sunbeamtiger.co.uk

Does anyone know if there were two styles of hardtops made for the Sunbeam Tiger? I have been told that there was two styles of factory produced hardtops created for the Sunbeam Tiger Mk1 through the end of production of the MK 2. Does anyone have any information on this topic. If true, does anyone have any idea on the quantity of total hardtops produced for the Sunbeam Tiger MK1 and MK2? I suppose you would have to include the Sunbeam Alpine Seris IV and V as well. Any idea on the numbers produced AND when in the production did a slight difference in the styles of hardtops take place? Evidently the difference is very subtle but creates a difference in the style of weather stripping that can be used between the hardtop and the body. I have found the number 15780 stamped on my hardtop. Does anyone know the significance of this number? Just curious...any information would be appreciated. Thank you!

i was alway told there were 2 hard tops.
if you ordered when new the mk1 cars were the same colour as the car.
if you ordered new on MK1a and mk11 or you ordered it after you had taken delivery they were black... might be wrong but sure someone will advise

As far as I am aware the Tiger MKIa and II were available with factory colour hardtops in the GT spec. i.e. with rolltops on the doors.
My MKIa certainly came with a white steel hardtop but it was a cop car

In addition to the factory hardtop it seems there were a few aftermarket versions. This one has just appeared on eBay US (Jan 2009) and looks a very aerodynamic choice







Similar style indeed to the Harrington Le Mans and does anybody know of any other aftermarket versions.

Hi,

From what I am led to believe, Rootes produced only two hard tops. The first was for the Series I & II Alpine's (due to the rounded windows) and the Series III to V and Tiger all used the same steel hard top as all the windows from the Series III were the same. I remember hearing about some fibre glass hard tops, but these were apparently after-market and looked slightly different (but I could be wrong). In regards to the paint colour of the hard top's, I heard that if you ordered your hard top when ordering the car it would be the same colour. If ordered later, it was painted black (excluding the GT's).

Regards, Robin.

Another currently (July 2013) on US eBay, shame I can't find one in the UK. I think they are ultra-looking-cool......or am I the only one who likes them

thats about as cool as a guy in crocs

Could be worse.

garyv8tiger wrote:thats about as cool as a guy in crocs

I agree, not cool at all.

the later style hardtop was first used on the series 3 alpine. I have seen tops that used a one piece seal between the body and the top. later ones used the three piece seal. I believe CAT reproduced this one piece seal at one time. there also were two sizes on the chrome button in the side windows. the late tops had the tabs to fasten the rubber strap to hold the boot in place. the astro fastback top on e bay sold for US 26 dollars.

meadowhog wrote:Could be worse.

Now that's just fugly