1966 Sunbeam Tiger MK1 L.A.X.

Tiger enthusiasts should all recognize the name. Dick Barker. For 50 years it was synonymous with Sunbeam. including a fastidious restoration of the Le Mans “mule”. I mention him here today because his family. after careful consideration decided to sell his “purchased-new” 1966 Tiger B382001472 LRXFE. This awesome machine. and an impressive collection of spares is being offered as a package. One should appreciate a premium $75. 00 asking price for such a unique. one-owner. rust free. example. It carries the 46th “Certificate of Authenticity” (transcribed below. physical available to review) awarded by STOA's TAC committee and eagerly awaits a fresh champion. Further details and images are available below and by contacting J. Bittle 619-607-0070 or jbittle@jbaracing. com 0196 - VEHICLE BUILD DETAILS Set out for: B382001472 LRXFE Logged as the 1. 86th 1966 model year Tiger. commissioned by Humber Motors Ltd. . this chassis is one of eleven reported by Jensen Motors Ltd. to have rolled from the assembly line on Friday. the 11th of February. 1966. Of that group. only two have eluded detection to remain unclaimed in TIROST records. Seven of the nine identified Rootes relics stake their claim in the States. while a pair of migrating "outlanders" report homesteading down-under. in Australia and way-up-yonder. in Sweden. Interestingly. that Swedish machine was configured to the rare "LROFE" blueprint. No more than sixty of those export left-hand drive cars carrying home market livery have been tallied thus far and a mere twenty three of them are '66 models. The US contingent is found one each in Alabama. Texas. Kansas. Ohio. then three (including our subject vehicle) in California. Two of the "Golden Staters". including the celebrity of the moment. carry STOA "TAC" stickers. Under subcontract to the Rootes Group. Pressed Steel Ltd. utilized the 1. 79th third generation Tiger body for the buildup of B382001472 and then finished it in "Arctic White". the fourth most prolific color applied to Sunbeam Tigers. The "factory" assigned engine came from the largest family of Tiger 260s. pulled from Ford's small block assembly line on the 19th of February. 1965. As of this writing. I have records for roughly 2. 00 engines in that grouping. B382001472 received the 5. 37th C4PZ-6001-CF power plant shipped under Ford's outside customer number SO 2632. Unlike the chassis plate stamping and the information found on the original valve cover appliqué. determining actual engine numbers requires subtracting a thousand and then adding one. to adjust for a numbering system that begins with 1. 00. The original gearbox was the 5. 78th Tiger close ratio top loader committed to the Humber contract. While a bit irksome to the interests of history. the original differential is no longer with this example. A first swap around (not uncommon as owners searched for performance) added a power-lock. A second substitution (far less benign) was forced by employee carelessness at a service facility. The final borrowed unit (believed to be the 6. 95th Salisbury DANA 44 back axle. produced by the Dana Division in June of 1966) completes the drive train components. The primary key – Ignition/Doors - employed RM 814 lock barrels. while the secondary key – Console/Trunk used barrels coded to FS 939. This key combination was used only five times throughout the entire (7. 85) Tiger production and as you might expect. none of the cars built on Friday. the 11th received the same pairing. Details: Year: 1966 Make: Sunbeam Model: Tiger Sub-model: MK1 Body Type: Convertible w/ Soft-Top and Hard-Top V. I. N: B382001472 LRXFE Condition: Used Engine: 289 C. I. HP. w/F4B Holly 4 barrel Transmission: 4-Speed Manual Interior: Black Vinyl Exterior: Arctic White Additional Equip: Heavily Optioned L. A. T. Tiger -Pie wheels w/ spinners (Mini-Lites). special Hood. Wood steering wheel. Traction Bars. /p> High Performance 5 bolt Ford 289