The Chrysler Sunbeam was a three-door supermini built at the former Rootes factory at Linwood in Scotland from 1977 to 1981. Developed in only 19 months on shortened Hillman Avenger underpinnings and funded by a government grant, it was renamed Talbot Sunbeam after PSA took over Chrysler Europe, and in Lotus form it won the 1981 World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title for Talbot.
Chrysler Sunbeam at a glance
| Production | 1977–1981 |
|---|---|
| Built at | Linwood, Scotland |
| Developed as | Project R424, from January 1976 |
| Development time | 19 months |
| Base | Hillman Avenger, wheelbase shortened by 3 in |
| Bodies | three-door hatchback only |
| Engines | 0.9, 1.3 and 1.6 litres |
| Trims at launch | LS, GL and S |
| Launched | 23 July 1977 |
| Later name | Talbot Sunbeam, from August 1979 |
| Rallying | WRC manufacturers’ title 1981 with Lotus |
History of the Chrysler Sunbeam
A car paid for by the government
In the mid-1970s Chrysler UK, formerly Rootes, was in financial trouble: the Linwood factory was losing money and its capacity was badly underused. In 1975 the Ryder Report effectively nationalised British Leyland, one of Chrysler UK’s main competitors, and Chrysler management pressed the government for its own aid while threatening to close its British operations. The government agreed to a grant reported at £55 million to fund a small car to be developed in Chrysler’s UK facilities and built at Linwood.
Project R424
Development began in January 1976 under the codename R424. Engineering was handled at Ryton and styling by Chrysler’s Whitley studio in Coventry under Roy Axe, who left for the United States before the car was launched. A tight schedule, a small budget and the need to use as many British components as possible led to the rear-wheel-drive Hillman Avenger as the base rather than the front-wheel drive favoured by Simca. The Avenger’s wheelbase was shortened by three inches and modifications were made to take the 928 cc Coventry Climax-derived engine, an enlarged version of the 875 cc unit from the rear-engined Hillman Imp; the steering wheel and instrument pod came from the Simca 1307/Chrysler Alpine. Apart from doors shared with the two-door Avenger the body was new, styled in Chrysler’s angular “international” language first seen on the Alpine and later on the Horizon. Because the Horizon’s headlamps were not ready in time, the Sunbeam used the pre-facelift Avenger lamps, hence the recessed mounting in the front panel.
Launch, Talbot and rallying
The Sunbeam was launched on 23 July 1977 after a remarkably short 19-month development, to a positive reception, in 0.9, 1.3 and 1.6-litre forms and LS, GL and S trims. Only a three-door hatchback was offered, with a single piece of glass and a high rear sill that added rigidity but restricted access; to reduce in-house competition the basic two-door Avengers were dropped in Britain at the same time and the Horizon was restricted to five doors. By 1978 Chrysler was still losing money and decided to sell its European operations to PSA, which announced in 1979 that all former Chrysler Europe products would become Talbots; from August 1979 the Sunbeam wore Talbot badges but kept a Chrysler Pentastar until 1981. A hot-hatch Sunbeam Ti arrived at the 1978 British and Paris shows, going on sale in June 1979 at £3,779 with a 1.6-litre engine, twin Weber carburettors, 100 bhp, two-tone paint and a body kit. The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was successful in rallying and won the World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title for Talbot in 1981.
Design and features
- Shortened Avenger platform: rear-wheel drive and proven components, three inches less wheelbase.
- Rapid development: 19 months from start to launch on a tight budget.
- Three-door only: a single-piece glass hatch and a high rear sill for rigidity.
- Sunbeam Ti: a 100 bhp 1.6 with twin Webers, two-tone paint and a body kit.
- Rally pedigree: the Sunbeam Lotus won Talbot the 1981 WRC manufacturers’ title.
Chrysler Sunbeam versions
- Sunbeam 0.9, 1.3 and 1.6 (1977): the launch range in LS, GL and S trims.
- Sunbeam Ti (1979): the 100 bhp twin-carburettor hot hatch.
- Talbot Sunbeam (1979–1981): the same car after the PSA takeover.
- Talbot Sunbeam Lotus: the rally version that won the 1981 manufacturers’ title.
The Sunbeam was built alongside the Chrysler Avenger whose platform it used, and it was sold next to the Chrysler Horizon and Chrysler Alpine. More cars are in the Chrysler collection.
Video: Put a Chrysler Sunbeam in your life for 30p a gallon
Video by bigmanio on YouTube.
Sources
- Chrysler Sunbeam, English Wikipedia: origins, development, launch, Ti and Lotus
- Chrysler Sunbeam, Wikimedia Commons: photographs
.jpg){kind=link}