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Peugeot’s DOHC 16V engine<\/h2>\n
However, the story of the all-important 1914 Sunbeam TT really begins with the 1913 Coupe de l\u2019Auto race, where Peugeot\u2019s groundbreaking engine design left an indelible mark on the history of the automobile. In the race, Peugeot\u2019s L3 dominated, clinching 1st Place, while Sunbeam secured a respectable 3rd position. Peugeot\u2019s dominance was undoubtedly due to their revolutionary four-cylinder engine, featuring dual overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder. This configuration allowed for superior airflow and combustion, giving Peugeot a significant advantage in terms of power, efficiency, and rev limit over its competitors, ushering in the era of the modern high-performance engine.<\/p>\n
Despite Sunbeam\u2019s reputation as a prestigious high-quality British marque, Louis Coatalen knew that to remain competitive, changes were necessary. He, along with other English manufacturers, recognized the potential of the Peugeot engine and sought to understand the secrets behind its success. Determined to elevate Sunbeam\u2019s racing capabilities, Coatalen acquired a 1913 Coupe de l\u2019Auto Peugeot, carefully disassembled it, measured its components, and studied the design. His new engine design featured enhancements such as increased displacement to 3.3 litres, which delivered a substantial 85 hp. <\/p>\n Sunbeam\u2019s goal was to assemble a team of four cars for the world-famous 1914 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy<\/a> (TT) race. Held on June 10th and 11th, this event covered a grueling 600 miles and posed a rigorous test of endurance and engineering prowess. Sunbeam<\/a> utilized Dario Resta, Sir Algernon Guinness, and Kenelm Lee Guinness, later of KLG spark plugs, as drivers.<\/p>\n On the race\u2019s first day, 22 cars started, but only 13 finished, including Dario Resta, due to a broken big-end bolt. However, KL Guinness finished 1st followed by Sir Algernon just three minutes behind his brother. On the second day, by the tenth lap, only eight cars remained, but both Guinness brothers maintained their lead. Unfortunately, a broken lubrication pipe compromised Sir Algernon\u2019s 2nd Place position, forcing him to retire just three laps from the finish. Despite this setback, KL Guinness secured a commanding victory, crossing the finish line nearly 20 minutes ahead of his closest competitors.<\/p>\n Sunbeam not only won the Tourist Trophy, achieving an average speed of 56.44 mph but also earned the Henry Edmunds Trophy for the fastest mountain climbs. This triumphant performance brought Sunbeam racing back to the forefront and set the stage for a promising future. <\/p>\n Shortly after the 1914 Isle of Man TT, three Sunbeam TT chassis were fitted with four 1\/2-litre engines for the 1914 French Grand Prix,<\/a> where Dario Resta placed 5th among stiff competition from Mercedes and Peugeot. The outbreak of WWI<\/a> abruptly halted European racing. Two of the French GP Sunbeams were shipped to America, competing in prestigious races, including the 1915 Indianapolis 500. All of the Sunbeams were subsequently returned, dismantled, and stored at the Wolverhampton Sunbeam factory until after the Great War when the factory rebuilt the Tourist Trophy cars utilizing new chassis and sold them as sporting cars for the road. <\/p>\n This 1914 Sunbeam TT was acquired from the factory by Matthew Wills, an heir to the Wills tobacco fortune, in June 1921 and subsequently registered as \u2018DA 5852,\u2019 which it retains today. After passing through several hands and being converted to a two-seater coupe, Sunbeam expert and renowned author Anthony Heal recognized the historical significance of this car and acquired it around 1940. Remaining inactive until 1949, it was purchased by C.R. Abbott, who meticulously restored the Sunbeam to its original Tourist Trophy specifications.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the 1950s, Stanley Sears, who was assembling one of the pre-eminent early car collections, acquired the vehicle, becoming instrumental in both its preservation and the continuation of its racing heritage. A pioneer collector of veteran and vintage cars, Stanley Sears not only cherished the Sunbeam but actively raced it, achieving notable successes such as winning the Edwardian Class at Prescott in 1951 and securing 3rd Place in the 1952 VSCC Silverstone Itala Trophy race, competing against formidable opponents like a GP Bugatti and a 10 1\/2-liter Delage. In subsequent years, Stanley continued to showcase the Sunbeam\u2019s performance, earning podium finishes at events such as Prescott and the Pomeroy Trophy contest.<\/p>\n Stanley\u2019s son, Jack Sears, was becoming an accomplished race car driver and joined his father in vintage car racing in 1951 at VSCC Silverstone, where he began his journey with the Sunbeam TT. Jack\u2019s illustrious career spanned various forms of motorsports, including rallies, sprints, and circuit racing. His remarkable achievements include an overall victory in the 1954 VSCC Pomeroy, a testament to both his exceptional driving skills and the enduring capabilities of the 1914 Sunbeam TT in competitive settings. He later repeated this victory in the 1963 VSCC Pomeroy, further solidifying his legacy in vintage racing circles.<\/p>\n In 1969, Stanley Sears sold the Sunbeam TT to the consignor, who once again restored it. The car continued to compete, achieving fastest Edwardian at VSCC Silverstone in 1986, adding to its rich racing pedigree.<\/p>\n Over the years, the Sunbeam TT has garnered significant attention in automotive circles. It was featured in the June 1914 issue of The Motor in an article titled \u201cThe Design of the Sunbeam T.T. Racing Car\u201d by Louis Coatalen. More recently, Cyril Posthumus described it as \u201cpure genius\u201d in the May 1987 issue of Classics and Sportscars in his article \u201cTrack Test: Back to the Future.\u201d The car is accompanied by an original program and scoring cards from the Isle of Man TT Races of June 1914, alongside an extensive file of service records, correspondence, restoration notes, and comprehensive photographic records of the restoration process, including archival photos of the vehicle.<\/p>\n This 1914 Sunbeam TT, painted in the traditional British Racing Green, has been a fixture in top car collections in the UK for the past 74 years. Its illustrious history spans from 1914 to the present day, where it has consistently showcased exceptional performance on the racetrack. Today, fewer than 100 genuine pre-1918 racing cars are still in existence, with only eight featuring the classic \u201cErnest-Henry\u201d twin-cam design. Among these, just three 1914 Sunbeam TTs survive, making this model exceedingly rare and a highly coveted collector\u2019s item. Its historical significance is further enhanced by its association with Louis Coatalen, a pioneering figure in developing high-performance racing cars and engines.<\/p>\n Above content \u00a9 2024 Gooding & Co reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee<\/a><\/p>\n Go HERE<\/a> for information.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nEnter the 1914 Isle of Man<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n1914 French GP<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nProvenence<\/h2>\n
Car Highlights<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTechnical Specs<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nNow available<\/h2>\n
Highlights from 2023<\/h2>\n