By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse
Flicking through the latest online classic car sales reminded me of a striking British coupe that was on the road in my childhood days.
Launched in 1967, the Sunbeam Rapier Fastback was part of the Rootes Arrow range of cars and pitched in a sporty market place, occupied by the likes of MGB and the Ford Capri (from 1969).
The eye-catching four-seater Rapier came with a 1725cc overhead valve engine giving a top speed of 103 mph. In developing the car Rootes built on the chassis of the Hillman Hunter Estate.
A striking feature of the car was its pillarless side windows which drew parallels with the US-made Plymouth Barracuda, launched by Chrysler in 1964.
To give the car extra cachet Rootes traded on the Sunbeam name and the success of the Rapier models from the fifties and sixties.
Rootes added a faster version – the H120 – in 1968, developed by the British company, Holbay Engineering. A slightly cheaper model, the Sunbeam Alpine Fastback, was introduced in 1969.
There’s no doubt buyers of the Rapier Fastback got a very stylish motor but never far away was the big selling Ford Capri offering a range of engine options. To their credit Rootes stuck with the car for nine years, until 1976.
In that time, over 46,000 models were made including the range topping H120.
Though rare the Rapier can still be found on seller sites. Check out the Car and Classic site – www.carandclassic.com/list/44/rapier+fastback/ – for a couple of smart examples.