Real Road Test: Sunbeam Alpine - what a sound!

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  • Опубліковано 13 жов 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 418

  • @rodhili3946
    @rodhili3946 3 роки тому +68

    Fabulous car. Rootes cars are not appreciated enough. I went out with a girl just because she had a sunbeam alpine. It was a beautiful red colour, I can't remember too much about her.

    • @ohshitnotanotherknob
      @ohshitnotanotherknob 3 роки тому +12

      "you only want me for my what?"

    • @michaelwright2986
      @michaelwright2986 3 роки тому +10

      @@ohshitnotanotherknob Well, in Australia, "Rootes" would have a certain amibiguity.

    • @downesy68
      @downesy68 3 роки тому +2

      @@michaelwright2986 especially when you use their full title “Chrysler Rootes Australia”

    • @michaelwright2986
      @michaelwright2986 3 роки тому +1

      @@downesy68 I didn't know that. Whatever was PR thinking of to let that one through?

  • @drr1071
    @drr1071 3 роки тому +65

    I will lament again. What made sports cars great was their simplicity. This car,the original Cobra, Corvette, Mg were intelligently put together with common parts. The computer that designed them was the human mind,and required skills from the driver and we're fun to drive.
    Another great test Ian.

    • @bhaggen
      @bhaggen 3 роки тому +1

      You forgot the Sunbeam Tiger; designed by Shelby for Rootes; later nixed by Chrysler because their small-block wouldn't fit. Such an unassuming car

  • @51StPi
    @51StPi 3 роки тому +32

    Never had more fun than driving a car in the rain than one of these, no grip and oversteer on demand. Hilarious in an empty wet car park.

    • @jfv65
      @jfv65 3 роки тому +7

      To think they even made a version with a V8 in it! That Tiger must have been a handful when driven on a wet road.

  • @gryfandjane
    @gryfandjane 3 роки тому +44

    I’m an MG fan and owner, but have long admired the Sunbeams, along with the other Rootes offerings. This one is a gem for sure, and here’s to the owner for trusting you with it! Excellent episode.

  • @dexta1969
    @dexta1969 3 роки тому +25

    That to me IS the sound of a sports car, this and the MGB's etc sound lovely. Not the sound of a V10 Lamborghini or a Subaru Impreza WRX with a massive exhaust.
    THIS is the the loveliest of lovely soundtracks

    • @volvo480
      @volvo480 3 роки тому +4

      You don't need a loud stereo in these cars, the music starts with the air induction noise of a carburetted engine with pancake filters and then the exhaust note kicks in. I wish I have never sold my previous car which had both these traits and the engine singing right behind me (mid-engined).

    • @dexta1969
      @dexta1969 3 роки тому +3

      I always remember a guy who had a Lotus Elan visit his mother in our street, this was in the 70's and the car wasn't new so it must have been a 60's era car. Anyway, on leaving the street, the road was uphill and he used to give it a good boot to get up the incline (and probably to show off to us kids) .....I fell in love with that sound

    • @tonycox5625
      @tonycox5625 3 роки тому +7

      Used to drive my BGT through Blackwall Tunnel with the windows down just to listen to the exhaust note. Mind you forty years later I still do the same with my MK1 MX5, some people never grow up! 😂😂

    • @MrOvershoot
      @MrOvershoot 3 роки тому

      @@tonycox5625 Much the same here, 3000E Capri, 1275 MG Midget, Opal Manta, VW Scirocco Gti, Uno Turbo, MX5 NB and 981 Porsche Boxster S. Are the less dull cars that have all had thrashes in tunnels ;)

  • @plym1969
    @plym1969 3 роки тому +19

    Hubnut finds his Roots and smiles like a sunbeam. Fantastic review of a beautiful car.

  • @scottlp2323
    @scottlp2323 3 роки тому +3

    Our neighbour had a Tiger II when I was growing up. All us kids would be playing in the back lane on a weekend and he would open his garage and start the engine. He never revved it, just let it burble as he eased out into the lane and off to the moors or Plymouth Hoe for the day with his wife. A truly stunning car. Like several employees of Plymouth Dockyard back then he had it resprayed the same colour as the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was being refitted there. ;) He added a silver arrow stripe down the side which just made it look even more amazing. Even into my late teens, when we had moved a couple of streets away, I still heard it pass by on the odd weekend. :)

  • @volvo480
    @volvo480 3 роки тому +24

    There's someone with a Sunbeam Tiger not far from here, which is the sportier version of the Alpine with a Ford V8 shoehorned inside. According to "Boring Car Trivia" they lowered a man with a large hammer in the engine bay of an Alpine and he hammered it big enough for the V8 engine to fit. After the Chrysler takeover of Rootes in 1967 it was discontinued because a Chrysler V8 didn't fit, no matter how much he hammered...

    • @JamesAllmond
      @JamesAllmond 3 роки тому +5

      actually it was because the Chrysler distributor would not fit in the space provided and they weren't about to sell a car with a Ford engine...I still dream of one with a Chrysler 340 in it...that would have been amazing. Oh well...

    • @MrTimcoronel
      @MrTimcoronel 3 роки тому +1

      a Jensen man, no less

    • @chrisrumble2665
      @chrisrumble2665 3 роки тому +2

      He was called "Tiny" apparently.

    • @volvo480
      @volvo480 3 роки тому +1

      @@JamesAllmond when Chrysler-Simca struck a deal with Matra in the late 1960s, they had a Ford-engined car in their lineup once more: the Matra Sports 530A had a Taunus V4 engine (just like the Saab 96).

    • @domenicogaldo6065
      @domenicogaldo6065 3 роки тому

      @@JamesAllmond It´s Mopar or No car; as is often said in ´The States¨.

  • @stephenswift9868
    @stephenswift9868 3 роки тому +3

    Pretty little car! I can imagine Terry Thomas driving like a hooligan in one!

  • @nickthomas181
    @nickthomas181 3 роки тому +22

    The 1725 engine is one of legend for Hillman /Chrysler. It featured in some amazing and mundane Vehicles. Humber Scepter mark 3. This beautiful Alpine and has to be said Midget killer is one . Furious Driving tested the Hilman Hunter GLS with a tuned 1725 as standard what a car. The Commer van wouldn't be a legendary van or motorhome(The gorgeous Highwayman) without the 1725, a 1500 was the top engine in the Commer at first and very underpowered. In the van form, it has an Iron head a single carb. The best Alpine for me has to be the fastback as good looking as a Stag which prototyped a hard top coupe-like a GT6 but the fastback man something else . A great review cheers Ian.

    • @philhealey449
      @philhealey449 3 роки тому

      My late uncle's ex GPO Commers were never up to much, but my mate's 100 quid Hillman Minx in 1978 was definitely a quality machine and when we rebuilt its 1500 cc engine, I was suitably impressed with its engineering after prior exposure to mundane BMC A Series rebuilds.

    • @davidpeters6536
      @davidpeters6536 3 роки тому +1

      Yep, I had a Humber Scepter and I blew the engine on the A1M in 1981. My mother's friend had an Alpine MkIV which I enjoyed riding in in 1969. The Tiger (Get Smart car) was the one to have and was very quick with a V8. The 1725 was also used in the Rapier coupe that Roots rallied in the 60s with Raymond Baxter driving.

  • @BrucetheK
    @BrucetheK 3 роки тому +9

    Thank you, Ian, for reminding me of 7 wonderful years when I had a Series V Alpine. I restored it from dodgy modifications (single carb and home-made throttle linkage, metal-flake brown paint job, etc.). I rebuilt it, fitted the proper Stromberg carbs, and had it repainted to the stock Holly Green. Took it on an epic trip from California to New Jersey and then on to Halifax, Nova Scotia (where I rebuilt the rear brakes). Oh, yeah, and I spun a rod bearing in Wyoming and had to get that fixed on the drive East.
    I was very impressed by the quality of construction and the many thoughtful touches, like the telescoping steering wheel. I had forgotten about the dash lights with the high/low covers!

  • @TheGramophoneGirl
    @TheGramophoneGirl 3 роки тому +4

    That's a very well kept and cherished car.

  • @johnbee7729
    @johnbee7729 Рік тому +1

    Absolutely love this one. Thanks for this. Makes me miss my old Triumph even more.

  • @Car_and_classic_lover
    @Car_and_classic_lover 3 роки тому +6

    My first experience in a classic car was in a Sunbeam Tiger, it was one of the most fun cars I've ever been in, it was thanks to that car that i fell in love with classic cars! 👍

  • @grahamejohn6847
    @grahamejohn6847 3 роки тому +7

    My oldest brother had one of these and even though I was very, very young I loved it . It was the most beautiful car I had ever seen up till then and I would park my bum in it every chance I got. If my memory is correct it was slightly different though in the grille.? I didn't speak to him for a month after he crashed it and got some other boring heap hahaha. Nice one Ian a trip down memory lane for me thank you.

    • @saxon-mt5by
      @saxon-mt5by 3 роки тому +4

      The earlier Alpines had several horizontal bars (3 or 4 I think) to the grille rather than the single bar on this later car.

    • @grahamejohn6847
      @grahamejohn6847 3 роки тому +2

      @@saxon-mt5by Thank you for that I was only young then and it was a faint memory but yes I'm sure that was the one.

  • @mickles1975
    @mickles1975 3 роки тому +5

    Who needs a radio with a soundtrack like that?

  • @gaznicol5020
    @gaznicol5020 3 роки тому +8

    Thank you Ian! Lovely little car, reminded me of my youth.
    Also, Thank you to the guy that let you drive his pride and joy, for us to enjoy.

  • @eddiecleaver5376
    @eddiecleaver5376 3 роки тому +14

    I’ve always liked these cars. My parents bought a metallic gold Hillman Hunter estate brand new in 1975. It was a 1725 DL…and it had a a rear wiper (HRW, hazard lights) as standard! All of the rear wiper action!!! Thank you for another great video.

    • @darrenpeters1566
      @darrenpeters1566 3 роки тому +1

      My dad went from a white Hillman Imp to a metallic gold Hillman hunter saloon. The luxury of 4 doors! :) No idea of spec; not even a picture. Must have been about 1968 or '69.

    • @bikinibabes666
      @bikinibabes666 2 роки тому +1

      Personally, I never liked Hillman Hunter cars, and still less the estate brand.....I found them clumsy, ugly and essentially unimaginative. Never sorry they were discontinued. Well, each to their own.

  • @steveworth544
    @steveworth544 3 роки тому +5

    The owner loves it so much he does 100 miles a year in it. Lovely car and needs its legs stretching- nice tour of France or something. Great review as always

  • @DrVaticinator
    @DrVaticinator 2 місяці тому

    This was my first car, loved it. My dad had one and beat MG B’s in rallies easily. I was 6 and and my brother 2, sat in the bench seat. It was our family car for about 4 years. Nothing but love. As an adult I moved on to a Miata, loved as well. Rebuilt my sunbeam engine twice, it was like working on a large lawnmower. Changed the generator to an alternator. Painted British racing green with black hardtop. God I miss that car.

  • @darryl3392
    @darryl3392 3 роки тому +1

    Thank you mr to owner for the loan. Well worth it for the show and tell

  • @lanctermann7261
    @lanctermann7261 Рік тому +1

    I had a series 4 Alpine! I drove it in Tampa, Florida, then for a year in Iceland. I got five people in it once, ( illegally) to go party in Reykjavík. Not the best car for Iceland, ( weak heater) but it was a lot of fun. It never let me down.

  • @robinwells8879
    @robinwells8879 3 роки тому +1

    Glorious. Thanks to the owner for allowing you to share it with us. Flappy paddle ain’t so new is it. 👍

  • @stepheng8779
    @stepheng8779 3 роки тому +8

    Beautiful car always loved the Alpine, those mirrors sit just right, everything about it lovely.
    Fondness for all Rootes group cars. Cheers 🍻👍

  • @craigstaggs8597
    @craigstaggs8597 3 роки тому +6

    What a lovely car Ian ! ..... My friends Dad has a Tiger , he's a bit rich , and it sounds incredible , that was a bit rich too , it made your eyes sting !.... "Only" 160 BHP if I remember and a mission to change the rear spark plugs . Keep 'em coming , this is the kind of content I love !!

  • @neilsheppard6673
    @neilsheppard6673 3 роки тому +1

    What a cracking little car! The adjustable steering column, overdrive and dimming dash light is the business. Nice area to test a convertible, glad the weather was kind!

  • @flyingarts6765
    @flyingarts6765 3 роки тому +4

    The picture of the Hillman made me remember my fathers car, in Havana during the 50s. He had driven an early Topolino previously but when I was born upgraded to the blue grey Hillman. I still remember sitting on his lap while steering with the spoked wheel , red plastic ROOTES badge in the center.
    Please find one to review!

  • @seancooke7332
    @seancooke7332 3 роки тому +1

    Beautiful lines especially in white. My primary school days were spent between my neighbour's Superminx Estate and my Dad's 2 Arrrows , a white Minx and a green Singer. All of them were 1600s but the engine was very tough and sounded great.
    I think Miss Hubnut needs a drop top for the Summer and this little Sunbeam Alpine suits you Ian.

  • @chrisrag1346
    @chrisrag1346 3 роки тому +2

    What a lovely old car.
    And that exhaust note 👌

  • @chrisweddle2577
    @chrisweddle2577 3 роки тому +2

    There's an awful lot of Sunbeam Rapier in that dashboard (or vice versa!) I'd completely forgotten about the centre of the steering wheel. Brilliant!

  • @Tagora2664
    @Tagora2664 3 роки тому +2

    Many good cars are based on humble underpinnings and are better cars for it, easy to work on and easy to fix and get parts for. A car doesn't have to be a thoroughbred to be fun. I've had my 2.8i Capri for nearly 28 years and always worked on it myself, which is part of the fun in owning it.
    Great little Alpine and great review, as always 👍

  • @visionsofhere3745
    @visionsofhere3745 3 роки тому +4

    That rocker cover is a thing of great beauty.
    Looking forward to the roadtest of the Arrows Alpine. They really were the things of dreams when I was a boy. Haven't seen one in the wild for a good thirty years...

  • @markcornwall8132
    @markcornwall8132 3 роки тому +2

    Wow, this brought a tear to my eye. This car, exactly the same colour with the red leather and it was also an F reg, picked up 9 year old me from school in 1970. My late mum, about 30 at the time, was beaming having picked it up that day and surprised me by picking me up in it. We went for a spin around the local Cornish coast roads and I have never forgotten that day. Finding one in that condition, or any condition, is now very hard. Thankyou so much for this.

    • @roygardiner2229
      @roygardiner2229 3 роки тому +1

      Thanks for posting your comment. I have very sad associated memories, too, of an identical car that was owned, briefly, by my best mate.
      The sheer beauty of the car is clear.

  • @bikersreview383
    @bikersreview383 3 роки тому

    My father owned an Alpine for over 10 years then sold it a few months before I past my test, Thanks Dad!

  • @robertmaitland09
    @robertmaitland09 3 роки тому +3

    Proper sports cars are small with small engines, they demand engagement, involvement and effort from the driver and deliver enjoyment at sensible speeds. People who talk about 100bhp not being enough baffle me.

  • @stuarthall2180
    @stuarthall2180 3 роки тому +2

    Beautiful Minnie Thunderbird !

  • @fionacarstairs7326
    @fionacarstairs7326 3 роки тому +8

    Superior to the MGB in every respect , where the MG is a stodgy two door Morris Oxford , the Sunbeam is a jewel of engineering , styling and delight to drive . Twin balanced fuel tanks hidden in the rear wings mean vast boot space unlike the MG's cubby box boot, Telescopic suspension, unlike the MG antiquated lever arm contraption, Multi adjustable steering, pedals and seats unlike the MG, fixed position, column mounted overdrive stalks unlike the illogicaly placed MG dash switch and a marvelous 4 speed all synchro plus overdrive gearbox , unlike the MG non synchro cog grauncher . All alloy cylinder head means it can run on unleaded unlike the MG which has to be converted . I could go on so I will, Over engineered brakes suitable for direct use on both Tigers , and a soft top that both fits well and stows away neatly. No cracks of doom on the doors unlike the MG which always suffers from awfull cracking down from the quarter light .

  • @Rjhs001
    @Rjhs001 3 роки тому +3

    Always love your vids Ian. The sheer delight you display when driving these little beauties is simply contagious.

  • @ibenpishtoff
    @ibenpishtoff 2 роки тому

    I purchased a light blue 1967 Sunbeam Alpine soft top fresh out of high school in 1971. Being from the States, it was a left hand drive. I didn’t own it very long because of constant breakdowns. Couldn’t find parts and only one mechanic in my hometown that I could trust to adjust dual carbs at the time. I traded it in on a new ‘72 VW bug. Then on to a new ‘74 MGB, which I dearly loved! The Alpine and MGB were a blast drive.

  • @sydsvids2019
    @sydsvids2019 Рік тому

    I bought a 1968 series 5 Gt (hardtop) as my regular driver when the car was 5 years old. It could have done with a few upgrades, particularly to the cooling system as this was prone to overheating in traffic, leading to a blown head gasket on one occasion. This was quite a common fault and when it occurred, the alloy cylinder head required skimming, altogether an expensive repair. Sadly I was only young with insufficient cash to upgrade it in the way it deserved. Nevertheless I loved the car and travelled all over the country in it as well as carrying out the daily toil. I still miss it and wish I had it today. Thank you for making the video and thanks to the owner for lending this great car.

  • @gerryaddison8677
    @gerryaddison8677 3 роки тому +1

    Very nice car and excellent review, makes my 8,700 miles in 32 years of ownership of my TR4 look as though I've been over doing it, there again the first 2 years were spent restoring it.

  • @captaccordion
    @captaccordion 3 роки тому +2

    Ooh yes, an Alpine with 1725 and overdrive! It definitely holds a high place on the 'would love to own one but could never afford to' list!

  • @mbaqcytvav
    @mbaqcytvav 3 роки тому

    I have loved the Alpine since first sight.

  • @markpirateuk
    @markpirateuk 3 роки тому +2

    I have always thought the alpine was underrated, a very pretty car, I would certainly love to own one.

  • @bombakdik
    @bombakdik 3 роки тому +2

    My father’s first internship as well as a apprenticeship and his first job was at Rootes as main mechanic. He always fell in love with the lovely blistered dashboard (warning) lights to be found in the Sunbeam Rapier.
    This is a lovely car and very rare to be seen. Especially the first series with the authentic dashboard and dials.
    Looking forward to watch this!

  • @danielpothier9990
    @danielpothier9990 3 роки тому +1

    Dr. Unexceptional: Welcome to the Triangle of Doom, Mr.?
    Ian: Nut, Hubnut

  • @johndrake3731
    @johndrake3731 3 роки тому

    Had a 4.2 Alpine Tiger. Drove off one day with the seat belt under the recliner lever. Tightened the belt which released the seat back. When I pulled away the seat reclined and so did I, my foot shot out on the accelerator and 4.2 of Ford responded. 75mph in a 30 limit whilst flat on my back.
    Interesting, very interesting.
    One of motoring's memorable moments.

  • @waynetetley584
    @waynetetley584 3 роки тому +3

    Enjoyed riding shotgun on this one. Love the exhaust note. Goes to show you can have a sports car on 13" wheels and non low profile tyres. 👍😊

  • @scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain
    @scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain 3 роки тому +6

    Lovely little sports car, lovely exhaust note and excellent review as always. #powerlessismore

  • @PatrolmanDark
    @PatrolmanDark 3 роки тому +12

    "That's quite funky!" - Subscribed. The environment you're driving through is so mind-bogglingly beautiful that I wish this was filmed with a 360 camera, kept wanting to look around while listening.

  • @trevorlock642
    @trevorlock642 3 роки тому

    This car reminds me a lot of my wife's Subaru BRZ. Small, not overly powerful, raspy exhaust note, fun on twisty roads, and puts a smile on your face!

  • @barryuk676
    @barryuk676 3 роки тому

    Ian I found your channel a couple of weeks ago and as I find your style of Hubnuttery compulsive viewing I have been working my way through your back catalogue since then. I think the reason I noticed your channel was because I know someone who once took a train from Hatfield Hertfordshire to Leeds to buy a £400 car, he met the seller at the station and did the deal, on his way home he found that the car had a problem so phoned the seller who agreed to refund the money, he drove to the sellers home who took him to the bus station as he couldn't afford another train, he arrived back home the following morning. Now this way of buying a cheap car seemed madness to me at the time but it seems that he is not the only one who buys cars this way, strangely his name was Ian too. Well done keep up the good work.

  • @tonys1636
    @tonys1636 3 роки тому +1

    Many memories flooding back of mine in '72, not happy ones unfortunately, mine had a preponderance to blow head gaskets often at inopportune times, it had a warped head and being unable to afford having it skimmed I utilised the old trick of using two gaskets, cured it for as long as I owned it. Sold it as fed up with getting hoods slashed in our supposedly secure yard/garage at work, luckily no one took a fancy to nicking the wire wheels, lived in Wimbledon but worked in Battersea at the time and having to use the tonneau in winter was not fun, thank heaven for a good heater to toast the tootsies. A wax jacket and flat cap kept the body dry or staying above 30mph, impossible in London. Replaced it with a BMW 2000, another fun car to drive.

    • @andymccabe6712
      @andymccabe6712 3 роки тому

      Funny what people will endure for the sake of driving a sports car eh....?!?!

  • @daviemaclean61
    @daviemaclean61 3 роки тому +1

    Love the originality and the gleeful look on your face!

  • @dogwalker666
    @dogwalker666 3 роки тому +1

    The "Get Smart" car too always wanted one.

    • @wanderinggentile
      @wanderinggentile 3 роки тому

      Get Smart was actually a Tiger. Chrysler had a placement arrangement with Talent Associates until '68, when Maxwell Smart switched to a Karmann Ghia. That lasted one season, and the last Get Smart car was an Opel GT, as Buick sponsored the last season.

  • @danieleregoli812
    @danieleregoli812 3 роки тому +1

    Fabulous. Just fabulous. Love the car. Love it.

  • @markonmotoring
    @markonmotoring 3 роки тому +1

    Telescopic steering in a car of that era. That's incredible.
    I struggle as I often find my knees are squashed while my arms and shoulders are over extended to reach the wheel.
    I like the interior and dash layout in that car. In fact the whole package looks appealing and this is a car I've never given much consideration in the past.

  • @richardnevillewalker672
    @richardnevillewalker672 3 роки тому

    Very obvious from the video how much you love that car and I must say I love it too.

  • @nickfarrow9032
    @nickfarrow9032 3 роки тому +2

    I currently own a 1963 Alpine Series 3 and used to have a Fiat Multipla, so for some years I had two cars with the handbrake on the drivers side 😀

  • @m7dgz
    @m7dgz 3 роки тому +1

    Rather hilariously the UA-cam subtitles decided you were roadtesting a Zombie Malpine 😆

  • @RapideWombaticus
    @RapideWombaticus Рік тому

    I've been watching your channel for a long time Hub... Still enjoy every upload

  • @chuckthebull
    @chuckthebull 3 роки тому

    I have a 62...love it.... the fins do not swoop up but go just further straight back and do go angle back down....

  • @mattw8332
    @mattw8332 3 роки тому +1

    What a lovely looking car!

  • @sbsummit
    @sbsummit 3 роки тому

    Those Alpines are lovely little things - quite similar mechanically to my 73 MGB, and I see you had the same smile on your face that I have when I drive mine!

  • @gregbolger1355
    @gregbolger1355 3 роки тому +1

    I love your take on cars Ian. I find myself nodding along with agreement so often when I watch your videos. The Sunbeam Alpine is a great car. Really good to see the Rootes cars given air time. And an MGB is a great motor too!

  • @MrButtonpresser
    @MrButtonpresser 3 роки тому +1

    Always fancied an Alpine, delightful!

  • @tonysargent1699
    @tonysargent1699 3 роки тому +1

    Lurrvvelllyyyyyyy!!!
    Thankyou Ian, thankyou very much!

  • @michaeltutty1540
    @michaeltutty1540 3 роки тому +1

    Simply amazing car, and a great review, Ian. Just the kind of car I love. The perfect car for those roads. The owner is a very lucky man indeed.

  • @stevo260
    @stevo260 3 роки тому +1

    Sound video ian, I've owned an alpine of some sort for 36yrs hillman husky and a commer cob which I still have, under rate classics in my book, love your work keep it up. 👍

  • @robertamoyaw1979
    @robertamoyaw1979 3 роки тому

    A Driver's Car!!!!Kudos! An Amazing Bedtime Movie for Me🤠! Couldn't have slept Better!!!

  • @TheAllyMor
    @TheAllyMor 3 роки тому

    Thanks for introducing the Alpine to me. What a beautiful piece of design. Wonderful. And great audio, what a rorty little thing she is!!

  • @glynluff2595
    @glynluff2595 2 місяці тому

    The Husky was short wheelbase because it was based on the post war saloon. The Minx that followed was the Audax series which was a different chassis. The steering is as you say but it has a proper front suspension system which is novel for the time. The brakes were only servoed later in life but on the Super Minx third gear is handy for deceleration but the brakes are heavy. A very fair report on a comfortable classic.

  • @richardnevillewalker672
    @richardnevillewalker672 3 роки тому

    A very pretty car indeed - I didn't know it was a Raymond Loewy design but now that you've told us I have to say I'm not surprised - there's a simplicity and perfection about its lines.

    • @HubNut
      @HubNut  3 роки тому

      Turns out it isn't, but the stylist did work for Loewy for a time. My error.

  • @will89687
    @will89687 3 роки тому +1

    Between this and Big Car's feature on the Hillman Avenger I'm getting my Rootes Group fill today!

  • @Boating_David
    @Boating_David 3 роки тому +3

    Always thought they were one of the prettiest convertibles made

  • @richie152
    @richie152 3 роки тому

    My dad had one of these. He resprayed it counter cream colour. Fabulous car in its day.

  • @millomweb
    @millomweb 3 роки тому +1

    Opening scene - that gate on the right has had a hard life !

  • @moochincrawdad
    @moochincrawdad 3 роки тому +1

    I'm a big Raymond Loewy design fan, I loved the old Studebaker grand tourers like the Hawk variants and my favourite of all time, the Studebaker Avanti. A great review of a great car - thank you! 😃

  • @MCallsen
    @MCallsen 3 роки тому +2

    I love to see the fun you have in those recent tests :D Also my Opel Corsa C sounds the same, but only since I dropped the complete exhaust last week on a busy road -.-

  • @VDPEFi
    @VDPEFi 3 роки тому +2

    Very pretty car indeed, I personally think it would have looked better with a longer wheelbase but hey, such style. Extremely sweet car. Wonderful to see it being driven properly too, they don't do well just idling around, full throttle, sensible revs to save the bearings, good noises!

    • @markcollins457
      @markcollins457 Рік тому

      Longer wheelbase, I saw a Sunbeam Tiger with an extended wheelbase at a car show. The car in the past had been in a front collision and the restoration included engine relocation, basic the firewall was moved forward the car had the long front like a Jensen interceptor. The work was flawless and the additional 5 inches was seemless.

  • @robertlambert8719
    @robertlambert8719 3 роки тому +1

    I have been associated with one of these lovely cars ever since I was a schoolboy in the early 1970's. I saw it as a wreck in the owner's garden ; he rebuilt it and still owns it to this day! It is an earlier model with the Fins and 1600 engine. I get to drive it every so often and have MOT tested it for decades! Absolutely agree with everything you said about the car! Lovely noise and serious fun. Have to say the steering is heavy at parking speeds; yes it is a steering box system which the owner keeps well oiled and greased. Built like a tank underneath believe me! Great video as always. PS didn't Flash Harry drive a red Alpine in The Great St Trinians Train Robbery film?

  • @pd2865
    @pd2865 9 місяців тому

    One subtle thing you missed. And maybe the owner does not know. The turn signal and high beam instrument indicator lights have a small tab that flips the glass for day (darker color plastic) to night (lighter color plastic). This brings back memories, because I had an identical 1967 Alpine left seater. I did not have the overdrives unfortunately. My only issues were the plastic rear window would scratch easily, and in summer would vapor lock everyday, ever time I stopped the car. I had to strategically park on slight declines to role start it. But they handle great. I had home speakers I kept behind the seats and would lay them on the trunk when at parks. I parked first space pointed downhill at a drive in movie to see Star Wars. I will never forget the opening scene of the space ship chase. The wire wheels would inside the rim, so the day I went to buy used steel wheels conversions, a foreign student hit me almost head on totaling the car. This was my favorite car ever.

  • @eddiewomble2172
    @eddiewomble2172 3 роки тому

    Someone used to have one of these on the next street to me in a pale blue colour.
    Beautiful motor.

  • @michaelsanderson6968
    @michaelsanderson6968 3 роки тому +3

    Lovely. Door handles aside, Rootes Group cars were seen as being of higher quality than the likes of Ford, BMC etc at the time. Unfortunately quality costs more to make so Rootes inevitably went bust to be taken over by Chrysler and then PSA who shut the Ryton plant which made 309s at that time. I remember it well. Mike

    • @frglee
      @frglee 3 роки тому +1

      Many years back I can remember taking a used car for a test drive with the car salesman, and the window winder came off in my hand. "They do that" he said, as if it were a design feature.

  • @jeffreystacy867
    @jeffreystacy867 3 роки тому +2

    Wondered if you were going to mention the Tiger, first I believe with a V8 of 260 cubic inch in American speak. Used to see both types on the road occasionally then mostly the Tigers at shows. They are all good looking cars and from what I hear they ride nice compared to some other sports cars. I love the red interior and seats. Haven't seen one in years though. I also have heard that story about the guy with the hammer in the engine compartment... thanks much for your road tests

  • @gord307
    @gord307 3 роки тому

    The steering wheel adjustment is genius! Thank you for the review :-)

  • @craigmclean8260
    @craigmclean8260 3 роки тому

    Ahh, that proper sports car sound! Hearkens back to my childhood; where I grew up, in the 1960s, MGAs, 'Bs, Healeys, and Sunbeams were quite a familiar sight, and I could tell the various exhaust notes apart...Lovely countryside again...just got my HubNut mug and T-shirt; now I need to find something to tinker on, even if it's just my lawn mower ("quality definitely NOT guaranteed")!

  • @philabrahams383
    @philabrahams383 3 роки тому

    You started the drove over the bridge with a white top on when did the rest of the test in a black T-shirt a few seconds later 😱 magic😉

  • @scalecrawlnl
    @scalecrawlnl 3 роки тому +1

    Cool car with exciting note, awesome surroundings to go for a hoon. I hope the segment 'induction roar' will become a staple in the reviews.
    Perhaps before the Autumn weather is upon us, a possibly 'tuned' TR6 comes your way to review. Thanks to the owner and to you HubNut👍

  • @dirkbonesteel
    @dirkbonesteel 3 роки тому +1

    We had three 66/67 Alpines, great cars. Except for the occasional large gas leak directly above exhaust and standard issue electrical fires, good solid quality car. Heavier metal and design then the other British sports cars, deluxe two position seat height, adjustable steering wheel, duel gas tanks for weight distribution, hole in front to use a hand crank start, 49/51 weight distribution F to R, and coolest dashboard I ever saw Remember they were quick as hell for the time up to 80 MPH, but 82 MPH not possible with no overdrive. Would have loved the overdrive option. . Most ignored great car from the 60s, should be much more popular.
    Original inner door panels were fancier then on this car, couple other things look like a resto. Originally the padded role on top of dash was leather, tended to crack over time. Everything else a good heavy leather like vinyl. They also had a heavy X frame to make up for no roof. Solid ass little car. By the way it's missing a metal bar between door hinges

  • @stephencopeland238
    @stephencopeland238 3 роки тому

    Now that is my idea of a proper sports car - love it!

  • @glennrowland8724
    @glennrowland8724 Рік тому

    love that exhaust tone

  • @millomweb
    @millomweb 3 роки тому +1

    I'll look forward very much to the rapier test - the first car I remember us having. It sadly had a strange 'ending' - on a holiday trip down from Cumberland (!) to Butlin's at Minehead. While stationary in a queue of traffic in Bridgend (outside a police station), as Dad put it, it was converted into a short wheelsbase model and the run home a week later was its last (for whatever reason).
    The incident was on a sweeping? right hand bend and it appeared two other cars were having a bit of a race and one of them decided to use our car to assist their stopping - pushing us into the car in front in the queue.

    • @paulbennell3313
      @paulbennell3313 3 роки тому +1

      That's a sickener, Rapiers were lovely cars.

  • @sevesellors2831
    @sevesellors2831 3 роки тому

    A school friend’s dad owned a Rootes dealership went out in a powder blue Alpine fabulous car. My dad a Minx and a Pekan ( Hunter) in Iran.
    Great review lovely to visit old friends when car had character and brands did look different.

  • @daniellee9015
    @daniellee9015 3 роки тому

    What a beautiful car makes u smile unlike a modern car were it makes you cry Brilliant video Ian 👍

  • @davidpatterson9107
    @davidpatterson9107 3 роки тому

    Plain honest & simply beautiful Car. Love it 👌

  • @theclappedoutdairy-man3507
    @theclappedoutdairy-man3507 3 роки тому

    Real wind in the hair motoring towards the end. Very enjoyable video.

  • @johnmarsh2078
    @johnmarsh2078 2 роки тому

    The Alpine rasp was only on S1V and SV models. Before these models the 1494cc and 1592cc engines in the S1, 11 and 111 had tubular exhaust manifolds and sounded different form the 1V and V which had cast iron jobs like the rapier, Sceptre and Vogue. The Alpine always had a twin silencer straight thru system and it was this + the cast manifold that made the rasp. Mine was even raspier .... I removed one of the silencers. Happy days for an old anorak.

  • @Hairnicks
    @Hairnicks 3 роки тому

    Lovely little cars, I had 64 Midget but still craved an Alpine, it was the rear wings, gorgeous.

  • @danieleregoli812
    @danieleregoli812 3 роки тому

    Is there anything better in life than driving along the beautiful country roads of rural UK in a lovely old girl?!