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The cars of the Rootes Group
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From the 1920s to the 1970s, the Rootes Group was one of the world's major car manufacturers. Brands such as Humber, Hillman, Talbot-Sunbeam, and Singer were gradually integrated, and after the war, the Rootes Group was the second-largest vehicle manufacturer in Great Britain.
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Elegant restraint - Sunbeam Vogue in the (historical) test
Four months ago, we published the historic mot test of the Sunbeam Rapier. In it, we said that you should read the article on the mechanically identical Vogue for a technical assessment. We are happy to provide it here. And as with the coupé, the saloon also showed that the Sunbeam was actually a fine car and well worth considering - but its advantages were not clear enough to set it apart from the domestic competition. This historical test report is both benevolently optimistic and realistically pessimistic.
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Sunbeam Alpine GT - Rapier is patient
As an extravagant hardtop coupé based on reliable mass-produced technology, the Sunbeam Rapier had what it took to be a sales success at the end of the sixties. But because parent company Chrysler neglected its Rootes stepchildren, the Arrow fastbacks were never really able to reveal their talents. Even the US model Alpine GT, which illustrates this article, could not prevent the end of the Sunbeam brand.
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Niche model seeks enthusiasts - Sunbeam Rapier in (historical) test
The thinner the dealer network, the more difficult it is for foreign models on the German market - often unfairly. The Sunbeam Rapier was certainly not a perfect car. But it did offer a number of advantages such as an independent line, plenty of fresh air and the overdrive that never really arrived in continental Europe. This historical test report explains why the English coupé would have been well worth considering.
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Humber 16/60 Foursome Drophead Coupé - Reverend
Humber was something like the English Mercedes-Benz of the interwar period. For those with a feel for technology and who are not driven by the hectic pace of modern life, the quality cars from Nottingham still offer a pleasant driving experience today. In this article, we present the Humber 16/60 from 1935 and take a look back at a time when country roads were still built like country lanes and cars were still built like furniture.
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Sunbeam Alpine - comfort does not rhyme with sport
It was prettier than a Triumph TR3, more powerful than an MGA, cheaper than an Austin-Healey 3000, more advanced than a Morgan - and more comfortable than all four put together. Nevertheless, the Sunbeam Alpine failed to achieve great success. And even today, many enthusiasts of English roadsters still do not regard it as a true representative of its genre. In most cases, they simply compare it with the wrong cars. This article tells the richly illustrated story of the Alpine Sunbeam and explains why it deserves a second chance.
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A friend for everyday use - Hillman Minx with Easidrive in (historical) test
The third series Hillman Minx, built by the British Rootes Group between 1959 and 1963, was actually a fairly average vehicle. Powered by a well-behaved 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the functionally equipped and rock-solid mid-range saloon should hardly have caused a stir. But the Minx took control of the gearbox away from the driver and caused a minor revolution. The original report from 1960, which is also illustrated with historical pictures and three sales brochures from the time, describes how the Hillman Minx Easidrive fared in the road test.
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Abraham's lap - Humber Super Snipe in (historical) test
With the Humber Super Snipe, the Rootes Group built a splendid saloon that did not chum itself up with extravagant styling, but offered plenty of quality and comfort in the spirit of British "understatement" without being particularly expensive or sophisticated. Only in the top speed tests did the voluminous Briton prove surprisingly sensitive. This article reproduces an original test report from 1960 and shows the Humber Super Snipe in historical pictures and sales material.
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Sunbeam Alpine in (historical) test - The civilized lion
In the course of the fifties and sixties, man learned to domesticate the sports car. One of these tame road robbers was produced by the Rootes Group and was called the Sunbeam Alpine. The pretty convertible was intended to combine temperament and comfort and also be easy on the wallet. Did it succeed? This article quotes a test report from 1960 and shows the versatile car in historical photos and sales material.
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Robust convertible for all days - Hillman Super Minx Convertible (in historical test)
The British Rootes Group was already producing models with the name "Minx" before the Second World War, which were very popular and found many buyers both on the island and on the European mainland. From 1961, the Hillman Super Minx, a further evolutionary stage of the mid-range car, was available at dealerships. It did not boast any great innovations or stunning driving performance, but proved to be practical and reliable, and the well thought-out soft top design and manufacturing quality were also impressive. This test report from 1963 shows the car in historical photographs and sales literature and discusses in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the English convertible, which was discontinued in 1964.
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Sunbeam Tiger - The Cobra in the Sable
Around 7100 Sunbeam Tigers were built between 1964 and 1967. Following the recipe that had already worked for the Shelby Cobra, a Ford V8 engine was implanted in the Sunbeam Alpine, which was normally equipped with four cylinders, resulting in unrivaled performance and plenty of sex appeal. This report shows the fast roadster in current and historical pictures and summarizes the history of the eight-cylinder Englishman.
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