The Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans was introduced at The Earls Court
Motor Show in October 1961. The Le Mans name comes from the Sunbeam
win of 'The Index of Thermal Efficiency' Trophy at Le Mans by
the Harrington Alpine with registration number 3000 RW in April of
that same year. The Le Mans introduced some radical new coachwork
that literally chopped the rear fins from the car. Taking advantage
of publicity from the win at Le Mans, Rootes targeted American
buyers and sent as many as half of the 250 car production to US
shores. While the standard line of Harrington options were still
available, the Le Mans had more standardised production and was not
offered on a per-order basis like the Harrington Alpine. This meant
that they were offered as a Rootes product and not an 'official
conversion' and could be found on showroom floors... if a
dealership was lucky enough to even get one! The Le Mans does not
carry the Alpine name and is identified by its unique finless
design with all units built on Alpine Series II bodies.
This Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans was one of the last cars built, being registered in April 1963. Owned by the vendor for over twelve years, the car was subject to a complete restoration shortly after being imported into the United Kingdom. It is fitted with a Holbay engine; one of the last engines overhauled by John Read, (the founder of Holbay Engineering) before his untimely death in a World War II fighter plane in 1992. This Harrington is well known to Sunbeam enthusiasts as one with the highest in performance; the 1840cc engine with two twin choke Weber carburettors giving 140bhp, overdrive on third and forth gears, 1:37 ratio rear differential and fourteen inch Minilite wheels. The owner has taken this car all over Europe on rallies, to his home in Spain and has kept it meticulously maintained throughout his ownership. Finished in red with a black vinyl roof and new black leather interior, this Harrington Le Mans is supplied with a V5C registration document, an MoT test certificate which expires in August 2013 and is ready to go anywhere you care to choose! A very rare classic car and a sound investment for the future.
This Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans was one of the last cars built, being registered in April 1963. Owned by the vendor for over twelve years, the car was subject to a complete restoration shortly after being imported into the United Kingdom. It is fitted with a Holbay engine; one of the last engines overhauled by John Read, (the founder of Holbay Engineering) before his untimely death in a World War II fighter plane in 1992. This Harrington is well known to Sunbeam enthusiasts as one with the highest in performance; the 1840cc engine with two twin choke Weber carburettors giving 140bhp, overdrive on third and forth gears, 1:37 ratio rear differential and fourteen inch Minilite wheels. The owner has taken this car all over Europe on rallies, to his home in Spain and has kept it meticulously maintained throughout his ownership. Finished in red with a black vinyl roof and new black leather interior, this Harrington Le Mans is supplied with a V5C registration document, an MoT test certificate which expires in August 2013 and is ready to go anywhere you care to choose! A very rare classic car and a sound investment for the future.