Talbot Sunbeam Lotus - What Makes it So SPECIAL? And Why Did We Buy It? | TheCarGuys.tv

[@grayfool]

Being somewhat senior in years to you two, I'm very aware of what these cars are. Chuffing brilliant. One of my hero cars. You should try and have a go in the Chrvette HSR too.

[@nearlyretired7005]

If you can find one! I am nearly 60,remember them well!

[@dinointhetube7952]

My dad got a brand new chevvett XMC 86T he also had a vx 490 in garage at same time.

[@jamesblonde2271]

not just me then😳

[@russcattell955i]

I had a HSR. Modest 180 ish bhp, but drove quite similar. A proper handful in the wet, a joy on moorland roads.

[@robertmarr8991]

It shows we never lose the big kid in all of us.The sheer enjoyment was written all over your faces.Cheers,very enjoyable.

[@bat33.12]

Owned one of the last series 2 Sunbeam Lotus registered in '82 on a Y plate in Moonstone blue with a silver stripe and that was putting out 210bhp after head was gas flowed, cams, twin 45 webbers, 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and 2.5" exhaust system, etc. It was featured in CCC magazine back in the day as it had 4 pot front discs with alloy bells, rear disc conversion, bias valve, Quaiffe LSD in the rear axle, bilsteins, rear arb conversion, genuine magnesium minilites, and lots of other changes as it was used for hillclimbs and even circuit racing at knockhill in road saloons class. Fantastic car, needed plenty of TLC and liked a drink, best I ever managed taking it easy was about 24mpg, good job fuel was cheap back then 😁

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Sweet!

[@bat33.12]

@@TheCarGuysTV After watching the full video there are a few things different, mine ran on original 13" minilight wheels but was setup more for circuit or hillclimb than rallying so was set up softer than your car hence the rear anti roll bar, pretty sure they didn't have one stock but the one on mine was added when it was circuit racing. Mine had a smaller arch kit than the full Group 4 kit on yours but still could fit an 8.5" rear wheel rim, stock were 5.5" or 6". The ZF dog leg gearbox always was a bit hesitant shifting until it was fully warmed up and before I bought it had once blown first gear through the casing when driving in Edinburgh, needless to say it wasn't on the original gearbox 😂 Great drivers car, not as well known as an Escort RS2000 or Mexico but they had better sorted rear suspension from the factory and were a less sideways car to drive as the rear had more grip. Have you had your car 0-60 tested with timing gear? I'd have thought it was sub 6 seconds as a 2.4L with 240bhp as mine was able to do 6 flat as it could hit 60mph in 2nd due to the extra rev limit of a tuned car?

[@kronkite1530]

Though they were known for rallying they made great race cars. Do you remember the sub BTTC touring car championships in which Jonathan Woodward (also featured in the long lost CCC magazine) and Rob Beaumont battled forward the wins? We used to follow them around and saw fantastic races at Cadwell, Mallory and Donington. They seemed so fast and could beat tuned Rover V8s, Escorts, Scimitars, Alfa’s and the like.

[@richardevens6575]

Could get over 30 mpg out of mine on an under 70 mph motorway run (even with windsurfers on the roof!) after the late great Skip Brown set it up on his rolling road. Though it was a nearly standard series one with a 2.5” exhaust giving just 155-158 bhp at the wheels.

[@richardevens6575]

Agree a 240bhp car should be a fair bit quicker than the 6.5 to 60 quoted. The Motor magazine long term test car (series 1) was timed at 6.6 in their long term tests when well run in!

[@daggidding4478]

Yes yes yes. Jason is back. Now it is once again a car guys video. The two of you are just fantastic to watch!

[@johngilbert7933]

Re the starting procedure - in my Sunbeam Lotus some years ago - itself a Fast Road engine setup with different cams and carb jets and producing a healthy 210 bhp - I never used the choke. The usual method was to turn on the ignition, wait for the fuel pump ticking to start, then give the accelerator pedal one or two pushes and turn the key. With the feeble standard battery and high compression, you usually had two goes at starting before calling out the AA to jump start...

[@R-Tap]

Best stripe on a car EVER Stanced beautifully.

[@bunter6]

My first car back in 1991 was this car's little brother, a 10 year old Talbot Sunbeam 1.6Ti in the same colour scheme, silver stripe over black. I love that car even though it rusted as fast as it went.

[@fraserconnell21]

Saw these compete when I was a kid. Henry toivenen rac rally victory ✌️. The passenger seat looks pretty loose,dangerous in a bump. Love the channel ❤️

[@DjNikGnashers]

If you could draw the perfect 80's shape for a hot hatch, it would be this. Just perfect from any angle.

[@BITTYBOY121]

Just like the Peugeot 205 GTi !

[@markgtrheyes]

Good to see you guys back together making content

[@davidkirk6249]

Used one of these for road rallying in the mid to late eighties...what an epic car...the equal of escorts and chevettes alike.

[@theusefulchannel]

Always a joy to see them together, great banter in an epic car.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@bernardleclerc1046]

I worked on one in the early eighties. But as it s so short he was tricky to drive. The driver discribed it : "on slippery roads it's like you try to handle a cube". But it was really impressive.

[@gee6940]

That smile on Jason’s face throughout this episode. He’s never selling this. Ever. Haha! Awesome.

[@Richspjones]

Bloody brilliant; Damian's reaction to the full Beans had me in stitches; priceless! When my 7 year old son asked what 'The Beans' really means on my TCGs t-shirt, I showed him the section from 19 mins... now he gets it! BEANS! Great stuff, guys, cheers

[@TheCarGuysTV]

😂😂👏🏻👏🏻

[@adegill9468]

I had a 1600 ti model which was black with silver decals....it was great....then had one which was really spec with a 2.1 pinto with twin 45s.....that was full off fun.... a bit to handle in the wet...love them....

[@andrewhill9513]

Awesome video, i finally managed to get around to watching it, well worth the wait! This car and the pair of you together need to be on the channel more frequently

[@TheCarGuysTV]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@shanehnorman]

I participated in a Brands Hatch event in autumn '79, where one of the turns was a few laps in the passenger seat of a race-prepared one of these. The driver was some sort of '70s Stig and it was quickly apparent that, for him, the thrill lay in scaring the s--t out of me. It bucked and skittered, rattled and roared. I was, in fact, terrified - but in a good way, like riding a roller-coaster. One crucial point, not mentioned by Damian and Jason, was that it was rear-wheel drive, an exception among post-Mini small cars.

[@wainbanfield6775]

Too true. That's what set this apart from the hatchbacks of the day was that it was rear wheel drive.

[@jonathanvoss5168]

They won the RAC in 80 (last 2wd winner) and the constructors world title in 81. For a long time they were very undervalued compared to Escorts etc but they’re starting to fetch very strong money now

[@mattburley333]

One of my dream cars! I'm very jealous of this awesome car...although how can you talk about the Lotus Sunbeam's rally history without mentioning the legend that was Henri Toivonen???

[@dongorgon4168]

Twin Weber 40's were the orchestra! A local guy used to have one in my little Hampshire town when I was at school. He ran the Chrysler Talbot dealership. Exactly that colour scheme, but just a road version with twin pipes. As school kids we knew all the data on the cars of the day and that 0-60 was up there with the big boys. 43 years on it is still one of the sweetest sounding engines ever! Gave the Chevette 2300HS a thrashing.

[@neilpatching7443]

Jason loved it. The Damian "Squeal" was something to behold. Laughed a lot with this one guys. Thank you 😊

[@TheCarGuysTV]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@jamiecurran3544]

Definitely one of my all time favourites, My mate who was a rally driver had one back in the late 80s early 90s ,there's nothing like going sideways round corners in one of these!😱🤣😂✌️

[@tonysag9626]

My best mate had a Skip Brown tuned one back in the day. It was a handful to say the least especially around a wet roundabout but what a car on a good B road. He still takes about it all these years later

[@details78]

It was a pleasure watching all 27 minutes of this video ......(again 😁). I maintain that when you redo your introductory video montage, that 15:53 makes the cut!

[@moogsta16]

Great video & full review. I remember being in stitches when it first appeared in that video where you were driving it around with other legends. Your faces when you drove it around...

[@leeholden8658]

Brilliant. Brings back memories of my early years. In fact I think my mum has my huge car brochure collection containing a fold out brochure of this car

[@adampark4612]

I used to work / volunteer is Wildlife Conservation and a Botanist had one of these in 1985.....

[@lonewarrior1543]

The most genuine petrolheads on the tube...by a country mile!

[@Lukec4ge]

What a delightful car. I remember these on the road, but this is the first ever review I’ve seen. Good to see Jason in a vid too 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@andrewnewsome1110]

That video has made my day!! I remember standing in the dark watching these things in Welsh Forests and at Weston Park “back in the day”…. Crazy times. Thanks for putting that out, but watch the prices go silly now. More vids like this please!!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@kingfisherphil]

My pal had one, he used to get it spinning in third as he went through the gears! AMazing for the period.

[@911aircooled5]

What a fantastic 'drivers' car, nice one Jason. Loved "the beans", 240Hp in 850kgs! Awesome!

[@leeandrews1072]

I think you wee’d yourself when Jason drove.......the look of you flung back in that seat 😂 priceless

[@TheCarGuysTV]

😂😂

[@gerrywatson261]

As an 18 year old the first time I had been in a car travelling at over 100mph was in Lotus Sunbeam! A friend of the family turned up one weekend driving a pre-production development car. He was an engineer and was doing contact work for Lotus (and later Delorean!) He took me and my dad for a "spin" down the A127 to Southend and I remember seeing 125mph several times on the journey much to my dad's disbelief!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Wow!

[@AdamLeask]

Thanks for the episode guys, this was pretty special - especially at full beans!

[@adamweston4152]

I had two sunbeams that I modified and they were excellent car's, superb handling and with the right mods made for unlimited fun and I'm 52 now and the last time I drove one was in 1990 and I only wish that i had kept that car, that is a wicked lotus sunbeam and I am honestly envious of you but I wish you all the best with it. thanks for your excellent video, much appreciated.

[@RunDub]

One of my favorite obscure rally cars of all time! Great video!

[@stevehickling7435]

Had the 1.6 back in the day and it was loads of fun. Wish I still had it. Great review lads and thanks

[@cerealkiller4248]

My best mate had a few back in the day, a standard series 1, then a tuned series 2 with approx 190bhp at the wheels. He used to buy up cheap donor cars - 1.0L versions to use the diff for the the acceleration- for about £100. Nothing could beat the tuned one, Audi Quattro, Sierra Cosworth, 911’s, nothing. We used to race bikes, the only things that could keep up, until it topped out on max speed due to it having the aerodynamics of a brick. I was on his insurance and drove it lots, it was such a sleeper car and embarrassed many 80’s sports cars owners in front of their girlfriends. I’ve many fond memories of this car, it really slipped into oblivion for some reason, but not by anyone who had been in one…………….. EDIT - the steering wheel was flat.

[@ianedmonds9191]

The attraction of a light car with moderate power is something I hope I can experience at some point. That car looks epic and your experiences show how epic it is. Fantastic. Luv and Peace.

[@brandywell44]

My Friend Steve Roberts had an Avenger Tiger so I knew what great cars the Talbot Competition department produced. When I was passing Clock Garage in Birmingham on my motorcycle in 1979 I saw through the plate glass windows a Sunbeam Lotus in the showroom so I stopped to take a look, dressed in my Winter bike gear. I explained that I couldn't buy but just came to look at the car. The Salesman he couldn't have been more friendly and shown me around and answered my questions. He also explained that they had lost two demonstrators to customer accidents! Great cars for the enthusiast who could fully appreciate them.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Great story, thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@richardevens6575]

Great cars, thanks for posting. Loved mine - LPH 287W where are you now! Bit twitchier than an Escort and prone to rust. Lots of fun and under-rated. At club lotus North Weald sprint FTD was between the 7s and Sunbeams. Though most had Skip Brown suspension and engine tunes.

[@richardcarter1000]

I love the Sunbeam Lotus. Always wanted one after reading a magazine article back in the day with 'claws' as the headline. Great video. I may need to add a road version to my collection.

[@polmacdhomhnaill3021]

I loved these cars. Growing up the older lads would buy the original lotus and we had all sorts of cars by me like the Tiger. 1986 I finally got onto a car body course and still couldn’t get on the mechanic course, and would love the standard sunbeam come in for pre MOT or a service. Great to see this car taken out and driven. Thanks for the video..

[@TheCarGuysTV]

You're very welcome

[@barryg3128]

Loved Damiens face when you gave it the beans, when he drove it looked like it made his winkie fizz 🤣

[@TheCarGuysTV]

More like my winky was ripped off! 😂

[@rhannay39]

I was taken for a ride in one of the reconnisaince cars for the Isle of Man. Completely standard in appearance inside and out but with lots of Group 4 bits. Absolutely amazing experience.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Wow!

[@rhannay39]

@@TheCarGuysTV Yeah, it was incredible, I wish I could tell you I'd driven it.

[@graemebrown7691]

Nice to see. I had an Avon Lotus Sunbeam for a while in the 80's. Absolute widow maker in the wet. Would have been a great way to go.

[@1055Richard]

I grew up near the factory where the body shells had their drivetrains installed and each one was road tested with enthusiasm on the open roads. At age 6-7 I can remember lots of rubber laid down all over the back roads where the test drivers obviously enjoyed themselves very much....

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Great to know

[@lukewaring2832]

Cannt wait to watch this . Tuesday. Thought maybe you had sold it.. Going to be and interesting 12 mths seel how your garage looks for 2023. Thabks for sharing..👍👀

[@sickjohnson]

Well, that was worth the wait guys!

[@Jonoponomono]

What an excellent video. So great to see you enjoying the car so much.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@ScoopDogg]

compared to the cossie I think the Sunbeam has aged pretty damn well. I had fun in the sunbeam Ti with the same decals and alloys, always wish they had the rear spoiler on the lotus (for looks) had one back in the early 90's but getting parts was impossible. KUD 666V i think the reg was. would buy it back if its still alive, Would love to have bought another just to look at. And the hot hatch Vauxhall Chevette HSR into the Peugeot 205's too had one after the Talbot. then I got into LANDROVERS : ) MISS THOSE DAYS AND HER : ) Im talkling when we didnt have speed cameras either. fun days n great times and the rave scene to boot. what a time to have lived eh folks

[@tomingrassiaimages8776]

Had one in the USA around 1978. It would screech the wheels in 2ng gear! I drove it like you drive it!

[@caeserromero3013]

We had a red Talbot/Chrysler Sunbeam early 80's. Unfortunately, the car seemed to be doomed. It had 3 accidents. We assumed the body work was magnetic as everybody seemed to hit us. Got rear ended twice (I lost a tooth the 2nd time as I was sat in the back (no rear seatbelts) and hit the front passenger headrest). It finally had the front taken off by an old guy who had crashed into us after having a heart attack at the wheel. It was written off and instead Dad bought a Fiat 127....that died after Dad tried to use it to tow a caravan. We then gave up on caravaning and he bought a black Astra GTE MK2. That thing made me feel like Knight rider when I was in it. Probably because of the digital dash :)

[@tankthelord1178]

I had one of these...(just a shame it was only the 1.1 version....).

[@alanhindmarch4483]

In the early 80’s I won a competition. The Prize was a VIP day out with Andrew’s Heat For Hire to see the Cumbrian Rally they had sponsored and I met Russel Brooks and was Driven by Russel in his Talbot as he was one of the Zero Cars, because he wasn’t competing. That day approximately 40 years ago, will forever been etched into my memory forever.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Fantastic story

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Fantastic story

[@Leigh_thompsett]

Flipping awesome video! Only seen a few of these cars and keep on driving it and giving it the beans it deserves 😁😁

[@JamesThomas-zl9er]

I had an Avon version, it was glorious but mad… spun it on a roundabout in town on day one 😂😂 It was my daily driver for several years…

[@avancalledrupert5130]

I thought everyone knew about these and the chevet and the old Carola starlets . Last rwd hot hatches . I'm only 38 and I fan boyed these as a kid .

[@owainjohns2815]

my mate took me on my first rally in one, flying through the welsh woods and the news came on he alpine radio that Freddy mercury had died. We rolled to a halt, listened, bohemian rhapsody came on and off we took. Later met Colin, richard and tommy. Great day if a little sad. Handling on that little Talbot was sublime.

[@steveberridge4648]

What a car !! Always been one of my rallying favourites along with the original Alpine A110 and obviously a mk2 rallye escort. The standard car was pretty quick for its time. 0-60 in 7.4 in 1980 made it the fastest two wheel hot by miles!

[@SFlightline]

And the road tests were carried out in the wet!! I think 'Motor' did a test in the dry and the 0-60 was hovering around the 6.2 second mark... The V max was only estimated at 125 MPH, again because of the weather conditions and aqua plaining at he time of the road test.... I got caught in mine, in Belgum on the E5 in 1984, in a speed trap at around 143 MPH... I say around, as it was above the 'max speed tolerance of 140MPH (225kmh)' on the then state of the art system, and the picture taken missed my number plate and only got a blurred pic of the side of my car... Had a very stern talking to by the Police who found me at the Zebrugge docks having only just missed the ferry I was racing to catch... No fine, just a 'we will be looking for you' talk... Oh, the old days...

[@karlstannard662]

I purchased my first sunbeam Lotus in 1981 , 2nd hand mind. Went on a wet dark winters night near Heathrow airport as a 18 year old for test drive. Having only had a mini beforehand it was out of this world. The torque that engine had unreal purchased that night for cash £2,800.00 . Yes it went sideways in the wet without trying but with the right amount of opposite lock it was came back 😮 My 2nd one in the moonstone SCD 444X was for sale a few years ago around £25,000.00

[@istp1967]

The 80s was the Golden Age of Rally 😎👍👍👍

[@evo5349]

I helped my mate in Wales re shell a Lotus sunbeam and a great job it was as in full paint build and spent weeks on it and it was lots of fun.

[@tichwykes]

One of my all time favourite cars I had a Talbot sales brochure in the late 70's & of course the centerpiece was the Lotus in its black & silver livery. Insanely jealous always wanted one never had the chance I think I've only seen a couple out on the roads. You can keep your Escorts etc this is what its all about

[@jackiechan8840]

Such a good duo. Thanks for sharing boys.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@660einzylinder]

I rallied a 1.6 GLS for a couple of years, we gave it a warmer cam, balanced the bottom end and re-jetted/needled the Stromberg carb. It was a hoot, a bit tail happy in the wet, but it was fantastic after the Renault 12 I'd been rallying before. Sadly a big off on an event bent the chassis rails and it went to the scrap man.

[@bjorno2080]

Every rear wheel drive is tail happy in the wet. That's the fun part.

[@rickydub6950]

Cracking vid guys, love it👍 a black and silver one of these used to sit on the main road in Renfrew when i was a young boy in the early 90s. I knew what it was but none of my pals did 😎👌

[@martinboulden4388]

The only reason that rear window keeps opening is because Jason has Roger Bailey tied up in the boot and he’s trying to escape ! Another great video chaps. Could this be the most exciting way to reach the national speed limit on a country road ?

[@oddjobtriumph1635]

one of my fave cars growing up as a kid

[@skylined5534]

This and its lesser yet still capable sibling the ti plus the likes of the Chevette HS and HSR are still astonishing machines as even this far on they're genuinely still properly fast cars and still hold their own today. And that's before you count in the hairy chested way cars like this would grab the road by the scruff of the neck and subdue it. Plus, they sound utterly glorious! Looking back to around 1996 I was offered a really tatty Sunbeam ti fitted with an engine from an Esprit, and blue/black paint that looked like it had been buffed with a piece of toast. Basically a homemade Lotus Sunbeam. No interior save for a set of Recaros from an Astra GTE. I didn't want to sell my 1275 Clubman but tried to raise the 'whopping' 500 notes the owner wanted but failed 😔 I loved my mini but I wish I'd have sold it for the Sunbeam! I remember trying to keep up with it for a few bends out towards Chatterley, it got sideways lots and just progressively disappeared despite me left foot braking and heel-toeing like a mad man!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

Fantastic to hear

[@MoJoAssets]

I did a carpentry apprenticeship 78/82 and one of the bricklayers had one of these, followed by a TR7. He was such a cool geezer, and all the older trades hated him!

[@robbrady4649]

22:55 I was under the impression that the car also won Talbot the WRC manufacturer's title in 1981.

[@davidpriestley666]

In that livery and wide arches and rally spec ❤❤❤❤ love this channel you follow your own path and get it right every time 👍👍👍

[@veli-pekkaahlqvist3895]

Late great Henri Toivonen won RCA rally 1980 with Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

[@stugill4513]

back in the late 80s i had a 1.6 gls i got it as a cheep runaround but wow it was faster than escorts and astras everyone else had and so easy to work on , shame i had to sell it when childreen came along id love another one now

[@dariodelolmogarrido4045]

Yay, this is the sort of content I've been waiting to see. Thank you guys. Can you do a travel trip together? Bring the missus or whatever but take one of Damian's cars and go to France..

[@alexspeed960]

Several friends had the Sunbeam of various specs tii included. One moved on to a Lotus . I think Skip Brown's being near by may have been 5he influence. Mid eighties and escorts were supreme as far as anyone else was concerned

[@markplayford5836]

Fanfooking tastic guys, once had a ride in a fresh out of the box Joe public spec. one. For around no more than a quarter of a mile up a pretty busy high street. My expression was a match for Diamen’s when my neck and back almost snapped! Up to that point it was by a country mile the fastest car I had ever been in. I will never ever forget that epic experience.

[@TheCarGuysTV]

😂😂😂

[@neilcook2587]

Brought back some nostalgic memories for me, a friend had a sunbeam when I first met him which he rally prepared but was running the trusty ford pinto on webber twin 40's 👌 we went to watch an event that was on at the pembrey race circuit got there ok but broke down literally as we were leaving and had to be recovered by the AA 🙈😆🤣 great fun...

[@bobuilt10]

I had one of these in near standard trim back in the mid 80's and the random rear window openings happen with the glass window as well. You didn't need front or rear wipers as you were always looking through the side windows due to it's tail happy nature. Talbot build quality and Lotus reliability eventually forced me to sell it but would I have another? Absolutely!

[@peterkirton4580]

The kids today have no experience of a manual choke. My second car, a Triumph Spitfire was a bastard to start after using the choke and flooded the carbs regularly and then my dad who had much more experience at starting cars with manual chokes was asked to start the sodding thing. So easy today

[@Rob-Slot]

Awesome to see, I own EWO 310V. Look up Corgi Sunbeam TI 🙂 had it since 1995

[@jahseantenn4574]

Great video, loved the commentary!

[@TheCarGuysTV]

👍🏻

[@terryfenner8142]

Pure, visceral back to basics automotive awesomeness..

[@eze8970]

Light cars & revvy engines are fun! Thanks for the review! 🙏🙏

[@giuseppecumbo5123]

Always twice as fun when it's the 2 of you. I remember this car from the 80's.....think I'd like to have a fun drive but not own it.

[@kennedysingh3916]

First knew about them via Motor magazine, still have the mag. but sadly never saw one in Jamaica.

[@scottcowan6798]

De ja vu.. I watched this last week and then lost it half way through watching it.. was it released too early? No matter, great to see the full episode though! Awesome stuff!

[@2702simmo]

So good to look at never mind what looks like a great drive I’d forgotten about those

[@fishbert17]

A wonderful car. for me, cars like this are far more interesting than your typical supercar exotica. And I’m guessing they are possibly more fun to drive as well.

[@mohamedkandil1789]

The Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon here in the US was based heavily upon the Talbot Sunbeam/Chrysler Horizon from Europe. It's a shame that we didn't get the Lotus engine option here in the US. The "best" that we had was the Dodge Omni Shelby GLHS with a Shelby tuned 2.2 L turbocharged 4-Cylinder and a 5-Speed manual transmission. They were still much quicker on the quarter mile compared to the V8 Camaro and Firebirds of the same era. I can only imagine the potential had the Lotus engine option been offered!!

[@bjorno2080]

The stock exhaust was unbelievable on these at the time, nothing made a noise like them.

[@TheLRider]

I had two about twenty five years apart and it had lost none of its waaaw factor. Heavilly influenced by my love of Henri Toivonen and Russell Brooks too. Easily get 200 bhp from that engine and the chassis is good with that with uprated struts and shocks. Brakes needed upgrading.. Absolute hoot and the more understated the better. Used to blow most RS twos away plus made VW golf's look very silly..

[@robertb880]

I'm in the USA and love it.❤ I would love to have one like it.

[@sarcodiauk2921]

Terrific episode guys with a very special car...brought a big grin to my face 👍

[@TheCarGuysTV]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@Smokedog92]

A friend of mine back in the early 90's, had a Talbot Sunbeam, he stuck a 2.1 pinto engine in it. He also took all the glass, rear seats and door panels off and replaced the bonet with a fibreglass one. The windows were replaced with perspex plastic ones. It went like shit off a hot shovel.

[@dinointhetube7952]

I had a Talbot sunbeam 3 door in orange only 1.3 but I was only 17 had so much fun in it. Pull down back seats and slept in it many a night with a few m8s. Rear wheel drive early hot hatch. 👍😂

[@jamesfairmind2247]

As a kid I went out on a test drive in one of these because my mother was considering buying one as her everyday car (she was a serious driver). I clearly remember wandering around the back of the dealership and seeing a brand new one that had just been delivered on a transporter earlier that day and no exaggeration at all, there was a massive rust spot underneath the fuel cap where the paint had literally bubbled up and totally separated from the paint which in turn was falling off. Inspecting the rest of the car there were many more such disasters. I told my mother about it and she decided not to buy it. I should have just stayed silent. I know for a fact that many of these cars had to have an entire replacement body replaced under warranty because the 'Sunbeam-Talbot' shell had been given literally zero rust protection at the factory and some kind of industrial action had left hundreds of these shells (which were common to the normal shopping car versions) rusting outside the factory. I wish I had kept my mouth shut though, I really do! It went like hot shit off a chrome plated shovel, 7.2 secs was quick in those days! It sounded glorious and handled and stopped really well as the nervous salesman came to appreciate during my mothers test drive! Note the weight, 960 KG, not 1960KG like any such car today. Says it all.

[@mynature110]

I worked in the bodyshop of a Talbot dealership when these came out and we sold a couple of them. Both were riddled with rust when they arrived and the spot welds around the tailgate aperture were all blown allowing massive water ingress through into the boot. I remember the paint coming off around the fuel caps as well, it seemed that spilled petrol would lift the top coat from the primer as there was very poor adhesion. Most of the of the paint faults were indicative of bodyshells being left outside in only the primer. Not at all unusual to find coffee machine cups inside the doors along with piles of dropped and abandoned clips and screws. Appallingly built car as were all the Linwood built Talbots at the time and such a shame as mechanically it was a beast..

[@jamesfairmind2247]

@@mynature110 Thank you for confirming that. It was so bad that it was beyond belief. I know Rally guys bought new shells and re-built the whole car from scratch. The actual engine gearbox and running gear was very reliable.

[@mynature110]

@@jamesfairmind2247 The running gear was pretty good because I'm sure the Sunbeam was basically a rebodied avenger which had been around for years. I've got a feeling that the sunbeam was the last model from Linwood and presumably the remaining employees had lost interest in what they were building by then because I don't remember the Avengers being as poorly built. To be honest I'm surprised there are any left as they come from a period where even the commonest cars seem to have evaporated. I see more cars from the 30s and 40s on the road these days than I do from the eighties and nineties. It's all getting a bit hazy now as it was a frighteningly long time ago, but your post struck an immediate chord.

[@jamesfairmind2247]

@@mynature110 I noticed the same thing re cars from 80's and 90's.