Sold | 1955 Sunbeam Alpine III Ex-Works Rally Car Stirling Moss's planned Alpine Rally car

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£45,000 (Est: £50,000 - £60,000)

1955 Sunbeam Alpine III Ex-Works Rally Car Stirling Moss's planned Alpine Rally car

United Kingdom • 17 Jun 2026 • Lot 49

Vehicle Details

AI Listing Summary

This 1955 Sunbeam Alpine III is a significant ex-works rally car, originally prepared for Stirling Moss to drive in the 1955 Alpine Rally, which was ultimately cancelled. The car has a documented history and was fully restored between 1992 and 2010, making it a rare and valuable piece of motorsport heritage.

Condition

8

The car is described as fully restored during a previous ownership (1992-2010) and has been owned by a former Rootes franchisee since 2010. While specific details about its current mechanical and cosmetic condition are not provided beyond the restoration, the history suggests it has been well-maintained and preserved, aligning with an 'Excellent' condition rating, assuming the restoration is still in very good shape.

/ 10

Transmission:

Manual

Chassis No:

A3501912HR00D

Odometer:

[Odometer Reading]

Reg Number:

RHP 704

RHD/LHD:

RHD

Though developed from the Sunbeam-Talbot 90, the Alpine was the first Rootes Group product to wear just the Sunbeam badge.

The design was inspired by the Bournemouth-based Sunbeam-Talbot dealer George Hartwell and finalised by Raymond Loewy.

Norman Garrad of Rootes's competition department was supposedly responsible for the name, which was in honour of the company's numerous successes on the Alpine Rally.

The newcomer found fame at the hands of Works drivers Stirling Moss and Sheila Van Damm and starred in To Catch A Thief , featuring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

The Alpine bodies were hand-made by Thrupp & Maberly and the cars were powered by a mildly-tuned version of the 2,267cc four-cylinder engine from the Sunbeam-Talbot 90, which gave around 80bhp at 4200rpm.

The Alpine was manufactured from 1953 to 1955, during which time an estimated 1,582 were produced, of which relatively few remain—possibly no more than 200.

Having risen to prominence in Formula Three and already made a ...