Description:

Sunbeam Rapier, Series 111

Announced at the London Motor Show of 1955, the Sunbeam Rapier was the first of a new range of Rootes cars. A modern-looking two-door, four-seat Coupé, the cars were finished in a selection of attractive two-tone colour schemes. The bodies were coachbuilt by Thrupp & Maberly in London and then moved to the Rootes plant at Ryton-on-Dunsmore for final assembly. The Rapier had inherently excellent handling and was quickly adopted for rallying. Indeed the launch of the Series II version took place at the end of the 1958 Monte Carlo Rally in which Peter Harper's Works Rapier had finished fifth overall. The Series III Rapier is generally regarded as the definitive version and was introduced in the September of 1959. Over the next few years the tough and reliable Rapier would acquit itself well as a competition car, and in addition to the Series III's success as a front-line rally car for the Rootes Group Competition Department, it achieved many class and some overall wins at 'Club' level particularly at short circuits and sprints. 

This much admired Rapier was originally a rally car having won The Rally of the Tests in 2004 and placing 2nd in 2002 driven/navigated by Robin Eyre-Maunsell & Peter Scott.  It was then acquired via Julius Thurgood and raced in early HRDC and U2TC events. During the Spring of 2012 it was prepared by Chris Snowdon Racing for Harry Sherrard after he received an invitation to race in the St Mary’s Trophy races at the Goodwood Revival Meeting in 2012. CSR completed a full bare-metal rebuild of the shell, carried out a comprehensive overhaul,  developed the suspension, installed a roll cage, and lightened the car where possible.

The St Mary's Trophy is a two-race, two-driver Pro-Am and Harry Sherrard was lucky enough to secure, as a co-driver, the former Formula 1, IndyCar and Le Mans star Derek Daly who made this his return to racing for the first time in many years. The combined result was a credible 12th/30.

The next owner invested in a close ratio gearbox and light flywheel done by Allgears. The suspension has been specifically developed by 'Cornering Force' and includes many ingenious ideas and strengthened components. They sold the car via Silverstone Auctions to me in 2017 and since then I have had a new race engine installed and competed regularly with HRDC and at Goodwood Revival.

In 2017 I shared with Chris Harris in the St Mary's Trophy at the Goodwood Revival and we had a combined result of 16th/29, 2018 at the Goodwood Revival I finished 20th/30 in the Jack Sears Memorial Trophy and at this years Goodwood Revival,  Amanda Stretton and I finihsed 10th/29. I have also competed regularly over the last two years with HRDC in the Touring Greats series and enjoyed several class podiums. 

Before this years Revival I had a £4000 freshen up of the engine and since them it has only competed at the Revival. The car is ultra reliable and totally legal with HRDC papers.

Contact me on +447584243004