Sunbeam Alpine Spider Series III Carrozzeria Touring
Sunbeam Alpine Spider Series III Carrozzeria Touring
Transmission: 4 gears, Manual gearbox
Drive: Rear wheel drive
Acceleration (0-100 kph): 13,6 s
Top speed: 160 km/h
Service history: Present
Manufacturer: Carrosso Classic & Sportscars Eekstraat 2 8375HN OLDEMARKT, NL 0625351515 http://www.carrosso.com sales@carrosso.com
1963 Sunbeam Alpine Spider Series III Carrozzeria Touring
• Bodywork built by Carrozzeria Touring (rare)
• Excellently restored
• Stunning colour combination
• Many accessories included
• Comprehensive documentation available
• Original Italian registration certificate included
• Driven and registered in Udine from the outset (Italy)
• Spoked wheels
• Optional overdrive
HISTORY/DOCUMENTATION
A true rarity: this Sunbeam features a body built by Carrozzeria Touring in Italy. British craftsmanship combined with Italian flair. As far as is known, Touring built around a hundred examples of the Sunbeam Alpine. This example was built in 1963 and is already registered in the Registro Touring Superleggera. Reportedly, the engine is original and matches the chassis number, based on comparable vehicles already listed in the register. On 8 March 1965, this car was delivered new in Rimini, Udine (Italy). The car has always been registered under the same number plate until 2026. A notable feature is the extensive documentation accompanying the car, including even the original delivery certificate and service booklet. Frequent service entries indicate that the car has been well maintained over the years. An instruction manual in both Italian and English is also included.
The following documentation is included with the car:
• Copy of the original brochure
• Heritage certificate;
• Invoices, old documents and a compression test report;
• Photo album of the restoration;
• Period brochure
• Original registration certificate, ASI CRS certificate, two manuals (Italian and English);
• Spare keys, decorative rings for the dashboard switches, colour sample;
• A copy of
*Auto Italiana
* featuring the Alpine on the front cover.
The following items are included with the car:
• Bespoke car cover;
• Incorrect boot lid (this is for a Series 1 or Series 2);
• A set of fixings for the boot lid;
• The car’s original ignition coil, marked ‘63’ (for 1963);
• A pair of chrome-plated headlamp bezels;
• A brand-new, correct fuel cap;
• A brand-new thermostat;
• A brand-new, rare original set of contact points and capacitor.
• The original period enamelled key fob is included with the main set of keys.
EXTERIOR
Carrozzeria Touring modified the rear in particular, replacing the original, more pronounced fins with more subtle and flowing shapes, making the car visually more elegant and better balanced. The rest of the bodywork was largely retained, including the distinctive front end and the basic lines of the English roadster. The result is a typical Touring modification: not a completely new design, but a subtle and effective restyling that visually elevates the existing Sunbeam Alpine to a higher, more Italian level of design. The car has been fully restored, with the paintwork carried out to a very high standard. The dark green colour is Italver colour number 22605, code 44604. The entire exterior is in excellent condition. The attractive spoke wheels were optional at the time; they are in good condition and still fitted with good tyres. The soft top is in very good condition with no damage and is of high quality (‘Sonnenland’). Sonnenland is the brand name of a high-quality three-layer convertible top fabric that is widely used for soft tops on convertibles and classic sports cars. The construction consists of a hard-wearing outer layer of fabric (usually acrylic) that is resistant to the elements and UV radiation, a waterproof middle layer of rubber or a special coating that prevents rain from penetrating, and an inner lining of fabric that provides insulation and a neat finish to the inside of the roof. The dark red colour of the soft top complements the dark red interior beautifully.
INTERIOR
The interior has also been restored and is therefore in excellent condition. The red Skai leather upholstery is free from damage and tears and still feels almost as good as new. The look is typically British: a low two-seater cockpit with a sleek horizontal dashboard, large round dials for the driver, chrome switches and a sporty yet comfortable character. Compared to the earlier Alpine versions, the Series III was finished to a slightly higher standard, with better seats, greater attention to comfort and, in some models, a more luxurious feel thanks to wood trim and finer upholstery.
TECHNICAL
The Sunbeam is in good technical condition. The engine compartment is neat and clean. A full overhaul of the braking system was carried out in 2024. The car drives well. Technically, the Series III was relatively modern, featuring a monocoque body, independent front suspension and a 1.6-litre four-cylinder in-line engine from Rootes producing 80 pk. This particular car was supplied with the optional, much sought-after Laycock de Normanville Overdrive, the ‘fifth gear’. It had disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear, whilst the rear axle was rigid with leaf springs — a combination that managed to strike a reasonably good balance between comfort and sportiness. Compared with earlier Alpine versions, the Series III featured improvements in areas including engine tuning, brakes and overall refinement.
GENERAL
The Sunbeam Alpine Spider was not an entirely new design by Carrozzeria Touring, but a further development and restyling of the similar version built in England. The model formed part of the contract concluded with the British Rootes Group at the end of 1961. In addition to the restyling of this car, the contract primarily involved setting up an assembly line for the Hillman Super Minx (with the majority of parts coming from England and the body panels being pressed in Italy) and the design and construction of a new model based on the Superleggera system: the Sunbeam Venezia. The restyling of the Sunbeam Alpine Spider was relatively simple and quick to carry out, as in practice it mainly involved modifying the two highly pronounced rear fins in the characteristic Touring style. At the time, these fins were considered rather inelegant and by then outdated. Otherwise, the original design of the Sunbeam Alpine Spider was retained, with all the hallmarks of the classic English roadster. Production ceased in mid-1964, at the same time as that of the other two models covered by the contract, following the collapse of the Rootes Group. This crisis also dragged Carrozzeria Touring into financial difficulties, which ultimately led to the company’s closure at the end of 1966.
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