MEET THE OWNER – MALCOLM OSWALD AND HIS SUNBEAM RAPIER SERIES I

Here is a brilliant new Sunbeam model, new in its conception of style, comfort and performance. The genius of Sunbeam engineering, the experience of world rally successes and the famous Sunbeam craftsmanship are now combined in the new Rapier, a luxury hard-top saloon with a sparkling sports performance and remarkable road-holding qualities.

And Malcolm’s 1957 Rapier Series I more than lives up to the promises of the Rootes Group’s sales copy. His Sunbeam recently took part in the Mille Miglia, achieving “Second in Class” and over the last few months has covered over 4,000 miles without missing a beat. It is also a prime example of a car that had no domestic rivals when new.  

Rootes envisaged the Rapier as the heir to the Hillman Californian and the first of their ‘Audax’ medium-sized cars.  Raymond Lowey Associates created the distinctive styling, and power was from the 1.4-litre OHV unit from the Minx Mk. VIII. For the Rapier, this unit was augmented by a Stromberg carburettor and featured an enhanced compression ratio, resulting in a top speed of a shade under 86 mph.  

On launch in 1955, the Rapier’s looks were a major sales asset in their own right. Dealers could demonstrate how the rear windows could be wound down to create a completely pillarless side. The standard equipment list was equally appealing; it included duotone paint, a Laycock-de-Normanville overdrive, two-speed wipers, and a cigar lighter, all for £1,043 17s. Malcolm’s Rapier has the optional radio, so a 1957-vintage motorist could listen to the Saturday Skiffle Club on the BBC Light Programme.  

Malcolm’s Sunbeam also features the optional clock and heater – its second owner fitted the latter – and other extras included overriders, white-wall tyres, and a reversing lamp. “For details of the full range of Rootes Group Special Accessories apply to your Dealer”. His stunning-looking Rapier is in Pearl Grey & Summer Blue - “It was originally in black and grey, but my father bought a new Sunbeam in those shades, and I wanted to have mine sprayed in those colours”.

Other initial paint finishes ranged from Honey Beige & Pearl Grey and Embassy Black & April Yellow to Dawn Mist & Corinth Blue, or Pippin Red & Pearl Grey. With the Sunbeam Rapier, as with the Ford Zephyr-Zodiac of 1953, there was the sense of post-war austerity retreating and the rise of the affluent society. Not that everyone approved of such joie de vivre. The editor of Motor Sport was not enthused by his test car’s “honey-beige and grey” colour scheme and regarded the Sunbeam as “rather disappointing, in respect of handling and performance”.  

Worse, the Rapier was apparently “more of a ‘hotted-up’ Hillman Minx than a Gran Turismo or sports saloon”. This was almost as bad as the idea of Richard Dimbleby declaring that he was a rock & roll band leader in his spare time. The Rootes Group’s heavy emphasis on the Sunbeam name was in part to convince owners of the older Mk. IIIS, which was derived from the 1939 Sunbeam-Talbot 2-Litre and was due to cease production in 1957.

Malcolm vividly recalls the day his family’s Rapier was parked near to an older 90 saloon and for the owner’s son to sniff ‘It’s not exactly a Sunbeam-Talbot, is it?”. But by 1955 the Mk. IIIS, although a delightful car, clearly harked back to a pre-war idiom. The Rapier had to create its own niche, and The Motor hailed it as a car for one “who appreciates an attractive and well-finished two door saloon in which the premium of comparatively high cost buys attention to detail in comfort, trim and silence”. Autocar regarded the latest Sunbeam as “not cheap to buy, yet it represents value for money particularly to a family man who can afford a good car but not a sports car additionally for himself”.

The Rapier’s image was further enhanced by winning the Special Touring Class up to 1600cc in the 1956 Mille Miglia and a class victory in the 1957 Tulip Rally. At the end of the previous year, Rootes modified the Series 1 as the “R67” with twin Zenith 36 WIP carburettors.  The top speed was now 88 mph and “The Sunbeam Rapier has even more power and zip with the brilliant 1 .4 litre ' Pacemaker ' engine, incorporating all the unique skill and rally-winning experience of Sunbeam's famous Competition Department”. This was not entirely hyperbole and Malcolm thinks the R67 upgrade made the Rapier “more of a sports saloon”.

The Series II replaced the Series I in 1958, and Malcolm acquired his Sunbeam in 1982. He says:

I have undertaken some work over the years, but the Rapier has never required any welding; merely some minor adjustments. I had to sell it in the 1990s due to time pressures, but the new owner promised me first refusal if he ever sold the Sunbeam. After a few years, I reacquired it. The column gear change works very well, and the Rapier can certainly keep up with modern traffic – not bad for a car nearly 70 years old.

As for recently taking part in the Mille Miglia:

It was absolutely mind-blowing. You cannot participate unless your car was a type that competed ph. in the original races, and beforehand, you have mental images of beautiful lakes and scenery. But the reality was closer to Wacky Races! You are also reminded how strong and well-built the Rapier is, which is why it was so popular as a competition car. 

Malcolm has also kindly written a fascinating account of competing in the Mille Miglia, and we will include it in a future blog.

Probably because the Series I lacks the square grille associated with the ‘Audax’ Rapier from the Series II onwards, Malcolm’s Sunbeam is often confused with a Hillman. “Even when I was in Italy, people said to me ‘My dad had a Hillman’!”. But those in the know recognise the Rapier as a car without a domestic rival when new; neither BMC nor Ford, Standard-Triumph, nor Vauxhall offered a similar four-seater tourer.  

Today, Malcolm’s Sunbeam Rapier is vivid illustration of how it founded a dynasty of affordable, and very stylish coupes that lasted for almost two decades. As I once wrote in Practical Classics: “Driving along the A31 was not exactly a trip to Los Angeles, even if you casually draped your arm out of the window, but the dream was what mattered”.

Plus, the Rapier really did fulfil the Rootes Group’s promise of an exhilarating motor car.

With thanks to Malcolm Oswald for his time.

With thanks to Malcolm Oswald for permission to use the images in this
blog.