Words & Photos: Gary Rosier
Chuck Hall and his wife Faye own this beautiful 1965 Sunbeam Tiger. It’s a Mark I that sat languishing away in many boxes, pieces in the garage, attic – everywhere, it seemed, for 13 years!
Chuck retired from the Post Office after 24 years in Plant City, Fla. Originally from Rochester, Penn., he moved to Plant City at the age of 15. He married a gal born and raised in Plant City, and so after 48 years of marriage, two children, two grand-kids and two great grandchildren – his wife “suggested” he get that car on the road or get rid of it! She lit his fire, he said, to get moving, put it back together and get it back on the road once and for all!
You have to go back in time many years to understand where and how this all came about. Chuck and his brother were into small cars (Triumphs actually), and they were thinking about installing a V-8 in one. A good friend by the name of Nick Kentner suggested to Chuck’s older brother that they go and look at a neat Sunbeam with a V-8 already in it. Chuck tagged along, only to see that his brother wasn’t interested in the beat up Sunbeam Tiger. It was original (it had the 260 Ford V-8 in it), but it seems the owner’s soon-to-be ex-wife beat part of it with a ball-peen hammer – so it wasn’t too pretty! His brother passed on it, needless to say.
Now Chuck was born again at a young age, as he nearly died from contacting a crippling disease while serving in the US Army. He was smitten with this car; it needed a home, he said. He felt like he was destined to resurrect this car and bring it back to life as well. Chuck decided to bring it home that February of 2001. He had a vision for it, and once home he started disassembling it. Unfortunately, like so many before him, he found that day-to-day life and other priorities got in the way, and so it sat and sat!
Some interesting history on this car too (courtesy of Wikipedia) is in order: The Sunbeam Tiger is a high-performance V8 version of the British Rootes Group’s Sunbeam Alpine roadster, designed in part by American car designer and racing driver Carroll Shelby and produced from 1964 until 1967. Shelby had carried out a similar V8 conversion on the AC Cobra, and hoped to be offered the contract to produce the Tiger at his facility in America. Rootes decided instead to contract the assembly work to Jensen at West Bromwich in England, and pay Shelby a royalty on every car produced.
Two major versions of the Tiger were built: the Mark I (1965–67) was fitted with the 260 cu in (4.3 L) Ford V8; the Mark II, of which only 633 were built in the final year of Tiger production, it was fitted with the larger Ford 289 cu in (4.7 L) engine. Two prototype and extensively modified versions of the Mark I competed in the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, but neither completed the race. Rootes also entered the Tiger in European rallies with some success, and for two years it was the American Hot Rod Association’s national record holder over a quarter-mile drag strip.
Chuck’s dilemma was that he didn’t know where he should even start – so he contacted their good friend – and just so happens, expert Sunbeam Tiger man – Nick Kenter, who lived about 11 miles away. They carted everything over to Nick’s place, taking inventory and making notes of everything they would need. Working two days a week and most weekends, 95% of the car’s bolts and nuts were replaced with stainless, three engines had come and gone (he still has the original 260), and nearly a year had passed before she roared back to life!
It’s powered by a potent Ford Racing Boss 302 engine (dyno’d at 345hp), shifted via a Ford 4-speed front end loader trans with a Hurst Shifter. All that power is transferred to the Ford Posi rear end with 3:07 gears. Stock Tiger gauges monitor everything. The interior credit goes to O’Neil & Son, including the trunk, of Plant City also. A larger sway bar was added as well as Willwood Brakes. Hela brand wheels are shod with 6 inch 195/50R15’s up front and 205/50R15’s out back. A LeCarra wood-grain wheel helps keep it straight. Heat resistant rubber flooring with Dynamat installed over that helps keeps it quiet. A non-stock but eye pleasing Crystal Red Metallic gives it that eye-ball appeal.
Awarded a judge’s choice in 2016 and a most desireable in 2017 at an all Sunbeams show in VA, as well as a 3rd in Personalized Concourse and a most desirable award at its first outing in Norcross, GA, the car is a testament to Chuck’s detail and hard work. He’s quick to credit Nick with his guidance, hard work, help and expertise! It’s not just the love he had for this tiger, but thanks his wife too for her “suggesting”that he get it going and get her some ‘Love of that Tiger’ once again!
