Tuesday 13th November 2012

Spotted: Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

Expensive, yes, but not compared with an equivalent Escort...

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Jeremy Clarkson is to blame for this one. Since his 2001 Christmas DVD Top 100 Cars named the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus his 55th best car ever, the car has totally beguiled me.

A RWD hot hatch? Where do we sign!

Having known nothing about its rally exploits at the time, the Sunbeam was being considered only as a road car. And in 2001, the hot hatch revolution that now proffers an Astra with as much power as a Honda NSX was very much still nascent. Yes, there was the first-gen Clio 172 and original Honda Civic Type R, but the opposition was poor in the context of today's market.

Then there was the Sunbeam. The styling may have been criminally staid but it could still show cars 20 years its junior a clean set of heels. Looking at the basic stats it isn't hard to see why; the 2.2-litre Lotus Twin Cam engine made just over 150hp had to push along just 960kg.

The claimed 0-60mph times were around seven seconds, which made it rapid on launch, at the turn of the millennium and, despite the advent of hatches like the Audi RS3, still fairly quick now.

Time to pounce on an undervalued classic?

The off-the-mark performance was aided by the Sunbeam's party piece; it was rear wheel-drive. The whole project had stemmed from Chrysler's determination to beat Ford in rallying and, though the final Sunbeam was a Talbot after Chrysler UK was sold, the concept remained intact. Just as the Golf GTI was showing front wheel-drive hatches could also be fast, this little renegade was going even quicker, and maybe just a little sideways...

Of course, it was the iconic VW that went on to be the genre-defining hatch (and be found much higher up Clarkson's list), but the rallying justification behind the Sunbeam's inception paid off; it was the last car without 4WD to win the RAC rally, in 1982.

If all that makes you want a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus like I do, it seems unlikely you'll find a better example than this 1983 car. Part of the last 150, it was intended to be retrimmed and resprayed as a run-out 'Avon' special, but only 56 of those cars were ever made.

So it's 'just' a regular Moonstone Blue car, but one that's only covered 26,000 miles under a single owner in 30 years. Taken off the road just four years after the original purchase, a full restoration was recently commissioned by the selling dealer to restore its former glory. Details are scarce in the advert, but the pictures imply this is an almost showroom-fresh Lotus.

One-owner car, fully restored and priced accordingly

And if £20,000 seems a tad strong, consider the current values of other 80s road cars with stage success. This Ford Escort RS2000 has covered even fewer miles than the Sunbeam, but is unrestored. It is currently up at £45,000. This rare Audi Quattro MB has been subject to a mechanical refresh, but it's £4,000 more than the Lotus and has covered more than 100,000 miles!

Alright, it's not quite as revered as those two rally legends, but the very fact it isn't lends the Lotus a quirky appeal. It's an engineering oddball in the best sense, and looks great fun to boot.

 

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TALBOT SUNBEAM LOTUS
Engine: 2170cc, four-cylinder
Transmission: Five-speed manual, RWD
Power (hp): 152@5,750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 150@4,500rpm
MPG: 19
CO2: N/A
Recorded mileage: 26,000
First registered: 08/03/1983
Price new: £6,995
Yours for: £19,980

See the original advert here

And if you want to learn more about the car you do worse than have a look at the very authoritative Sunbeam Lotus Owners Club website. Or watch this video of Henri Toivonen putting it through its paces...

 

 

 

 

[GranCab]

I've always liked these - many, many moons ago when I was the proud owner of a new red Escort XR3 (RRA 25X) I pulled up alongside a black/silver Lotus Sunbeam at a set of lights and had the good sense not to bother trying to drag race it ...

[arfur]

At 18 years old (a long time ago), I tried to insure one of these for myself

I was laughed at

So I bought an Uno Turbo instead ...

Bah !

[Sexual Chocolate]

Ah the powers of PH. Car is sold!

[Twoshoe]

Launched "at the turn of the millenium"...???

[kambites]

Certainly the most entertaining hot hatch that I've ever driven, but I wouldn't pay that for one!

[rtz62]

One word;

WOW

[rtz62]

And there used to be a 'DAC' and a 'DDU' reg car in Mansfield, always liked them.
Last one I saw was 12mths ago at The Classic Car Show; always slightly disappointing on the SLOC stand, the examples seem slightly.... I don't know.... sad? Like they have been 'restored' but on a budget (sorry to SLOC members who read this)
Ok this one is expensive, but it probably cost a wedge to get it like this.

[soxboy]

Why is that such are rare quattro? Thought they were made in more numbers than that for that particular model (guidebook says 690 MBs were built, also 24% of all quattros were sold in the UK).

Lovely Sunbeam Lotus though, would be great in black with silver stripes. Not too shabby for a cut-down Avenger!

[garypotter]

Another rally Icon fetching very good money

[avocado]

Twoshoe said:

Launched "at the turn of the millenium"...???

Read it again:

"The claimed 0-60mph times were around seven seconds, which made it rapid on launch, at the turn of the millennium and, despite the advent of hatches like the Audi RS3, still fairly quick now."

[pti]

Twoshoe said:

Launched "at the turn of the millenium"...???

[GranCab]

Just remebered ... Petula Clark sang the jingle for the standard Chrysler Sunbeam on the telly advert ..."Put a Chrysler Sunbeam in your life"

[Lakeland9]

I had one of these many moons ago. It was completely mental as it was well before the days of traction control,abs etc.

Any hint of dampness on the road and the rear used to step out. It was easy enough to catch, but although I got used to going around roundabouts sideways I suspect it alarmed other road users more than somewhat!

On a dry road it was amazing,but getting the power down on a wet road was a different matter!

[twin sparky]

My grandad had one of these ... He'd only just picked it up and took me and my brother out in it for a trip to the park (with ice-cream).


I was sick in the back of it on the way home! He wasn't very happy with me after that..

[Captain Muppet]

avocado said:

Twoshoe said:

Launched "at the turn of the millenium"...???

Read it again:

"The claimed 0-60mph times were around seven seconds, which made it rapid on launch, at the turn of the millennium and, despite the advent of hatches like the Audi RS3, still fairly quick now."

I suppose you'd need to be a professional writer to come up with a beautiful sentence like that.

[crofty1984]

Captain Muppet said:

avocado said:

Twoshoe said:

Launched "at the turn of the millenium"...???

Read it again:

"The claimed 0-60mph times were around seven seconds, which made it rapid on launch, at the turn of the millennium and, despite the advent of hatches like the Audi RS3, still fairly quick now."

I suppose you'd need to be a professional writer to come up with a beautiful sentence like that.

Comma comma comma comma comma Chameeeeelion!

[crofty1984]

Also, I want one of those. If one were to have a Lotus 912 engine lying around, I wonder how much work is involved in taking a regular Sunbeam and converting it?

[Dan Trent]

In fairness to Matt he was referring to it in the context of that 2001 Clarkson video that was the first time he came across the car. So fast when it launched. Fast in the context of hot hatches at the turn of the millennium when that vid was out. And still fast enough now.

Fast, in other words!

Cheers,

Dan

[J4CKO]

I worked at a garage when I was 17/18 as a vaeter/dogsbody/driver and one came in as a PX, it was a quasi-rally car and had been messed about with, was reputed to be running 200 bhp plus, it certainly ran lumpy and had a distinctive fruity exhaust smell, we all had a blast round the lanes in it, one of the older chaps driving and god, it was quick, that performance when you can feel your feet being lifted back towards you, 200 bhp sounds feeble these days but in a seventies hatch it was, an probably still is one of the quickest things I have been in as you werent isolated in any way fromt he speed, noise and performance, the engine was directly connected to everything, the throttle, the body and felt it was in the cabin with you.

There are probably diesel Audis that would out accelerate it nowadays but I doubt I would remember that so vividly 25 years hence, it was like an angry Jack Russell of a car.

[Captain Muppet]

Dan Trent said:

In fairness to Matt he was referring to it in the context of that 2001 Clarkson video that was the first time he came across the car. So fast when it launched. Fast in the context of hot hatches at the turn of the millennium when that vid was out. And still fast enough now.

Fast, in other words!

Cheers,

Dan

I liked the way you did it. With sentences. And clarity.