ABOUT US
Although the majority of cars in the club are from the Rootes Group era, pre and post Rootes Group Sunbeams are also catered for in the club, as are cars badged as Sunbeams in other markets. By joining the club you gain access to a wealth of knowledge and information on parts availability.
The club is socially orientated and our calendar includes monthly meetings, display days, runs to scenic locations, a Christmas party and the Sunbeam Nationals.
Anyone who owns, would like to own, or merely has an interest in the Sunbeam marque is invited to join. Membership currently costs $50 annually with a $5 joining fee. A monthly magazine is produced and is available in either hardcopy via snailmail or pdf format via email. (email = $5 reduction in membership fees). A further annual fee of $25 is payable by members wishing to have their vehicles registered under the Historical Vehicle Scheme.
CONTACT
NOTE: Until further notice all meeting will be held via Zoom. If you wish to take part please contact us using the email address below to receive the link.
Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month (except January) at:
North Ryde RSL Community Club Ltd
Magdala Road, North Ryde
7:30pm fellowship
8:00pm Start
Dress: Neat casual
Address:
Correspondence:
The Secretary
Sunbeam Owners' Club of NSW
PO Box 370
Epping NSW 1710
Email:
OFFICE BEARERS 2023
PRESIDENT
David Petrikas
VICE PRESIDENT
Rick Harrison
SECRETARY
Peter Rudland
TREASURER
Alan Todd
EDITOR
Rick Harrison
EVENTS COORDINATOR
Roy Segrott
REGISTRAR
Rick Marks
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Peter Thomson
C.M.C. REP
Paul Tout
CLUB CALENDAR 2023
January 15th Machines and Macchiatos Terrey Hills
February 7th General Meeting - via Zoom
February 19th Machines and Macchiatos Terrey Hills
February 26th Run to Valley Heights Rail Museum, meet 9:30 am Dolly's Donuts, Glenbrook
March 7th General Meeting - via Zoom
March 19th Machines and Macchiatos Terrey Hills
March 25th Run to Ebenezer Church, meet 9:15am McDonald's Mulgrave (Windsor)
April 4th General Meeting - via Zoom
April 16th Machines and Macchiatos Terrey Hills
May 2nd General Meeting - via Zoom
May 20th National Motoring Heritage Day - members to notify Roy of intended destination
May 21st Machines and Macchiatos Terrey Hills
June 6th General Meeting - via Zoom
June Run TBA
July 4th General Meeting - via Zoom
July Run TBA
August 1st General Meeting - via Zoom
August TBA Shannons Sydney Classic - Sydney Motorsport Park
September 5th General Meeting - via Zoom
September 8th-11th 45th Sunbeam Nationals: Yarra Valley
September TBA All British Day - The King's School
October 3rd General Meeting - via Zoom
October Run TBA
November 14th General Meeting and AGM
November TBA Christmas Lunch
December 5th General Meeting - via Zoom
December Run TBA
OUR CARS
PRE ROOTES SUNBEAMS
1901 - 1935
Initially a bicycle company, Sunbeam began manufacturing a cyclecar in 1901, selling several hundred. Sunbeam eventually went on to manufacture high quality cars of a similar quality to Rolls-Royce. The company went into receivership in 1934 and was bought by the Rootes Group.
(image: By davocano - 1932 Sunbeam 20 Fixed Head Coupé, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51258516)
SUNBEAM-TALBOT
1938 - 1957
The group of vehicles covered by the name “Sunbeam-Talbot” refers to the pre-war Sunbeam Talbot 10 horsepower saloons, coupes and tourers, the 2 litre models, and the post-war overhead valve Sunbeam Talbot 80 and 90 saloons, drop-heads and drop-head coupes (Alpines), Mark I and III Sunbeam Alpines, and Sunbeam Mark III saloons and drop-head coupes built until production ceased in 1957.
SUNBEAM RAPIER
1955 - 1976
The Series I Rapier, announced in 1955, was the first of the Rootes Group new Audax range of cars. The Audax Rapier continued in production until 1967 running through to Series V.
The fastback Rapier was launched in 1967 based on the “Arrow” range of cars, and included the H120 high-performance variant. A fastback Alpine having a simpler specification was built from 1970 to 1975. The Rapier and H120 were discontinued in 1976.
SUNBEAM ALPINE
1959 - 1968
In 1959 the Alpine name was revived for a new sports car. It combined the short wheelbase of the Hillman Husky, the running gear of the Rapier Series III and a body styled by Kenneth Howe. Series I to III Alpines are sometimes called the “big-fin” Alpines to differentiate them from the cropped wings of the Series IV and V. Series III to V were available in two models, ST (Sports Tourer) and GT (Grand Turismo). A limited number of fixed roof “Harrington” Alpines were produced by Thomas Harrington Ltd based on the Series, II, III and IV.
SUNBEAM TIGER
The Sunbeam Tiger was developed from the Alpine in an effort to find more power. With input by Carroll Shelby, the Ford 260 cubic inch V8 was installed, to give impressive performance, especially with LAT performance options fitted. The Mark II version had a 289 cubic inch V8 fitted. Production ran from 1964 to 1967 when Chrysler, who had taken control of the Rootes Group, decided their own V8 would not fit.
SUNBEAM STILETTO
The Sunbeam Stiletto is a coupe version of the Hillman Imp. Engine was the 875cc Imp with the addition of a performance head, twin Stromberg CD125 carburettors, sports camshaft, extractor type exhaust system and oil cooler.
CHRYSLER/TALBOT SUNBEAM
The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was the ultimate expression of the Chrysler/Talbot Sunbeam. "Sunbeam" now being a model name rather that a marque. The Lotus version included a Lotus 2.2 litre 16 valve 907 (when fitted to the Sunbeam 911) engine developing 150hp in road trim. The rally version of this car won the manufacturer's championship in 1981.
OTHER SUNBEAMS
The Sunbeam Owners’ Club of NSW is open to any car bearing the “Sunbeam” name. This includes vehicles made before the Rootes take-over, during the Rootes period - including rarities such as the Sunbeam Venezia, during the Chrysler period and the subsequent Peugeot take-over when the World Rally Championship winning Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was created. The Sunbeam name has been used as a marque name, a model name and for badge-engineering.
2022 SUNBEAM NATIONALS: CARS
Coolangatta NSW
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2022 SUNBEAM NATIONALS: PEOPLE
Coolangatta NSW
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