1983 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

This 1983 Talbot Sunbeam-Lotus Ladbrook Avon Edition is a rare and iconic vehicle cherished by enthusiasts for its performance and heritage. Purchased new by the vendor in June 1983, this particular model has a unique history. Over the course of seven years, the vendor drove the car for 32,720 miles, enjoying the powerful blend of engineering prowess and driving pleasure that the Talbot Lotus Sunbeam is renowned for.

In 1990, the vendor decided to store it away, preserving its condition for posterity. Since being placed into storage, the vehicle has remained untouched for the past 34 years, essentially becoming a time capsule of automotive history. Recently, the car was carefully brought out of storage in preparation for its sale, offering a rare opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to acquire a well-preserved example of this iconic model.

With its original features intact and fascinating provenance, this Talbot Lotus Sunbeam is sure to attract significant interest from those who appreciate its blend of rarity, performance, and history.
 

An unrestored and untouched gem, the Sunbeam has fared very well after being removed from storage for over 34 years. There are the odd blemish and rust blisters here and there, as you would expect, but it still presents very well.

One of just 56 Avon editions, these cars were repainted in pale blue with two dark blue stripes running down either side, highlighted with a red pinstripe. They usually featured a vinyl roof along with a Britax pop-up sunroof.

Starting at the front of the Sunbeam-Lotus, the colour-coded bumper is in good condition, and the Marchal spotlights are in place, although the covers have not been removed to check the condition of the lights. The headlights and indicators are in good condition with no damage, as is the colour-coded grille.

Looking down the sides of the car, the door gaps appear even. The Lotus wing badges are in place, and as mentioned, there is a small amount of blistering on the front wings. The windows appear in good condition with no noticeable scratches, and the vinyl roof seems to be free from damage but may have discoloured in places or may just need a deep clean.

At the rear, the glass rear hatch opens as it should, both rear lights are in good order with no damage to the lenses, and the bumper is free from scuffs. The original four-split-spoke alloy wheels are generally in good order; there is some minor kerb damage, but nothing excessive that your local wheel refurbisher couldn’t tackle?
 

Opening the door of the Sunbeam, you are greeted with true '80s velour, another feature of the Avon Edition. The seats are in very good condition with minimal signs of wear in the front and rear. The door cards and quarter panels are trimmed to match the seats and are also in good order.

The three-spoke steering wheel shows minimal signs of wear, the dashboard is in good condition, and the instrument cluster also looks in good order. However, not everything has been tested for functionality, and it would need some recommissioning before an extensive run. The odometer shows a reading of 37,720 miles. All switchgear and stalks appear in good condition, and the original Philips radio cassette is in place.

The carpets show no excessive wear, and the headlining is in good order with no sagging. Inside, the boot is clean and tidy, and there is a fifth spare alloy wheel. There is a small amount of damage to the parcel shelf, but this could probably be recovered using a similar material.
 

Fitted with the 2.2-litre Lotus Twin-Cam engine, the Sunbeam would have originally produced approximately 150bhp of pure fun!

Before the car went into storage, it was running as it should, had a new water pump, all belts replaced, and had been serviced. The Lotus would need to be thoroughly checked over and recommissioned before being driven for any length of time. The car starts and runs, but it's probably not quite as smooth as it should be; hence, a full recommissioning is in order.

The five-speed gearbox selects the gears as you would expect when stationary. The brakes would need to be overhauled before taking the car on any journey.

Looking at the underside, it presents well, with minimal surface corrosion to the suspension components, as you would expect.
It is also worth noting that the car was treated to Ziebart Rust Protection when purchased in June 1983.
 

Obviously, being in storage for 34 years, the Sunbeam hasn’t been able to gather a lot of history.

The owner's manuals are present, as is the service booklet, which has four service stamps. The Ziebart Rust Protection certificate is also present.
 

Brought to light after 34 years this is just one of 150 Talbot Sunbeam-Lotus Avon Editions. What a find, and it must surely be worth the investment to save, don’t you agree? We think so!

Described in the past as “Avon Edition as” "pure, uninhibited pleasure," this is a desirable and iconic hot hatch from the 1980s.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £18,000 - £23,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.