my 1928 Sunbeam tourer, by Monte-winning rally co-driver Paul Easter
‘The Captain felt that no one was suitable to buy it and offered it to me for £150, requesting that I look after it. Fifty-one years later and I think I have kept my word’
My Sunbeam is a 1928 16.9hp with an elegant two-seater body and dickie seat in the rear, one of the last bodies by Page & Hunt of Farnham. It was bought new from Car Mart Limited of Park Lane, London by Captain Philip York Atkinson, MC. He was going to buy a Chrysler, but happened to see this exquisite Sunbeam in its showroom, fell in love with it and arranged a deal, trading in his Hillman. The car was then delivered to his home, The Priory at Cosgrove, Northamptonshire in time for his honeymoon in Norfolk.
During World War Two, the car was often to be seen parked by the windmill at Silverstone because Captain Atkinson was head of the local Home Guard, the hut perched on the top of the mill being its HQ. The Atkinsons were keen members of the hunting and shooting fraternity; they’d drive up to Scotland for events, and while other guests arrived in Roll-royces the Sunbeam was much admired for its style and elegance. The Atkinsons also took the car to France with friends on horse-buying trips. At the end of 1951 the Sunbeam was stored away in one of the Atkinson’s stables, covered with horse blankets.
I have known the car since 1954, when we moved into the area. In 1966, when a lot of vehicles were going to America, the Captain was adamant that his Sunbeam would not be exported. While many people wanted to buy it, the Captain felt that no one was suitable and offered it to me for £150, requesting that I look after it. Fifty-one years later and I think I have kept my word.
It has toured extensively throughout Europe. My wife Liz and I have crossed hundreds of cols in it including the Restefond, Stelvio and l’iseran, and on one trip to France, Spain and Andorra we crossed 56 cols in twelve days. The Sunbeam also takes part in VSCC rallies and has won its rally championships five times, thanks to my navigator David Odell. Significantly, last year I took the car to Courteen Hall, home of Lady Wake for a drive in it. She is Mrs Atkinson’s niece, the occasion bringing back happy memories of her riding in the car as a girl.
The Sunbeam has never been rebuilt, just maintained and repaired as necessary. In 1980 it was repainted and given a new hood, and a few years ago I reluctantly had the seats recovered. There can’t be many cars of its age which have had just two owners and remain within a mile of their original home. It has been a wonderful friend.