Full Description

Time Lot Saturday 4:30
This black beauty was purchased in 2014 as a two owner, 43,000 mile car , with no accidents it was a rust free California example. The next year brought a complete, no expense spared, nut and bolt rotisserie restoration with well over $160,000 invested including purchase. Documented with receipts and restoration photos to be included with sale. Original engine and transmission are available.

Now running a custom built 302 with Edlebrock heads and intake, SS headers & custom built 2&1/2" exhaust system, a 5 speed TKO transmission completes the drivetrain. A complete Dale's front crossmember with adjustable suspension, i.e. camber, caster, toe and ride height, plus adjustable shock absorbers front and rear. Heavy duty springs, four wheel Wilwood brakes with vented rotors and Halibrand style Cobra wheels complete the package. All mechanical systems have been restored or rebuilt including brake, fuel, cooling and wiring.

The body was stripped to bare metal and a multi coat base coat clear coat paint system applied, color sanded and buffed to perfection. Underside was also stripped and painted. All new black interior and trim, new rubber gaskets everywhere, convertible top frame restored and new top installed. Restored hardtop. A total of less than 500 miles has been put on the car since finishing.

This Tiger was conceptualized as a brutally fast road car with race car handling and braking in a comfortable and striking looking package. The concept was exceeded.

The Sunbeam Tiger is a high performance V8 version of the British Rootes Group's Sunbeam Alpine roadster, designed in part by American racing driver and car designer Carroll Shelby and produced from 1964 to 1967. Shelby carried out a similar V8 conversion on the AC roadster to become the Cobra, and hoped to be offered the contract to produce the Tiger at his facility in America. Rootes decided instead to contract the assembly work to Jensen at West Bromwich in England and pay Shelby a royalty on every car produced. Two major versions of the Tiger were produced: the Series l (1964-67) was fitted with the 260 cu in (4.3 liter) Ford V8: the Series ll, of which only 633 were built in the final year of Tiger production was fitted with the larger Ford 289 cu in (4.7 liter) engine. Two prototype fastback coupes were prepared by Brian Lister for Rootes to compete at the 24 Hours of LeMans. It became apparent in practice the coupes were faster than the Cobra's on the long straights at LeMans. The motors supplied by Shelby expired during the race. One year later one of the Lister coupes won the British Autosport championship. For two years the Tiger was the American Hot Rod Associations national record holder in the quarter mile. Production ended in 1967 after Chrysler took over Rootes Group and had no suitable motor to replace the Ford 289. Owing to the potential for increased performance available and reasonable cost of parts Tigers were modified almost from day one with 289 V8's and hot rod parts manufacturers supplying an almost limitless supply of options.