1965 Sunbeam Tiger

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys The Hershey Auction event, 7 - 8 October 2026.
$80,000 - $100,000 USD

• Well-appointed example of Carroll Shelbys other V-8-powered British sports car
• Presented in striking Carnival Red over black with red piping
• Comprehensive restoration reportedly completed in the early 2000s
• Extensively equipped with desirable, period-correct performance and cosmetic upgrades
• Listed in The Book of Norman Sunbeam Tiger registry, with documented long-term ownership

In the wake of Carroll Shelbys transformative success in marrying American V-8 power with a lithe British sports car, manufacturers across the Commonwealth sought to emulate his formula. Among them was the Rootes Group, which long believed its Sunbeam Alpine convertible possessed untapped potential if only it could be endowed with meaningful performance.

After an unsuccessful attempt to persuade Ferrari to develop a more powerful version of the Alpines four-cylinder engine, Formula 1 World Champion Jack Brabham suggested that Rootes approach Shelby himself. Using little more than a few basic measurements taken with a wooden yardstick, Shelby determined that Fords compact V-8 would fit within the Alpines engine bay. He agreed to build a prototype, giving birth to one of the most charismatic Anglo-American sports cars of the era: the Sunbeam Tiger.

Listed in the Sunbeam Tiger registry, The Book of Norman, this example is said to be one of 3,763 first-generation Mk I Tigers produced. Completed on 10 December 1965, it is said to have been delivered new to an enthusiast in Illinois and reportedly remained with its original owner until 1994, when it passed to a nephew. Acquired in 2002 by a Canadian enthusiast, the Tiger subsequently underwent a comprehensive restoration, which is said to have included complete disassembly and acid-dipping of the body prior to its meticulous reassembly and refinishing.

Presented in striking Carnival Red over black vinyl upholstery accented with red piping, the car is exceptionally well equipped with a host of desirable, period-correct features. These include a factory hardtop, four-barrel carburetor, fiberglass engine lid with air scoop and heat-extraction vents, front and rear anti-roll bars with bolt-on traction bars, polished alloy wheels, and an aluminum intake manifold, oil pan, and Tiger-branded fluted aluminum valve covers.

The Sunbeam Tiger is often regarded as the common mans Shelby Cobra. This well-documented, thoughtfully restored, and exceptionally well-equipped 1965 Mk I offers a compelling blend of British sports car agility and American V-8 performance, making for one of the most charismatic and rewarding drivers cars of the 1960s.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/.