Story Behind Sunbeam Cars

The history of Sunbeam unfolds in the year 1887 whenfour-speed gear with reverse, and a drive shaft onto
John Marston built his first bicycle. It immediately spokethe rear axle in 1912. Sunbeam started the production
for itself on the quality, paving the way to his initialof ports models beginning in 1913. The company
success. At the suggestion put forth by Thomasthree-Liter Super Sports was one of the greatest hits
Cureton, he made his grand entrance into thethen. It had a twin overhead cam engine capable of
manufacture of cars. The story says that the brand130 hp when supercharged that travelled at a top
derived its name on the suggestion placed by his wifespeed of over 90 mph.
Ellen, who was captivated by the way the sunIn 1920, it amalgamated with Darracq and Talbot to
reflected on the black enameled frame of the bicycle.form the S.T.D. group (Sunbeam, Talbot, and Darracq).
The work on the first Sunbeam prototype of the carIn 1923, Sunbeam became the first British company to
began in the year 1899. They came up with a singlewin the French Grand Prix. This was followed by a
cylinder 4 hp water-cooled engine equipped with twonew land speed record of 150 mph in 1925. Later,
speed gears and a tiller steering. The second car wasSunbeam started with the production of trolleybuses in
produced in 1900. It also had a reverse drive for the1931.
rear wheels and a handbrake and pedal brakes, alongIn 1935 the company went into receivership. The
with solid rubber tires.Rootes Group purchased the Talbots and replaced
It is, however, in 1901 that the Maxwell Maberly-Smiththe cars with Hillman and Humber variants. A new
partnership came up with their first production car. Themarque, Sunbeam-Talbot, sprung up in 1938 which
car was powered by a single cylinder 3 hp engine,showed off Talbot's coachwork and the Hillman and
which came with the seats placed on either side, soldHumber chassis.
by them for £130 ($213.88 US). The productionBut a financial crisis of the Rootes Group saw
of this design was brought to an end in 1904. In 1906,Sunbeam moving under the Chrysler Group in 1964.
the company launched a new design of SunbeamChrysler's attempt to identify the single best car of the
cars that were based on a Peugeot motor.group later saw the demise of the brand Sunbeam.
After the continuous success it had on the variousWith everything put under the brand Chrysler, there
racing grounds, Sunbeam achieved the much-awaitedwas no brand recall for Sunbeam.
popularity that later led to the formation of theThe last car that was produced under the Sunbeam
Sunbeam Motor Car Company Limited, in 1905.marque was the Rootes Arrow series Alpine/Rapier
The period from 1903 to 1907 was highly significantfastback from 1967 to 1976. A Hillman-Avenger had
because the car set many land speed records. In 1909,managed to carry on the name Chrysler Sunbeam
the company appointed Louis Herve Coatalen as theiruntil the early 1980s, with the last models known as
chief engineer. He introduced many modifications toTalbot Sunbeams. When Chrysler Europe was taken
the existing blueprint.over by Peugeot and Renault in 1978, the curtain fell
His initiative introduced a monobloc engine, aover the brand "Sunbeam.
rear-mounted petrol tank, cone leather clutch,