Editing Sunbeam Alpine (section)

==Alpine Mark I and III==
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Sunbeam Alpine Mark I & III
| image = 1954 Sunbeam Alpine Mark I Roadster, front right (Hershey 2019).jpg
| caption = Alpine Mark I
| production = 1953–1955<br />1,582 made<ref name=A-Z45to80>{{cite book |last=Robson |first=Graham |title=A–Z British Cars 1945–1980 |year=2006 |publisher=Herridge & Sons |isbn=0-9541063-9-3 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/azbritishcars1940000robs }}</ref>
| assembly = United Kingdom <br /> Australia<ref>Advertisement for Sunbeam Mk III and Alpine "Produced in the factory of Rootes Australia Limited", Modern Motor (magazine), March 1955, page 34</ref>
| body_style = 2-door [[Roadster (automobile)|roadster]]
| engine = 2267&nbsp;cc (2.3 L) [[Inline-four engine|I4]]
| length = {{convert|168.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=BritishCars>{{cite book |last1=Culshaw |first1=David|last2=Horrobin|first2=Peter |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=0-333-16689-2}}</ref>
| width = {{convert|62.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=BritishCars/>
| wheelbase = {{convert|97.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=BritishCars/>
| related = [[Sunbeam-Talbot 90]]
| successor = Series Alpine
}}

The Alpine was derived from the [[Sunbeam-Talbot 90|Sunbeam-Talbot 90 Saloon]], and has become colloquially known as the "Talbot" Alpine. It was a two-seater sports roadster initially developed for a one-off rally car by Bournemouth Sunbeam-Talbot dealer George Hartwell.<ref name=A-Z45to80/> It had its beginnings as a 1952 Sunbeam-Talbot drophead coupé. Announced in March 1953<ref>New Sunbeam Alpine. ''The Times'', 21 March 1953; page 3; Issue 52576</ref> it received its name following Sunbeam-Talbot saloons successes in the [[Alpine Rally]] during the early 1950s. On its first competitive outing, the July 1953 [[Coupe des Alpes]], the new car won the Coupe des Dames ([[Sheila van Damm]]) and, without loss of any marks, four Coupes des Alpes driven by [[Stirling Moss]], [[John Fitch (racing driver)|John Fitch]], G Murray-Frame and Sheila van Damm.<ref>Sunbeam Alpine. ''The Times'' 20 July 1953; page 3; Issue 52678</ref>

The car has a [[Inline-four engine|four-cylinder]] {{convert|2267|cc|abbr=on}} engine from the saloon, but with a raised compression ratio. However, since it was developed from the saloon platform, it suffered from rigidity compromises despite extra side members in the chassis. The gearbox ratios were changed, and from 1954 an [[overdrive (mechanics)|overdrive]] unit became standard. The gear-change lever was column-mounted.<ref name=A-Z45to80/> A true open 2-seater, there were no external door handles or wind-up windows.

The Alpine Mark I and Mark III (no Mark II was made) were hand-built at Mulliners{{CN|date=November 2022}} of Birmingham coachbuilders, from 1953 to 1955, and remained in production for only two years. Of the 1582 automobiles produced, 961 were exported to the US and Canada, 445 stayed in the UK, and 175 went to other world markets. In 2000 it was estimated that perhaps as few as 200 had survived.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wmspear.com/STA/obtain.html|title=obtaining a Sunbeam-Talbot Alpine|website=wmspear.com|access-date=5 June 2018}}</ref>

The Sunbeam Alpine Mk 1 Special was based on the 2267&nbsp;cc Mk 1 Sunbeam Talbot motor, with alloy rocker cover and Siamese exhaust ports (cylinders 2 and 3). These motors developed a reputed 97.5&nbsp;bhp at 4,500 rpm, mainly by raising the compression ratio to 8.0:1 and incorporating a special induction manifold with a twin choke [[Solex Carburetor|Solex]] 40 P.I.I carburettor. The motors of the Sunbeam Alpine Team Cars (MKV 21–26) were configured the same as the Sunbeam Alpine Mk I Special, with further tuning by ERA to raise power to 106&nbsp;bhp.

Very few of these cars are ever seen on the big screen. However, a sapphire blue Alpine featured prominently in the 1955 [[Alfred Hitchcock]] film ''[[To Catch a Thief]]'' starring [[Cary Grant]] and [[Grace Kelly]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/1955-sunbeam-alpine-classic-drive/ |newspaper=[[Motortrend]] |accessdate=December 8, 2020 |date=February 4, 2014 |title=1955 Sunbeam Alpine Series III Classic Drive |first=Richard |last=Truesdell}}</ref> More recently, the American [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] show ''[[History Detectives]]'' tried to verify that an Alpine roadster owned by a private individual was the actual car used in that movie. Although the [[Technicolor]] process could "hide" the car's true colour, and knowing that the car was shipped back from Monaco to the US for use in front of a [[rear projection effect]], the car shown on the programme was ultimately proven not to be the film car upon comparison of the [[vehicle identification number]]s. A Mk I model also appears in the 1957 British horror film ''[[Night of the Demon]]''. A reference to the Mark I is also made in Muriel Spark's 1957 debut novel, ''The Comforters'', where the supercharged Sunbeam Alpine prompts a race with the protagonists' [[MG Cars|MG]].<ref>Muriel Spark, ''The Comforters'' (1957, Virago edition 2009), pp. 92-94</ref>

<gallery widths="190px" heights="130px">
1955 Sunbeam Alpine Mark III 2.3 Front.jpg|Alpine Mk III
Sunbeam Alpine (8205973735).jpg|Open two-seater, without wind-up windows
Sunbeam Alpine Mk1 1954 in Morges 2012 - 3.jpg|1954
File:Sunbeam Supreme 1953 (9041757444) (cropped).jpg|Alpine with factory aero-screens<br/>registered November 1953
</gallery>

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