1966 Sunbeam Tiger Mk 1A

Description

The 1966 Sunbeam Tiger blends British roadster charm with American muscle, featuring a Ford-sourced 260ci V8 paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Developed with input from Carroll Shelby, the Tiger offered a potent alternative to its Alpine sibling, delivering robust performance in a compact package.

This particular 1966 Sunbeam Tiger is finished in its factory-correct shade of Midnight Blue, a color it was refinished in during 2011 by Marshall’s Auto Restoration of Fresno, California. Complementing the paintwork is a color-matched hardtop and a black vinyl soft top. The car rides on 15″ Minilite wheels and features chrome bumpers plus dual exhaust outlets that hint at its V8 power. The cabin features black leather with wood accents and Jaeger instrumentation, while a Clarion AM/FM stereo adds a period-correct touch. The engine was rebuilt in 2009, the driver’s seat foam, interior carpeting, and panhard bushings were replaced in 2021, and the car benefits from additional mechanical attention as noted in the listing and included receipts below.

Reportedly sold new and registered in California since, this Tiger is now offered on dealer consignment with its hardtop, a certificate of authenticity, restoration and service documentation, and a clean California title listing it as a 1966 Roots.

Factory Equipment 

• 260ci Ford V8 

• Four-speed manual transmission 

• Body-color hard top 

• Black vinyl soft top 

• Dual exhaust system 

• Chrome bumpers 

• Fender-mounted antenna 

• Clarion AM/FM stereo 

• The chassis number (B382000443LRXFE) decodes as: 

  • B382 – Indicates the model line: Sunbeam Tiger. 

  • 000443 – Sequential production number

  • L – Left-hand drive 

  • R – Assembly plant code: Rootes Group factory in England. 

  • X – Indicates special equipment or factory options 

  • F – Transmission type: Ford-sourced gearbox  

  • E – Engine type: Ford V8 

Modifications 

• Refinished in Midnight Blue (original color) with color-matched hard top and black soft top 

• Reupholstered black leather interior with wood trim and black carpet with blue floor mats 

• 15″ Minilite wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Advantage Control tires 

• Holley four-barrel carburetor

Servicing & Documentation

• Included restoration and service receipts are provided in the "Additional documents" section of this listing below

• Sunbeam Tiger Owners Association - Certificate of Authenticity (shown in photo gallery)

• 2009: 260ci Ford V8 rebuilt by Arcane Automotive of Fresno, California, including polished valve covers and a Holley four-barrel carburetor (see receipts for details)

• 2011: Refinished in factory Midnight Blue by Marshall’s Auto Restoration

• October 2021: Driver’s seat foam and carpeting replaced

• September 2021: Panhard bushings replaced

Known Imperfections 

• Paint imperfections and touch-up spots present around the body 

• Yellowing noted on soft top window

Ownership History 

According to the seller, this Tiger has remained in California since new and was acquired by the current owner in 2014. The five-digit odometer shows approximately 38,700 miles, with only a few hundred miles reportedly added during current ownership—however, true mileage is unknown due to the odometer’s limitation.

Included Items

• Sunbeam Tiger Owners Association - Certificate of Authenticity

• Restoration and service receipts (see "Additional documents" section)

• California Association of Tiger Owners Member Roster (2014) 

• The Sunbeam ‘260’ Workshop Manual

• Body-color hardtop 

• Black vinyl soft top 

• Two sets of keys 

• Spare wheel 

• Boot cover 

• Jack