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Prior to the introduction of the 3-litre Sunbeam, the concern was one of the few in Britain ever to build and race a team of Grand Prix cars. The late Sir Henry Segrave, by winning the 1923 French Grand Prix, was the only British driver of a British car ever to win a full-scale Grand Prix up to WW2. It was only to be expected that their many racing successes would eventually be incorporated in an out-and-out sports car. Although the production cars had a first-rate reputation for durability and reliability, no sports car was produced whilst the Sunbeam was upholding British prestige in Grand Prix affairs. It was not until 1925 that the famous 3-litre car made its appearance.
This car was a thoroughbred if ever there was one, and many people are of the opinion that it owed its existence to the desire of the Sunbeam Company to produce a vehicle which would compare with, or even better, the 3-litre Bentley which had gained a phenomenal success at Le Mans in the 1924 race. Whether the car was superior to the Bentley is a point that is still hotly disputed. The car did, in fact, beat the Bentley at Le Mans in 1925, and finished second in the race, so there is no denying that the aims of the manufacturers were, to some extent, realised. It was never seriously raced by the factory, however, although from time to time there was talk of a racing model being produced. I believe Sir Malcolm Campbell drove one in an Irish event about 1929, but it does not appear to have been a success.
The car itself, as befitted its noble pedigree, had an outstanding performance with a maximum speed well in excess of 85 m.p.h. It was beautifully finished, and was extremely comfortable for a sports car. Racing lessons had been thoroughly applied to the power unit (75 x 110-mm.). The six cylinders had the valves in the head, operated by two overhead camshafts driven by helical spur gears. Camshafts and crankshaft were supported on seven bearings, lubrication was of the dry-sump variety, and carburation was controlled by twin Claudel-Hobson instruments. A four-speed gearbox was used with normal ratios of 4.5, 5.5, 9.1 and 13.3 to 1, but open versions were turned out with a closer-ratio box. A peculiarity of the 3-litre at that time was the adoption of close-fitting, cycle-type front wings which moved with the wheels. This gave the car a most "racer-like " appearance when viewed head-on.
The car was not produced in quantity, however, as it was most expensive and difficult to produce compared with the standard chassis. Those that did reach the public were notable for their excellent workmanship. Many other Sunbeams were produced before the concern was taken over by Rootes, including a straight-eight, but the majority were closed cars, and very few actual sports cars were made. However, the name Sunbeam will always be associated with the wonderful land speed record cars driven by the late Sir Henry Segrave, and also the racing cars which performed so well for many years. The successes gained by the "Tiger" and the "Tigress" were so numerous that it is impossible to list them all. |
