revised styling and an overhead valve 2.0-litre engine turned the Ten into the much more attractive Sunbeam-Talbot 80 and 90 models in 1948. A 2267cc engine was adopted in 1950, turning the 90 into an 85mph (137km/h) car, and by 1953 the engines had been tuned still further, and the brakes enlarged.
An open two-seater version followed the same year. Stirling Moss had proved his versatility by winning the famous Alpine rally in a 90, so the Alpine name was adopted for the new sports car.
The styling followed the same lines as the saloon, though there were louvers on the bonnet to allow hot air out and to hint at the high-compression 2267cc four underneath. A straight-through exhaust helped boost the power output to 80bhp, and there was higher-geared steering and a stiffer chassis to aid handling. Though the hefty chassis and saloon-derived body meant it was heavy, limiting its nimbleness and blunting performance, it was an appealing package.
Minor improvements were made to the saloon and the Alpine in 1954. Though the saloon continued to be built into 1957, the Alpine was dropped in 1955 after about 3000 had been made. It proved to be a tough and capable rally car, and played a starring role alongside Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in the Alfred Hitchcock film To Catch a Thief.