Although comparatively late on the scene in motor car manufacture, the Wolverhampton-based Sunbeam factory quickly established a fine reputation alongside Lanchester, Wolseley, Austin and Daimler at the heart of the escalating Midlands-based motor industry.

The 12/16 hp model of the Edwardian era was conventional in all respects, with a sturdy, four cylinder, side valve power unit, gate change gearbox, shaft drive and generally carried elegant factory coachwork which was offered in tourer, two seater, landaulette and cabriolet versions.

Introduced in 1910, the 12/16 hp originally had a bore and stroke of 80mm x 120mm, cast in two blocks of two, but in 1912 Sunbeam introduced a monobloc with the stroke out to 150mm, increasing capacity to just over 3-litres.

A Bosch ZU 4 magneto was fitted and the fuel tank relocated from under the front seats to between the rear springs early in the production run, allowing the steering column to be lowered and as a consequence the body line itself ...