Sunbeam Tiger

[cleandan]

bomelia, the Sunbeam Tiger is a bit of an unknown fun little car, but they do have a strong following and support system. They were built between 1964-1967. The vast majority of them (MK1 and MK1a's) came factory equipped with the Ford "Fairlane 260" and the last few (535 of them I think) had the 289 installed and were MKII's, all of them were 2bbl carbs. They are very fun to own and drive. The engine compartment is so tight that cooling issues plague the little beast. The 289 cast aluminum COBRA valve covers you know have small fins on the top. The same casting used for the Tiger has the rear portion of fins removed to fit under the firewall just to give you an idea, so being thin and bendy helps with maintenance. The wheelbase is 87", the rear track is 42" wide and the car weighs about 2500 lbs. The drivetrain is VERY durable with the Ford V8 coupled to a Top Loader 4spd tranny and then turning a Salisbury (british DANA) 4HA diff with 2.88:1 gears. The Tigers came in many different colors, white, black, med dk blue, red, green, brown, tan/beige, and a few others. The original wheels were 13" dia and wore 26" tall by 4.5" wide tires...or close to that, with UGLY hubcaps that REALLY deterred from any sporting look one hoped to achieve. Mini-Lites and Panasports come in 13", 14", 15", and 16" for this car and improve the look quite a lot while allowing for more performance oriented tires to be fitted. My Tiger, a 1966 Mk1a, sporting a slightly worked 289 HI-PO and 15" Mini-Lites has been super fun to drive. The ricers chase me down wondering what it is. Others think it is a Triumph or MG, and all wonder what I have done to it when they catch me at a stop light and they hear the cam lope at idle (pretty choppy and I like it that way) The car does have its issues though, like all of them. Like I said, cooling (at least when the motor is modded) is something that must be perfected. The ackerman angle makes the steering a bit odd. The short, narrow, wheelbase coupled to the narrow tires (I'm running 195/50/15's) makes for careful application of the throttle at all times...lest one be passed by ones own rear end in a snappy manner. The aerodynamics are poor and start showing their colors around 125-130mph and are basically tapping you on the shoulder at 150mph. And the car is very small overall so others on the road often just do not see you. But, in the end, whether I am putting around town or cruising the hwy I always seem to finish my trip satisfied and happy. I tried for 13 years to get an original owners, original Tiger from him (family friend) but that will never happen. Then one sorta fell in my lap. It is a LOT rougher than I had wanted, but I now have a Tiger and so far I love it. They are NOT the most comfortable cars to drive. So, much like the Cobra roadster, you really gotta want one.