1965 Sunbeam Tiger
Started on March 13, 2004, 2:57 p.m.
While on a business trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, we found a 1965 Tiger in a barn with a straight, rust-free body and a blown motor.
It was last driven in 1974, has 41,000 miles on it, and came with an early Alpine parts car and a 289 engine.
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Latest Project Updates
Jun 23, 2011
Tiger Unleashed
We made it home safe—and a little overheated—after an a/c-free road trip.
May 23, 2011
Tiger Trip Prep
A few tweaks make our Tiger a more pleasant steed for the New England 1000 Rally.
May 5, 2011
Traveling Tiger
Making plans for the Tiger this spring.
Sep 14, 2010
Going to the Sun Shakedown
We give our Tiger a final shakedown at the Going to the Sun Rally.
Sep 10, 2010
Taming the Tiger
Another round of sorting for our Tiger project.
Jun 17, 2010
Hold That Tiger!
We test a prototype Wilwood brake kit on our Sunbeam Tiger project.
May 10, 2009
Time for a Checkup
A chassis dyno is a great testing and tuning tool, and soon our Tiger will hit the rollers.
Nov 3, 2008
Tiger Testing
It’s time to put down the wrenches and start enjoying the drive in our Tiger. But first must come the sorting process, a necessary step in any new restoration.
Oct 21, 2008
Tail(pipe) of the Tiger
Putting together a good exhaust system for a built-up Tiger takes a little extra thought and work.
Oct 11, 2008
Bluegrass 1000 Ends on a High Note
Tim finds he gets along really well with Tigers.
Oct 9, 2008
Day Three in the Tiger
Tim takes the Tiger to the National Corvette Museum. Despite his Ford power, he was greeted warmly.
Oct 8, 2008
Day Two in the Tiger
Tim continues to chronicle his Tiger tour.
Oct 7, 2008
10 Hours in a Tiger
Hitting the road with our Sunbeam Tiger.
Sep 18, 2008
Tiger Feet
Figuring out Sunbeam Tiger wheels and tires.
Jul 6, 2008
Installing a Tiger Top
Tigers are not known for their excellent top design.
Jun 16, 2008
Odds and Ends
Little things mean a lot to a Tiger.
Apr 26, 2008
Live Tiger
We wire up our Tiger and bring it to life for the first time since 1974.
Apr 13, 2008
Tiger Oiling
We work through the finer points of keeping clean, cool oil running to our Tiger V8.
Mar 23, 2008
Cooling a Tiger
Hunting down the elusive cool Tiger.
Feb 24, 2008
Systems of a Tiger
Systems are everything on a project. Have a system, and tackle the reassembly system by system.
Feb 4, 2008
Restoring the Tiger's Interior
Tim redoes the Tiger’s interior with a little help—and a few upgrades.
Dec 27, 2007
Tiger Reassembly
Tim starts in on the fun work of a restoration—putting things back together.
Nov 21, 2007
Rollin'
It’s all about the wheels as the Tiger finally gets on four of them, and gets a new steering wheel, too.
Nov 12, 2007
Tiger Front Suspension Rebuild
With the engine finally in place, our attention turned to the Tiger’s front end.
Oct 1, 2007
Headers Aren't Headaches
The Tiger is slowly coming together.
Jul 11, 2007
A New Heart for the Tiger
Those who know these cars, know that the engine install is not an easy job, especially if you start changing stuff around.
Jun 5, 2007
Start Your Engines
Progress continues on our Tiger. This past week we spent a couple of days at Abacus Racing where we assembled and dynoed our Tiger’s engine.
May 29, 2007
Reassembling the Tiger
We are rolling along pretty nicely on our Tiger reassembly, despite being out of town for events.
Apr 12, 2007
Anatomy of a Tiger Body
With the rear end completed we turn our attention back to the body and paint.
Apr 3, 2007
Looking at a Tiger's Rearend
Putting together the rear end of our Tiger.
Nov 20, 2006
Body Fixes
Body work on the Tiger continues.
Jul 27, 2006
Strengthening the Frame
Frame work begins.
Jun 28, 2006
Rotisserie Work
Body work begins.
Jan 3, 2006
Tiger Restoration: Full Speed Ahead
Prep work in the cold.
Dec 29, 2005
Catch a Tiger by its Tail
A stripped Tiger.
Nov 23, 2005
Stripping the Tiger
Removing the junk to get to the bare metal.
Oct 20, 2005
Work Begins on Our Tiger
We have to start somewhere.
Mar 13, 2004
Birth of a Tiger Project
Here is where we started.
Supported by
1965 Sunbeam Tiger Specs
- Body type:
- Convertible
- Country of origin:
- England
- Original price:
- $3425
- 0-60 time:
- 7.5 seconds
- Displacement:
- 4737cc
- Engine configuration:
- V-8
- Transmission:
- 4-speed manual
- Drivetrain configuration:
- Rear-wheel drive
- Brakes:
- disc/drum
- Bolt pattern:
- 4 x 110mm
- Body width:
- 60.5 in.
- Curb weight:
- 2560 lbs.
- Wheelbase:
- 86.0 in.
