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The Harrington Sunbeam

There is a wealth of motoring history wrapped up in Clive Harrington’s eponymous Sunbeam Harrington Alpine. With unique bodywork, created under his father’s guidance at his family coach building business, this humble little 1600 cc sports car averaged an amazing 91 mph to win the second most valuable prize in the 1961 Le Mans 24-hour race – probably the Sunbeam marque’s last great track success.

Clive Harrington – “I didn’t bargain on it taking 26 years to restore this car – and it would have taken much longer if it hadn’t been for the Tipton team. What is really incredible is that we brought her out straight onto the track … and finished second, first time out. This speaks volumes for their ability to set up ‘traditional’ cars – she was fast straight out of the box”. After races at Angouleme, Brands Hatch, Donington, Goodwood and Snetterton, further work remained to be done. Clive again – “We were still running a virtually standard head and cam … and needed them to be near the original race spec. If anyone can achieve that it will be Richard Miles, not only because he and Stephen are highly skilled at such work but because Richard has an unfair advantage … he prepared the engines for the works cars the year after my own car’s success. How’s that for experience!”