1960 Sunbeam ALPINE 'V6 Widebody'

You will not be surprised to learn that the early Alpines, whilst clearly possessing drop-dead gorgeous looks, were somewhat lacking in the performance department.

Step forward then the clever people who saw a way to make sure that the Alpine was no longer all show and no go.

So, in 1983, one such person decided that the way forward was to fit a 2.8-litre V6 Cologne engine from a Ford Sierra to his Series I 1960 Alpine. Sounds easy, but of course a certain amount of reengineering was required. Thankfully we are told he was an engineer.

The arches had to be widened to accommodate the front suspension and the wider axle, hence our ‘Widebody’ moniker.

Other modifications included a T9 5-speed Ford gearbox, a Ford Cortina rear axle and suspension from a Capri.

We gather this was the 4264th car to be produced and rolled down the production line in early 1960. The V5 says declared manufactured in 1962… Not true.

After the modifications were carried out, the car was reregistered as a 2.8 Sunbeam Alpine in May 1986.

Our seller purchased the car in 2018 and has spent the last three years improving the car in many ways. The work carried out included redoing the electrical system, upgrading the suspension and making a series of cosmetic upgrades to the chromework and interior.

He is now about to embark on another project, so sadly the Alpine has to go to make space. His loss…

From old records, we can see that the Alpine was originally green. The colour change took place in 2011 and as such we suspect the paintwork is now 10 years old.

The paintwork still has a good shine and polishes up well but there are a few areas of minor cosmetic damage we should mention. Nothing too serious mind!

There is an area of damage on the nearside sill, which can be seen in photographs. There are also some paint chips around the edges of the boot lid and bonnet, as well as a mark above the rear bumper on the right-hand side.

Our seller replaced much of the chrome and unhappy with the quality of the new parts, he then had them rechromed.

A new mohair hood was sourced and fitted, and the windscreen was replaced too.

Over £1600 was spent on brand new wheels and these were fitted with a new set of Toyo Proxes. As we always like to point out, premium rubber on a classic car is a sure sign of careful and considered ownership.

We like the stance of the car, low, wide, and now hinting at the performance potential. Those graceful and delicate convertible lines though remain unaltered when viewed in profile. Great!

Not content with exterior upgrades, our seller ordered new Sportsman Recliner seats late last year for the car. These are fitted with five-point Willans racing harnesses, for that full sporting effect. They are as comfortable as they look.

There is a padded rear bench still fitted, ideal for a little extra light luggage.

The carpets are older, but in decent order and we note there is some household grade underlay beneath them.

Instruments are plentiful and are spread across the dash. The 3-spoke steering wheel is a veritable delight to hold and falling easily to hand is the wood-topped gearlever, just begging to be snicked through the trusty five-speed gearbox.

We do note that the finish to the door jams and inside of the doors is less than perfect in places. The same can be said for the bottom of the doors, where there are some signs of corrosion starting to appear.

The carpeted boot is not the most spacious and contains an older spare wheel, which may just serve as an emergency fitment in the event of a puncture. We would check this and fit a new tyre to the wheel.

The powerful V6 engine gives the Alpine the turn of speed that the car always deserved, and we are told by the owner that the driving experience is second to none. It is a reliable engine too, made in large numbers back in the day by Ford and fitted to Sierras, Capris, Granadas…. You get the idea.

The engine compartment itself is quite presentable and shows all the right signs that careful maintenance has been carried out over the years.

You will be able to spot the reconditioned radiator fitted by our seller, not so obvious is the brand-new clutch. The gearbox has also been recently rebuilt and comes with a 1 year warranty from Ed’s Garage

We always include photographs of a car’s underside and there are plenty here for your delectation. The paintwork to the lower sills could do with a little tidying up in our opinion, but generally we see little that would cause us much concern.

The keen eye might spot some of the newly upgraded suspension system, with some parts sourced from America.

We have already outlined the car’s conversion back in the 1980s, so most relevant is the work carried out more recently.

We note a service book showing annual servicing in years 2014 to 2017. Since being acquired by our seller, the car has covered few miles.

The parts and maintenance bill our seller racked up over the last few years tops £18,000 and includes:

New wheels and Toyo Proxes tyres

New rear springs and assorted suspension work

Reconditioned radiator

New clutch

Complete renewal of the electrical system

New rocker cover gasket

Renewed gearbox oil

New hood

New Sportsman Recliner seats

New windscreen frame and windscreen

New bumper set

A labour of love without a doubt and our seller reports having fun trying to source the many rare parts from around the world. They certainly weren’t cheap either.

The MoT history show that the car has covered less than 2,000 miles in the last decade and just a few hundred during our seller’s ownership. The last test was passed with no advisories and is valid until 16th October. Of course, the Alpine is now MoT exempt, but we like to see it continuing as a way of monitoring a car’s condition.

The conversion of the Alpine may not please the purists, but for those who are looking for an exciting driving experience, with period looks will love this car.

We are told it offers thrills behind the wheel, undreamt of when the car originally rolled down the production line.

Our seller, a fastidious chap, has devoted much of his spare time over the last three years to improving the car in many areas and the quality of what he has done cannot be faulted.

If you fancy being the car’s lucky new owner, we estimate the Alpine will sell for between £20,000 and £30,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.