Sunbeam Rapier Series V (Series 5) - the rare 1960s British sporting saloon!

Sunbeam Rapier Series V Described by Rootes in their advertising brochure as a thrilling sports saloon, and by that you can read as a target audience of a man who loved his sports car but now has commitments, was made from 65 to 67. The car, whilst looking very similar and perhaps too similat to the outgoing series IV, was fitted with a 1725cc engine. fitted wit a 5 bearing crankshaft, it was a tried and tested unit for the company and with the Rapiers having success in internatiional trials and rallies, it was a car that you could believe would add a little flair to your daily commute. The car was said to offer both comfort and performance, with a top speed of over 95mph. It’s a unitary construction of chassis and body and Rootes boast it gives exceptional strength and rigidity. The car was only advertised with a four speed box but as I mention later, the overdrive was optional. This is the same overdrive which is standard fitment if you go for one of the more expensive cars in the Rootes range like the Humber Sceptre. On your colour options, the brochures only list one single colour which is Royal Blue Metallic with grey upholstery. The rest of the colour schemes are two tone, with the first named colour as the body and roof and the secondary colour as the side flash. This of course has been resprayed at some point and i suspect it was the silver grey metallic and pippin red with red upholstery, as this is the only colourway which is listed as having the red upholstery. If you’re looking for a reference point for what pippin red looks like, that’s the colour of my Humber. For suspension, you get fully independent front wheel suspension with coil springs and swinging links and telescopic shock absorbers housed down the centre of each of the springs. interestingly, it’s also advertised as ‘modern’ because the greasing points have been eliminated. The rear is similar to other Rootes cars just as the front is, with semi-eliptic leaf spring with automatvh variation to suit the load inside the car and road surface - quite needed really with today’s roads of west yorkshire. there’s also telescopic shock absorbers fitted. There are little touches you won’t notice at a car show but make the drive on this absolutely beyond some of the competition such as the adjustable steering wheel and seats and the seats have around 5 inches of adjustment which is roughly 12.5 centimetres if you work in metric. By the way, the brochure says rally experts designed the driving position, but I cannot find any trace of who these mysterious experts were, but knowing Rootes, it’ll be a legit thing. the sports-type gear lever is said to ensure swift positive change and to be fair, it’s a lovely gearbox with pleasing change as you’ll see on test. There are also seat belt anchorages as standard, this is mentioned because belts would’ve been an optional extra. Front belts aren’t standard legal requirement in the UK until 1968, although you don’t have to legally wear them until 1983 and rear belts aren’t a legal requirement to be worn in the back in the UK until 1991 - which seems like only 5 minutes ago! all in all, a pleasing and much-overlooked car and one deserving of far more attention!