1967 Sunbeam (Alpine based) Tiger

A prime example, with the hardtop, noless! Sold by Chrysler dealers, this car early had the 260 c.i. Ford V8 under the hood...this Mark II model went to the 289 c.i. engine. What originally started life as a Sunbeam Alpine was upgraded with I'm sure suspension changes that would accommodate the new engine. I have to believe that an engine supplied by a rival company was one of the reasons importing the car was discontinued.

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Autos & Vehicles

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• raconter1
• antique
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• Sunbeam
• Tiger

[knotts66]

Couple corrections: Only 289 V8s in MkII Tigers (not 260s), and Ford did not develop the car—just as with the Cobra, Carroll Shelby did. I owned a Tiger identical to this example (except in British Racing Green), one of the very last built in December 1967 and sold in London. Fire extinguisher, roll bar, traction bars, and 2 fuel pumps were stock (factory- or dealer-installed) on mine. Beat Corvettes and nearly beat a 1971 Hemi Challenger. Great examples go for $60k now.

[raconter1]

@knotts66 Thanks for the details! Great car to own and drive. Here they were sold at Chrysler dealers, and that ensured their demise. Not cool to sell a Ford engined car at a MoPar dealer. Thanks! :) Jack

[050999742]

Hey Jack! I was told a while ago that there's more examples of this car in the US than the UK... wouldn't surprise me if that's true, they've all probably rotted away here!

[raconter1]

@050999742 Hey, Chris! That is very probably true! Owners here dote on them and make sure they don't see salt or cinders...they keep them garaged in bad weather. Thanks! :) Jack

[390merc65]

one huge reason the tiger died was chrysler wasnt to happy about selling a car brand they owned with a motor made by a competitor ..chrysler engineer's tried like hell to make a 273 at the time fit..but to many issues would not allow it..so chrylser killed the tiger just because they hated the idea of selling a car they owned with a ford motor in it and could not swap it over to chrysler power

[raconter1]

@390merc65 Yeah, I figure that definitely was a contributing factor! Pretty embarrassing if you have to tell a customer to take their Tiger to the Ford dealer for engine work! Thanks! :) Jack

[390merc65]

@raconter1 well hello again..i didn't realize it was you lol ..yeah,that about sums it up

[raconter1]

@drewerz01 Hey, Mike! It sure was a promising combination...too bad it didn't catch on at the Chrysler dealers here...a marketing problem, methinks! Thanks! :) Jack

[raconter1]

@XboobtubeX Hey, Bob! It really is strange..but Cheddyrod mentions the link that Chrysler had with Rootes Motors. I think the mismatch ultimately killed the car...they just couldn't fit a 273 Mopar into the car. Thanks!

:) Jack

[drewerz01]

These were a nice car, a classic British sports car mated to an American V8... That combination should be perfect :D