FIVE TRIALs
We enjoy the Sunbeam Tiger and put it fully to the test
1 DAILY DRIVING
The greatest obstacle to using a Tiger on a semi-regular basis is the Ford Windsor’s considerable thirst; you can expect to get 20mpg at best. On the plus side, you could take a leaf out of owner, Chris Hurlock’s book and fit hardened valve seats so that it can run on unleaded petrol. The Tiger’s V8 is quiet and incredibly flexible, which makes it capable of effortless progress in town. In addition to good visibility, the front wings neatly frame your view ahead and the cabin is surprisingly spacious. The hood, meanwhile, is relatively easy to raise and lower.
2 IN THE SERVICE BAY
According Chris, working on a Sunbeam Tiger is more difficult than working on a Mini because the engine bay is compact and the Windsor V8 fills most of it, so even simple jobs aren’t especially straightforward. For example, the fourth spark plug (closest to the bulkhead) on the nearside of the engine bay can only be accessed by removing a rubber grommet from inside the passenger side footwell. Tigers had a reputation for overheating in period and while most have seen their cooling systems uprated, it’s still vital to regularly replace coolant. There are no sealed bearings on the steering or suspension, so you’ll need a grease gun, too.
3 ON THE SHOW CIRCUIT
As a desirable Sixties sports car on both sides of the Atlantic, with rarity and handsome styling on its side, being turned away in one from a general classic car show is about as likely as Peru meeting Panamera in the World Cup final. If you’re looking to catch up with like-minded enthusiasts, the Rootes Group of East Anglia (of which this car’s owner is a member) is a fledging group which held a well-attended weekend event at Glevering Hall last month. Likewise, the Sunbeam Tiger Owners’ Club has a full events calendar – its national event takes place on 9-12 August at Chester Racecourse.
4 THE LONG WEEKEND
The Tiger is strictly a two-seater; there is some space behind the seats, but it’s limited and certainly not fit for carrying passengers. The saddle fuel tanks and battery encroach on boot space, too, but there’s still plenty of room for a few holdalls – it might be shallow, but it’s impressively long. Distance work, unsurprisingly, isn’t a problem for the Tiger and a well-maintained V8 shouldn’t drink that much oil – a top-up will most likely suffice. It’s worth pointing out that the Tiger was available with an attractive hard-top, which does much to cut down on wind noise at motorway cruising speeds.
5 THE B-ROAD Blast
A sunny day with the hood thrown back, taking in some quiet backroads in a Sunbeam Tiger sounds like our idea of summertime heaven. Acceleration builds effortlessly, but not rapidly, meaning you’ll regularly find yourself going from second straight into fourth gear. What’s more, impressive braking can be relied upon to regularly scrub speed without a hint of fade. The tail feels planted in the corners, but don’t expect fingertip steering; you’re not quite wrestling with the wheel, but you’ll need to be prepared to put in a bit of effort to negotiate a route with lots of twisty bits.