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Sunbeam 1500 GT - Budget Gran Turismo for the whole family

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Created on August 29, 2019

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

49

Bruno von Rotz

1

Archiv

10

Daniel Reinhard

49

Bruno von Rotz

1

Archiv

10

Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - der Zweitürer wurde erst 1973 nach drei Jahren Bauzeit eingeführt

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - nur 158,5 cm breit

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - musste auf die Doppelscheinwerfer der früheren viertürigen GT-Version verzichten

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Heckansicht mit charakteristisch geformten Rückleuchten

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - kompakter Viersitzer

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - vollwertiger Viersitzer auf 410 cm Länge

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Kopfstützen gab's damals noch nicht serienmässig

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - hängte manchen Konkurrenten ab damals

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - ein Aussenrückspiegel musste reichen

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - knapp 160 km/h Spitze waren möglich

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - 0 bis 100 km/h schaffte der GT in rund 14,5 Sekunden

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Ausnahmeerscheingung auf den heutigen Strassen

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - hält auch heute noch locker mit dem Verkehr mit

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - als GT mit 78 PS fast ein bisschen ein Wolf im Schafspelz

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - macht Spass beim Fahren ohne anzustrengen

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - unter 900 kg schwer

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - sicherlich nicht eines der auffallendsten Autos seiner Klasse

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - sportlich angehauchter Arbeitsplatz

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - vier Rundinstrumente mit allem, was man wissen möchte

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - anstelle von Lenkstockhebeln links und rechts gibt es Drehknöpfe

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - nicht beliebig gut ablesbarer Tacho und mit 200 km/h etwas sehr optimistisch

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Lichtschalter links vom Lenkrad, es darf gedreht werden

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Sunbeam-Schriftzug auf der Beifahrerseite

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Kunsstofftürverkleidung und Kurbel zum Fensterheben

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Sitzverstellung und -entriegelung

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Kunststoffeingefasste IMG_0395

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - längs eingebauter Vierzylinder mit 75 PS

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Reihenvierzylinder mit Querstromkopf

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - zwei verschiedene Schriftarten für die Markenbezeichnungen

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Markenlogo im Kühlergrill

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Markenbezeichnung auf der Motorhaube

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Markenschriftzug auf der Motorhaube

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Rückspiegel vorne links

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - heute undenkbar, Rückspiegel vorne auf dem Kotflügel

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - verchromter Rückspiegel

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - weit vorne montierter Aussenspiegel, damals modern

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - der Dreitürer hat eine anders geartete Dachlinie

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - das Vinyldach war beim GT Serie

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - aerodynamisch war dieser Absatz wohl nicht das Optimium

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Vinyldach besonders in Hell-Dunkel-Kombination hübsch

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Vinyldächer waren in den Siebzigerjahren beliebt

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Türgriff und separates Türschloss auf der rechten Türe

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Türgriff links

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - aufgeklebte GT-Streifen und -Schriftzüge

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Beschriftung am Heck

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - eindeutig beschriftet

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - der Tankeinlass führt direkt durch den Kofferraum, der Tank selber ist weit hinten untergebracht

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Sunbeam 1250 (1970) - neuer Fünfsitzer als 1250 und 1500 - Genfer Autosalon 1970

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Sunbeam 1500 GT - London Motor Show 1970 - BBC-Reporter im siebten Himmel

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Sunbeam 1250 (1973) - neu im Programm als zweitürige Limousine ab 7'980 Franken - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1973

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Sunbeam 1250 am Genfer Automobilsalon 1972 - weniger als 8'000 Franken kostet dieser preisgünstige Viertürer

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Sunbeam 1500 (1970) - Schwätzchen auf der Motorhaube?

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Sunbeam 1300 (1975) - als zwei- oder viertürige Limousine ab 8925 Franken erhältlich - Genfer Automobilsalon 1975

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - glänzend gelungene Zweitürer-Version - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1973

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Sunbeam 1300 - mit grösserem Motor, als 1,3-Liter für 8090 Franken - am Genfer Automobilsalon 1974

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Sunbeam 1300 DL (1976) - für 9600 Franken viel Auto - Genfer Autosalon 1976

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Chrysler Sunbeam Lotus (1979) - Weltpremiere, mit auf 2,2-Liter Hubraum vergrössertem Lotus-Motor - Genfer Automobilsalon 1979

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - Höhe 142 cm, Breite fast 160 cm

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Sunbeam 1500 GT (1973) - das Vinyldach weist auf die teurere Ausführung hin

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Hillman Avenger (1972) - das letzte Auto, das die Rootes Gruppe vor der Übernahme durch Chrysler entwickelte - Coventry Transport Museum

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Summary

The Sunbeam 1500 GT was the spearhead of a lower mid-range model that the Rootes Group, which had been taken over by Chrysler in the late 1960s, launched in 1970 as the Sunbeam 1250/1500. Although a success, these cars have almost completely disappeared, a good reason to remember them, for example in the form of the 1500 GT sports version. This driving report describes the history of the Sunbeam 1250/1500, which was also called the Hillman Avenger in other markets, and shows it in many current and historical photos. A sound sample is also included.

This article contains the following chapters

Return to the lower middle class
Name confusion
Modern design
Variety of equipment
GT version with more power
GT comes, goes and comes again
Affordable alternative
The even faster Tiger
Even more names and variants
Honest car
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Sunbeam 1500 GT was the spearhead of a lower mid-range model that the Rootes Group, which had been taken over by Chrysler in the late 1960s, launched in 1970 as the Sunbeam 1250/1500. Although a success, these cars have almost completely disappeared, a good reason to remember them. The Rootes Group, which had grown up with brands such as Humber, Hillman and Sunbeam, had small and large cars in its range in the late sixties, but a vehicle for the lower middle class was missing. The first specifications were defined as early as 1963, but the larger Hunter with a 1.7-liter engine was developed for series production first. At the beginning of 1966, the project was returned to in order to launch a new four-door model with a target date of January 1970.

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