1965 Sunbeam Tiger

The Sunbeam Tiger was a development of the Sunbeam Alpine series I, introduced by the British manufacturer Rootes in 1959. Rootes realized that the Alpine needed more power if it was to compete successfully in world markets, but lacked a suitable engine and the resources to develop one.

 

In 1964, the Sunbeam Tiger MK I was born as a collaboration between the Rootes Group (who produced the Sunbeam Alpine) and Carroll Shelby. The Tiger was produced between 1964 and 1967 under a royalty agreement with Shelby.

 

In the mid-1960’s, the Tiger successfully competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other European races. For two years, the Tiger was the American Hot Rod Associations’ national record holder over a quarter-mile drag strip.

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This is also the model of car driven by Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) in the introduction of the 1960’s series “Get Smart”.