Gary Flinn Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 (edited) I've spotted this car on a Facebook group for old British cars, everyone is struggling to identify it. I initially thought it maybe based on an early Series 1 1959 Sunbeam Alpine but now I'm not so sure Anyone know the make or Model? According to the Sun it's a Sunbeam Tiger Prototype (Lol!) https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwixoaODz52CAxU8ZEEAHen2D0oQFnoECBoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fmotors%2F24490985%2Fmystery-motor-london-unidentified-riddle-car-60s%2F&usg=AOvVaw3zLvYTRp3h6GqenarK4smn&opi=89978449 Gary Edited October 30, 2023 by Gary Flinn spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 Interesting mystery there. I can see the similarity between the car and the TS4. 🤔 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Flinn Posted October 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 59 minutes ago, Chris A said: Interesting mystery there. I can see the similarity between the car and the TS4. 🤔 Yes, I've just done a search on Sunbeam Tiger Coupe TS4 Prototype and the photo's look very similar, the plot thickens? I know someone very Knowledgeable in the Sunbeam Tiger Club, I'll e-mail him for a response. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 has the tail fins of early Alpine but TS4 was the prefix for the Commer Rootes 4 cylinder 2 stroke diesel ( thats something i do remember ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 This has been circulating on various car forums since about 2015 (and in magazines) without any absolutely definitive outcome (as far as I know!). There's a very long thread on Pistonheads. Only slight consensus I've ever seen suggests it's a Sunbeam Alpine concept vehicle. Gully 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Flinn Posted October 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 I've had a swift reply from my contact in the Sunbeam Tiger club and he's telling me it is not a Rootes Group car. He reckons it may be a Reliant Prototype of some sort, if it is, it's not one I've ever seen before? The mystery continues. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinR Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 Well its NOT a Reliant Sabra (which was a convertible) using an Ashley GT body. http://www.sporting-reliants.com/images/Prototypes/HugoSabra1.jpg Neither is a Reliant Sabre, which was a Coupe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_Sabre#/media/File:Sabre_arriving_Schaffen-Diest_2018.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 My initial thought was a SAAB Sonnet derogative BUT looking at Wiki there was one with a similar front but in retrospective Na! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wagger Posted November 1, 2023 Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 If you compare it with the red one that is jumping on Gary's postings, it has the same lower tail as the Sunbeam Alpine. Definitely a Rootes prototype or a 'Special' fitment to an Alpine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted November 1, 2023 Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 (edited) H Harrington Alpine?. The only pic I could find on Wiki? Pete Edited November 1, 2023 by PeteH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 2, 2023 Report Share Posted November 2, 2023 its the very different front end thats the question the tail fins mmake it fairly clear its alpine based but that front ??? who made that ??? Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Flinn Posted November 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2023 (edited) I've put the photo up on a Facebook Forum for old British Cars and stirred up a Hornets Nest! Someone recently made a replica of it calling it a Sunbeam Tiger TS4 Prototype with the actual Picture shown in the background Here's the link https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2FTigerTS4%2F&psig=AOvVaw08VuvwFAi7x8RZx8V1QfrO&ust=1699002421053000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCNjctKz7pIIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE and a photo Gary Edited November 2, 2023 by Gary Flinn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinR Posted November 2, 2023 Report Share Posted November 2, 2023 The windscreen is very Corvette like. Looks like a forward tilting bonnet assembly The profile of the rear edge of the door is also very interesting, clearly a two seater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted November 5, 2023 Report Share Posted November 5, 2023 May well be a Harrington Alpine. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wagger Posted November 5, 2023 Report Share Posted November 5, 2023 The production Sunbeam Tigers ended up wit an almost vertical lamp cluster at the rear. There are many different front ends fitted to MG's, Triumphs and other sports cars of that era. Glass fibre was becoming very popular back then. Quite a few experiments going around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinR Posted November 5, 2023 Report Share Posted November 5, 2023 Still no closer to I'd ing it, but there are a few distinctive features that eliminate a lot of cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted November 6, 2023 Report Share Posted November 6, 2023 A quick online search for the TS4 reveals the front is also very similar: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 6, 2023 Report Share Posted November 6, 2023 well on that you can see the bonnet catches an a low level door release far away from alpine hand me downs only the tail fins look series 1+ alpine evolved pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted November 6, 2023 Report Share Posted November 6, 2023 That looks very, very much like it to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinR Posted November 6, 2023 Report Share Posted November 6, 2023 5 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said: A quick online search for the TS4 reveals the front is also very similar: Guys, We are going round in circles here - the "TS4" pictures you find online are a COMPUTER rendering that someone has produced based on their guess of what the car in the original picture looks like. Whoever created the rendering called it a "TS4". The challenge still stands to identify what the actual car is, and if it is actually a "random kit car manufacturer TS4", then I'll eat my hat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted November 6, 2023 Report Share Posted November 6, 2023 3 hours ago, KevinR said: The challenge still stands to identify what the actual car is, and if it is actually a "random kit car manufacturer TS4", then I'll eat my hat. Do you wear one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted November 6, 2023 Report Share Posted November 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Colin Lindsay said: Do you wear one? He probably keeps a stock for just such moments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinR Posted November 6, 2023 Report Share Posted November 6, 2023 14 minutes ago, Chris A said: He probably keeps a stock for just such moments very small ones - just in case ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 7, 2023 Report Share Posted November 7, 2023 i will stick with my Commer upbringing TS4 was the 16 prototype 4 cyl versions of the Rootes TS3 two stroke diesel we built which Chrysler scrapped there are 4 still in existence . makes a wonderful racket pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted November 8, 2023 Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 There were a lot of kit cars around about that period. i.e. Put this fibreglass body on your Ford Pop and make yourself a sports car. Though I must admit it looks to good to be one of those! Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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