Conceived by Ian Garrad, U.S. West Coast manager for Britain’s Rootes Motors Inc., the Sunbeam Tiger grabbed a small but significant share of the growing market for fast American V-8-powered British sports cars during the 1960s. Dropping a powerful V-8 engine into a small European sports car was no small task, but as Sidney Allard and Carroll Shelby had already proven, the concept was viable and represented the quickest path to race-winning performance. Once Garrad obtained approval from Lord Rootes’ son Brian, a Ford 260 V-8-powered prototype was quickly built by engineer and racer Ken Miles, who joined Shelby American soon thereafter. Shelby also built a V-8 Alpine conversion, with the car tested by Garrad and then shipped to England for evaluation in the summer of 1963. Company management, including Lord Rootes, enthusiastically approved the project, codenamed “Thunderbolt,” and selected Jensen to build it in West Bromwich. First available for U.S. sale in 1964, the new car was appropriately named Tiger in honor of Rootes’ own 1925/26 V-12 Land Speed Record car. The next year, the Tiger was made available for U.K. sale. A strong performer, the Tiger nearly won the SCCA B/Production National Championship in 1966, and it was a fierce drag racer, taking the 1965 AHRA National Championship in its class. Only some 7,000 Tigers were built through 1968 along two series, the MkI with an estimated 6,500 (MkI and MkIA) produced, and the updated, 289-powered MkII numbering an estimated 500 or so. Only Chrysler’s 1967 takeover of Rootes Group forced the demise of the attractive and potent Ford V-8-powered sports car. This MkII Tiger is a highly desirable, rust-free California since new with a frame-up rotisserie restoration including extensive use of NOS Tiger parts. In addition to the original California pink slip, documentation includes paperwork from new and it is understood to be the first Tiger to win “Best in Show” award. Documents also include a letter from Lord Rootes. Stored from 1984 until the restoration was completed, the Tiger shows 51,000 believed-original miles. As offered, there are zero miles since the engine, transmission and rear end rebuild, and welcome upgrades include a Mattson custom radiator, Vintage Air, rack-and-pinion power steering, custom- built wheels and performance tires.
