1913 Sunbeam 25/30hp Torpedo
Brooklands witnessed a remarkable demonstration of durability in 1911 when Louis Coatalen and T. Richards covered 909 miles in twelve hours at an average speed of 75.7 mph, setting a new record that established the 25/30 as one of the fastest and most durable production cars of its day.
The Autocar’s 1913 assessment praised the combination of speed, power, and vibration-free operation achieved without dampers or similar devices.
Coatalen’s 6.1-litre six-cylinder engine produced approximately 75 bhp at 3,000 rpm, feeding power through a three-speed manual transmission. The design represented Sunbeam’s entry into six-cylinder production alongside the Wolverhampton firm’s established four-cylinder 12/16 and 16/20 models.
Production between 1912 and 1914 yielded an estimated 500 chassis or fewer, with less than ten examples surviving today. The 25/30 arrived during Sunbeam’s ascent to prominence following Coatalen’s 1909 appointment, helping establish a reputation that would rival Alvis and Bentley in subsequent years.
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