Registration: PRR 555

Chassis: B91150690DHRO

Odometer: 94,175

Transmission: Manual

MOT: October 2026

• Extensive history
• An older restoration presenting well
• Offered with a considerable quantity of spares
• ‘Non-transferable’ cherished number ‘PRR 555’

Finished in what is believed to be colour code 39—the striking Carnival Red, as referenced in the Sunbeam Alpine Owners’ Club Alpine Guide, chassis B91150690DHRO is regarded as a well‑known car within the Sunbeam Owners Club. The Red exterior is complemented by a Black vinyl interior with Red piping to the seats, whilst under the bonnet the 4‑cylinder engine is paired with the standard 4‑speed gearbox with overdrive on 3rd and 4th, delivering around 80 bhp. A well-travelled Alpine, over the years it has appeared at several large and local shows and has a strong history of long‑distance touring. Between 1999 and 2004 it completed multiple solo and club tours across Europe, including trips of 2,000–3,500 miles through France, Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia and the Arctic, plus laps of the Nürburgring and Silverstone.

In current ownership for nearly 30 years, and since February 1997, originally registered as ‘347 VKK’, in 1962, the Alpine was initially purchased by a Mrs. Moore of Kent. The Alpine was then bought by the current owner’s father in 1966, who used the car as his everyday transport until his children outgrew the space available in the back seat! The ‘PRR 555’ registration was transferred at the time of this purchase. In 1967, the second owner drove the Alpine to the Le Mans 24 Hours, the car also being infrequently used to tow a small sailing dinghy, hence the tow bar! Around 1970, he bought a Bedford van, and the Alpine was parked in the garage at home where it stayed for some 25 years, only being started occasionally. As he had no need for the vehicle anymore, his daughter became the most recent owner.

With the initial aim to get an MOT back on the car, the daughter set about the task. The engine had been out on a trolley with some of the parts lovingly labelled, it presented a huge jigsaw puzzle with the only instructions being the Rootes workshop manual and her visual memory acquired from being a garage assistant to her dad. In February 1997, ‘PRR 555’ was passed fit for the road and fully re-registered. In 1998 a ‘full bare metal re-spray’ was carried out in the original colours of a Black hardtop and Carnival Red bodywork. Almost everything else is as original except she has fitted an oil cooler radiator to help stabilise the oil pressure for modern driving conditions.

The ‘back to bare metal’ restoration was applied to the exterior of the car apart from the underside. The doors and the boot lid were taken back to bare metal inside as well and then refinished. All the interior of the boot space, all the interior of the engine compartment and all the interior of the car are untouched and, we understand, remain in the original paint. The underseal under the car was applied in the 1960s and is untouched. The sills and all possible cavities have been injected with Waxoyl. The car has been garaged its entire life (at least since 1966, it is believed). The car retains its original rubber floor mats and as much of the original trim as possible – it is rare to see that the mats have survived. The three-cornered fuel cap is original and rare – is with the car, in a box of spares. The car retains what is thought to be its original and rare boot‑lid luggage rack, together with the original fitting instructions from when it was first purchased.

The vendor describes the current condition as excellent overall, the 1998 paintwork presenting very well for its age, with a couple of cracks in a few locations that we could see. The interior is said to be in very good condition also, although we noticed a small tear in the headlining. Rare to find, the radio, mono speaker and antenna are said to be original and still work. The hardtop is in good original condition. The soft top has its original frame, but the material has been replaced. The original soft-top material was damaged by mice.

Mechanically, the electric ignition was fitted in 2013. More recently, the Zenith carburettors became difficult to maintain, and they installed the Sunbeam Alpine Owners Club developed Weber conversion which has been very successful. Upon the turn of the key, the engine starts well and was driven to our auction facility venue without problems.

The paperwork accompanying the car is extensive and well organised. It includes The Alpine Guide published by the Sunbeam Alpine Owners Club, along with the Rootes parts list book and original handbooks. There’s also restoration paperwork and invoices, along with various additional small‑parts invoices. The documentation goes some way to provide evidence of substantial work carried out by Hightone Restorations Ltd, covering both body and mechanical aspects. Alpine Innovations Ltd supplied a manifold and Weber carburettor kit in 2020, and Automotive Solutions converted the ignition system to electric in 2013.

The V5 is present, as are comprehensive Spare Parts Lists; all spare parts are boxed and labelled, with written inventories and indexed photographs. The collection of spares is large, and photos can be provided for potential online listing. The history file, which also contains the current MOT certificate, has the earliest tax disc dates from 1971, followed by a run of discs from 1998 to 2015. The oldest MOT certificate is from 1973, after which the car remained off the road until 1997. From 1997 onwards, there is an MOT certificate for the years through to the current certificate, supporting the recorded mileage of 94,175. Included with the documentation is the original Sunbeam Alpine owner’s handbook, as well as the old buff logbook showing the first two owners. The original sales invoice from when the second owner— the current owner’s father— purchased the vehicle in 1966 is also present. Although the HPI report states first registration in the UK was in February 1997, there is nothing to suggest the car was ever exported, and we are advised the owner’s understanding is that the car has resided in the UK all of its life, and it was re-registered with DVLA because it was off the road for so long.

This is a wonderful opportunity to acquire a Sunbeam Alpine with excellent history and offered with a hardtop. There’s also that large quantity of spares with the car. A car worthy of closer inspection at our facility and with a collection of spares also available to be viewed.