Roughly a decade ago, Sunbeam Tigers were one of the more expensive classic sports cars you could buy without going full blue-chip. Things have changed, but mostly because other models are up. Air-cooled Porsche 911 values have overtaken the moon, even Series III E-Types are getting pricey, and if you want a reasonably fast ’60s sports car, a #3 condition Tiger might be the best bang-for-your-buck. Oh, and did I mention that Carroll Shelby co-engineered it?
Yeah, this might be the cheapest Shelby-engineered V8 car you can buy, and it’s a rare one. Only 7,128 were ever built between 1964 and 1967, and one can only imagine that the ravages of time have caused that number to dwindle. However, if you look hard, you can still pick up a Sunbeam Tiger for new Miata money. How about that?
What Are We Looking At?
The story of the Sunbeam Tiger starts with the Sunbeam Alpine, a perfectly cromulent roadster based on the British Hillman Minx, another brand in the Rootes Group. The Kenneth Howes and Jeff Crompton-designed body looked great, but with a series of four-cylinder engines all good for zero-to-60 mph in more than 13 seconds, the Alpine wasn’t winning any speed contests, even if it was good enough for Maxwell Smart. That’s where the idea of a V8 came in.
It turns out that a Ford 260-cubic-inch small-block V8 was about the right size, so through a somewhat clandestine chain of command, Rootes American Motors West Coast sales manager Ian Garrad ended up commissioning two prototypes, one by Ken Miles built in roughly a week, and one by Carroll Shelby built in roughly a month. Yes, that Carroll Shelby. With this second prototype built in Spring 1963, it was developed in the same shop and by the same hands that birthed the legendary Shelby Cobra.
While these feasibility studies were going on, it turns out that nobody had told Lord Rootes, head of the Rootes Group. The Shelby prototype was shipped back to England, and was so impressed that his tune reportedly changed overnight. An order of 3,000 engines was made to Ford, the launch timeline was fast-tracked to eight months, and Jensen—of Jensen Interceptor fame—was contracted to stuff V8s into roadsters.
The end result certainly seems like a good bit of fun. Figure zero-to-60 mph in 8.6 seconds, a figure sure to drop once enterprising dealers started bolting on performance modifications. Add in rack and pinion steering, a Panhard bar, and a four-speed BorgWarner manual gearbox, and you have all the hardware for serious fun. Oh, and with this sort of engineering pedigree, you’d almost expect reasonably priced examples to no longer exist.
How Much Are We Talking?
Believe it or not, reasonably priced Sunbeam Tiger sports cars do exist, at least in the context of classic Shelby-engineered cars and what you could buy new for similar money. For 2025, a mid-range Mazda MX-5 Club starts at $34,215 including freight. It’s a great car, and yet you can still find Tigers for cheaper. Take a look at this lovely red 1967 example which recently sold on Bring A Trailer for a reasonable $30,000. Sure, it’s had some restoration work done, total mileage is unknown, and red isn’t its original color, but that’s basically par for the course when it comes to cars of this age. What’s more, the interior’s in great shape, the car comes with a hardtop, and there’s this overall vibe of light patina that’ll only get richer with mileage.
Want one that’s already restored? It might be worth waiting for another example like this 1965 Sunbeam Tiger MkI to pop up. This one sold on Bring A Trailer last year for $33,000, and it comes with the tasty upgrade of a 289-cubic-inch small-block Ford V8. With a complete respray, a new top, new wheels, a rebuilt transmission, and a fresh engine build, this thing should be turnkey, a whole lot of classic for sensible money.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong With A Sunbeam Tiger?
With negative ground electrical systems and common Ford mechanicals, the oily bits of the Sunbeam Tiger are remarkably robust, so the real thing you have to watch out for is rust. I mean, it’s a 1960s car, corrosion protection wasn’t exactly brilliant 60 years ago. Still, many replacement parts including body repair panels are still readily available, but there’s something to be said for buying the best example you can afford.
The other thing to watch out for when buying is clones. Due to the few modifications needed to fit a small-block Ford V8 in this shell, some people have made their own Tigers out of Sunbeam Alpines. The Sunbeam Tiger Owners Association has an authentication program for shells, and that little certificate will let you know if you’re buying a real one.
Should You Buy A Sunbeam Tiger For MX-5 Money?
While buying a classic as everyday transportation is generally not a great idea, if you’re looking for a toy, a driver-condition Sunbeam Tiger is one hell of a car for new MX-5 money. It makes great V8 noises, it does the classic sports car thing, and it comes with some serious pedigree.
Top graphic credit: Bring A Trailer
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IMHO, better to buy an MGB, preferably a GT and drop in a V6 drivetrain from a mid 80s Camaro or Firebird. Or use a Rover V8 if you can find one. Lots of info and kits available, and you’ll have a better looking car and better handling due to the lighter lump up front.
Why would you put the mid 80s 2.8L engine in anything?
Got my dates a bit wrong. The 3.4 from a bit later (early 90s) is common. Point being that it’s lighter than the MG 4 cyl, with lots of tuning potential. You could have a real sleeper for much less than a Tiger, faux or otherwise.
That makes a lot more sense.