I owned a 1960 Hillman Minx, similar body. The car looked perfect (on top), but the whole of the underneath (at the rear framework which held the Leaf Springs), was "like an Abbey Crunch Biscuit". These days, with Home Welding (MIG), it could have easily been repaired. It was heartbreaking to send it to the Scrapyard. I'm sure that every UK Driver who has lived through the 60s and 70s have similar stories to tell.
A sunbeam Rapier of this model is a very rare beast with most being consumed by tin worm many decades ago. All four wings and sills suffered badly and found themselves in the scrapyard after the first 1960 MOT tests. This one being a convertible is extremely rare and not forgetting they did extreme;y well in the Ralley scene back in the day. One to have and no doubt will command a high price.
To Barry Ridge. ALL cars did rust, till much later on, when the motor industry realised that painting a car well wasn't enough to stop corrosion! Rustproofing as such only began in the 1970's and 1980's. Wax injected hollow areas, galvanised panels in prone places, etc. . A crime to have even the most beautiful cars rust! The thing about STEEL is that unlike the IRON used for early cars, STEEL is an alloy of DIFFERENT metals, (not a base metal). Alloys rust because when they encounter damp or wet, the metals in an alloy react AGAINST each other. But the original IRON cars couldn't be shaped on a metal press, into all sorts of styles - the IRON was too thick and solid - so they had to have more BOXY shapes on the early cars.
You could buy this restored beauty, with it's mirror-finish paintwork, and pretend to yourself that it IS 1958 -and you'd just bought it brand new, at the (1958) Motor Show!
My father bought a 1957 rapier- white with red flash. My mother just loved this car. Easy to drive and supremely reliable. Problem was the "soft top!!". 950 pounds new, & a show-stopper. Where they all?
My metalwork teacher at school Nigel, had one the same colour / flash as your father's , 1958 ,reg.no .TVE 517.He had a fettish for extreme tidiness and recall the car was polished to death and when he got it into it , sat on the seat first and then brought both feet in well over the sills to prevent accidental scratches !.Would love to find one now, especially that colour .
@@Roger.Coleman1949 from Nygel Miller, as a studied of horoscope signs, I would guess if your father had a fetish for TIDINESS, he might have been VIRGO. Am I right?
One of the most Beautiful Classic Cars of the 1950/60s era. 🥰
If you don't mind the US styling
Why are comments disabled on latest cars??
I owned a 1960 Hillman Minx, similar body. The car looked perfect (on top), but the whole of the underneath (at the rear framework which held the Leaf Springs), was "like an Abbey Crunch Biscuit". These days, with Home Welding (MIG), it could have easily been repaired. It was heartbreaking to send it to the Scrapyard. I'm sure that every UK Driver who has lived through the 60s and 70s have similar stories to tell.
Wow. Never been much of a Rootes and remember these being rusty nails as a lad, but this is nothing short of stunning. Love the colour too.
A sunbeam Rapier of this model is a very rare beast with most being consumed by tin worm many decades ago. All four wings and sills suffered badly and found themselves in the scrapyard after the first 1960 MOT tests. This one being a convertible is extremely rare and not forgetting they did extreme;y well in the Ralley scene back in the day. One to have and no doubt will command a high price.
To Barry Ridge. ALL cars did rust, till much later on, when the motor industry realised that painting a car well wasn't enough to stop corrosion! Rustproofing as such only began in the 1970's and 1980's. Wax injected hollow areas, galvanised panels in prone places, etc. . A crime to have even the most beautiful cars rust! The thing about STEEL is that unlike the IRON used for early cars, STEEL is an alloy of DIFFERENT metals, (not a base metal). Alloys rust because when they encounter damp or wet, the metals in an alloy react AGAINST each other. But the original IRON cars couldn't be shaped on a metal press, into all sorts of styles - the IRON was too thick and solid - so they had to have more BOXY shapes on the early cars.
Stunning Lord let me win the Lotto this week I want it.
You could buy this restored beauty, with it's mirror-finish paintwork, and pretend to yourself that it IS 1958 -and you'd just bought it brand new, at the (1958) Motor Show!
beautiful little thing..........extremely rare too
What beautiful stylish little car 👌👍
Love a bit of the “Emotions” I do
My father bought a 1957 rapier- white with red flash. My mother just loved this car. Easy to drive and supremely reliable. Problem was the "soft top!!". 950 pounds new, & a show-stopper. Where they all?
As a Rootes apprentice I dreamed of owning a Rapier in the 60s. Tough on 5 pounds per week 🙁
My metalwork teacher at school Nigel, had one the same colour / flash as your father's , 1958 ,reg.no .TVE 517.He had a fettish for extreme tidiness and recall the car was polished to death and when he got it into it , sat on the seat first and then brought both feet in well over the sills to prevent accidental scratches !.Would love to find one now, especially that colour .
To Nigel ash well - what was the problem with the soft top?
@@Roger.Coleman1949 from Nygel Miller, as a studied of horoscope signs, I would guess if your father had a fetish for TIDINESS, he might have been VIRGO. Am I right?
To Nigel Ash well. WHAT was the problem with the soft top?
Beautiful my grandad had one
While I was motorvatin' across the hill, saw maybelline in my coupe de ville.....
Clearly an import no heater and never seen a dashboard like that, in the UK it's beautiful wood.
Stan's the man!
Any chance of a live auction like ACA?
They are all live
@@supersparks9466 To view online?
The wing trim is upside down!
Great restoration apart from the cheap halfords stick on letters on the boot. 👎👎
This car is so pretty, it will be a girl's RIVAL for her boyfriend's attention!