Sunbeam Speed 20 Monte Carlo Saloon – 1934 - Lot 31

Sunbeam Speed 20 Monte Carlo Saloon – 1934 German registration title Sold without contrôle technique SANS RÉSERVE The venerable Sunbeam company quickly distinguished itself through its spirit of innovation, notably by entering the world of competition at a very early stage to prove the reliability and performance of its vehicles on the most prestigious circuits. In the 1920s, the brand reached its peak, thanks in particular to racing models such as the 1924 Sunbeam Grand Prix (also offered for sale by Aguttes) and record-breaking achievements. The brand, a symbol of British performance and expertise, also enjoyed great renown on the road, thanks in particular to the Twenty, a touring car which in the early 1930s benefited from a beautiful 3-litre 6-cylinder engine. The very stylish 20 HP Monte Carlo Saloon featured on these pages was delivered new by the London-based company Boon & Porter Ltd. to Mr and Mrs Turnbull of Woking, Surrey, on 16 July 1934. It originally bore the registration number M4, which had previously belonged to a 1903 De Dion, and retained this number until it was sold to Mr Garment, also in Surrey, in 1957. Well known to the Sunbeam Talbot Darracq register, this fine example has participated in numerous rallies and events in the United Kingdom and Europe. Maintained by Holcombe Engineering in Bath from 1970 to the late 1990s, it comes with a complete file listing a full ownership history since its inception, invoices dating back to 1969, and copies of road tests in Motor Sport from December 1933 and The Motor from February 1934 praising the model’s sporting prowess. Before its current owner acquired it, this Twenty was repainted in its original blue and black livery, the engine was rebuilt by B.B. Motor Components Ltd (in 2006), new wheels were rebuilt, the interior was restored, etc. With only 18 Speed 20s remaining out of approximately 100 built (including 5 Monte Carlo pillarless Saloons out of the 25 manufactured), this incredible Sunbeam will delight a gentleman driver looking for one of the most desirable Grand Touring cars of the 1930s, ready to hit the road in the utmost comfort and with surprising performance for its time.