Sold | 1920 Sunbeam Sixteen 3-Litre Tourer Treated to over £100,000 worth of expenditure during the current ownership

Page Contents

Track live values and receive listing alerts

Enquire Now

View All Images

£23,062

1920 Sunbeam Sixteen 3-Litre Tourer Treated to over £100,000 worth of expenditure during the current ownership

United Kingdom • 19 Jun 2024

Vehicle Details

AI Listing Summary

This 1920 Sunbeam Sixteen 3-Litre Tourer, originally owned by Lady Sara Campbell, has undergone significant renovation, with over £100,000 spent on improvements since 2015 by McKenzie Guppy. While the car has toured extensively and is described in generally good condition, the extensive mechanical work suggests it may have required considerable attention to bring it to its current state.

Despite some mechanical issues being addressed, the car's historical significance, documented provenance, and recent expenditure make it a desirable vintage vehicle, sold for £23,062 at auction.

Condition

7

The seller describes the car as being in ‘good’ (interior trim, paintwork), ‘very good’ (bodywork) or ‘excellent’ (engine, gearbox, electrical equipment) condition. While this is subjective, these observations suggest a rating in the 'Good' to 'Very Good' range. Given the age and extensive restoration work, 'Very Good' seems appropriate, assuming the restoration was done to a high standard.

/ 10

Transmission:

Manual

Chassis No:

16263920

Odometer:

[Odometer Reading]

Reg Number:

BF 4385

RHD/LHD:

RHD

Having cut his teeth at De Dion-Bouton, Clement, Panhard et Levassor, Humber and Hillman, Louis Coatelen joined Sunbeam in February 1909.

A keen advocate of the ‘Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday’ philosophy, his first design for the Wolverhampton marque – the 14/20 - distinguished itself on the 1909 RAC ‘Ten Pound Note’ Trial (averaging 21.3mpg over the 100-mile road section and 56.65mph around Brooklands) and the 1909 Scottish Six Days’ Trial (finishing 2nd-in-class).

Sharing Henry Royce’s aversion to proprietary parts, Coatelen ensured that ‘his’ Sunbeams were soon renowned for the quality and innovative nature of their engineering.

Introduced in 1910, the 12/16 model gained a larger 3016cc four-cylinder monobloc engine the following October.

Hailed as a class leader thanks to its sump-mounted oil pump, shaft drive, four-speed manual gearbox and efficient rear-wheel brakes, the newcomer could be had with open or closed coachwork.

Proving a redoubtable staff car during World War On...