1955 Sunbeam-Talbot Alpine Mk III Roadster
Royal coachbuilders crafted one of Britain’s most exclusive sports cars when Thrupp & Maberly, coachbuilders by appointment to Queen Victoria, hand-built the Sunbeam-Talbot Alpine from 1953 to 1955.
Only 300 Mark III examples were produced from the total 1,582 Alpines built, and as few as 200 are estimated to survive today.
The model name celebrated Sunbeam-Talbot’s successes in the challenging Alpine Rallies of the early 1950s. Rally drivers Stirling Moss and John Fitch achieved notable results in these elegant roadsters. The Mark III featured special wheel trim and a more refined dashboard layout compared to earlier versions.
Power came from a 2,267cc overhead-valve inline four-cylinder engine producing approximately 80 horsepower, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Independent front suspension and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes provided competent road manners for both touring and competition use.
A sapphire blue Alpine achieved Hollywood fame in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 film “To Catch a Thief,” driven by Grace Kelly alongside Cary Grant.
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