Carroll Shelby’s other British V8
American racer and designer Carroll Shelby is best known for his work on enhanced performance versions of the Mustang, as well as creating the AC Cobra, a Ford V8 in a British chassis. However, that wasn’t the only time he sought out a British beauty with an American engine. The Tiger Sunbeam by Rootes is not as famous as Auto Carrier’s Cobra, but she’s no second-rate cousin.
The original pitch had been for Shelby to obtain a contract and licensing to produce the Tiger in his own shop stateside, but in the end, Rootes chose Jensen of West Bromwich, England, to perform the actual construction, opting to pay Shelby a royalty for every car produced there. Interested in this impressive 1965 version of Carroll Shelby’s lesser-known UK project? You can check out the listing for this Sunbeam Tiger by clicking here!
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Yellow stripes for this Tiger
Only about 7,000 Tigers were ever made, and none of them were draped in the alluring, hazy orange of this custom paint scheme. A faint pin-striping extends along the side from headlight to taillight, unbroken and ramrod straight.
The grille confidently rests atop the thin yet chromed front bumper, while accents like the cursive ‘Tiger’ written on the passenger-side fender are also chromed. The top is also reported to have been replaced by a prior owner.
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Classic style, updated
The cabin of this Sunbeam Tiger is a blend of old and new. The dash appears to be original, with marbled leather paneling atop a wooden instrument panel. An analog odometer reads 94,098 miles, with a 140 mph speedometer and a 5,500 RPM tachometer. Beside them sit auxiliary gauges for oil, water, and fuel, as well as substantial switches and levers for the lights, the blower, and the convertible top.
The interior has been re-carpeted in black, doing its job of being functional and letting the more set-piece elements stand out around it, including a fire extinguisher positioned handily in front of the gear shifter. The seats are original, but the covers have been replaced and match the orange and black color-scheme, as have the door panels. The steering wheel is also an aftermarket three-spoke model with overpadded black leather wrapping.
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Transatlantic partnership
The Tiger was a chipper little Alpine roadster, thanks in part to the addition of a 260ci Ford V8, and the owner of this one has added modern twin-pipe exhaust, chrome air intakes, and aftermarket suspension to support it. The T-10 4-speed manual transmission is original, sending power to the rear wheels, wrapped in BF Goodrich tires.
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Final thoughts
This 1965 Sunbeam Tiger is stunning, well-maintained, and sparsely driven. The black and orange color scheme is a stand-out element and a perfect homage to the feline hunter that she is named after. There are very few unmodified Sunbeam Tigers out there nowadays, but this one strikes a fine balance between original parts and upgrades for both cosmetics and performance. If you love British styling and American power, this is it.
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