The Sunbeam Tiger is iinevitably compared to the Shelby Cobra but really, they are two very different cars.
The parallels between the Shelby Cobra and the Sunbean Tiger are numerous. It’s almost uncanny: Both are two-seat sports cars in the classic British tradition; both are powered by Ford V8s from the USA. Carroll Shelby, the Le Mans-winning race driver and super-salesman, had a imajor hand in both of them. Still, the Cobra and the Tiger managed to be two remarkably different cars.
The inspiration for the Tiger came not from Shelby, as with the AC-based Cobra, but from within the Rootes Group, makers of the Sunbeam Alpine. Senior managers reasoned that the HIllman-based two-place roadster, introduced in 1959. would be more marketable with greater output than its little 80-hp four could provide. Looking around for a suitable replacement, they chose Foird’s new Fairlane V8—it was reasonably compact and weighed less than 500 lbs.
Rootes competition manager Norman Garrad, familiar with the Shelby operation, arranged to have two prototypes built: a full-blown development car from Shelby American for $10,000, and a quick-and-cheap test mule from Ken Miles for just $800. Chairman William Edward Rootes was skeptical of the V8 plan, but when he drove the Shelby prototype he ordered it straight into production for 1964 As the story goes, Lord Rootes called on Henry Ford II personally to secure the engine supply.
Shelby lobbied for the contract to assemble the production cars in Southern California, but Rootes awarded the job to Jensen Motors in Britain. Painted and trimmed Alpine bodies from the Pressed Steel Co. were trucked to Jensen where the engines and running gear were installed. Reportedly, some careful sledgehammer work was required to drop the Ford V8 and 4-speed transmission into place. The V8 fit, but just barely.
Officially, Tigers were produced in two series: The 1964-67 Mark I was powered by a 260 cubic-inch V8 with 164 hp, while the 1967 Mark II (Tiger II in the USA) was upgraded to a 289 CID V8 with 200 hp. Both were offered only with two-barrel carburetors. A hybrid with the 260 V8 but later production features is known to enthusiasts as the Mark 1A.
With its greater weight (2653 lbs) due to its more civilized appointments, and to its casual state of tune, the Tiger was no match for the Cobra in performance. However, far more Tigers were produced—more than 7,000 cars. In 1967, Chrysler acquired full control of the Rootes Group, and that was effectively the end of the Sunbeam Tiger. Chrysler’s small V8 was a poor fit in the cramped body shell, and the new owner had little interest in two-seat sports cars anyway. The final cars were sold minus their Ford badging.
Tigers made the scene in ’60s pop culture, appearing in the TV spy spoof Get Smart and in Playboy, where 1965 Playmate of the year Jo Collins a bright pink Tiger. Shelby, who lost the production contract but collected a royalty on each car sold, was an active participant in the marketing (below). Invariably referred to as “the poor man’s Cobra” or “Cobra’s little brother,” the Tiger has always lived in the Cobra’s shadow. But actually, it’s a great little sports car in its own right.
We can probably count on one hand, and have fingers left over, how many times Carroll Shelby was photographed wearing a suit and a tie, so that in itself is a “rare” aspect of the Shelby mystique.
Luved seeing Maxwell Smart arrive at Control in his Sunbeam Tiger in the opening credits of Get Smart.
As the owner of a 1964 Sunbeam Alpine back in the day, I can’t imagine that car with a 200 hp V-8 being a great sports car. Vague steering, primitive suspension and 13″ wheels were barely adequate with 80 hp.
Came within a gnats hair buying a 67 Tiger. The owner had swapped for an aluminum intake and Holley 4 bbl and I think it had dual exhausts if memory serves me right. Was a fast little car, but needed a new convertible top. I couldn’t see paying $800 then having to have a top put on it. Bought a 67 Mustang coupe instead.
“Did you ever wonder who might drive a Tiger?” My mentor, Andy Rooney drove one, and of course GET Smart gave it the most air time. In Beer City, we rarely saw any, except maybe at Road America from Chicago. Personally, from my armchair, I always thought the Tiger was too much, and detracted from what a great car the Alpine was. I remember looking for these as a kid, and to finally see one, and it was just a mere “Alpine”. To be honest, the Tiger was a handful. Front heavy, no traction, hot, just too much for what an Alpine was intended for. I read, these cost a whopping $3495 in 1967, almost what a Corvette cost, and for a long time, I remember not too long ago,, nobody wanted these, or any British roadster for that matter. Funny how times have sure changed.