Sunbeam car books - history and models

The Rootes Group : Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam, Singer, Commer, Karrier

The Rootes Group once dominated the British motor industry, and its legacy lives on in many well-maintained cars, especially Hillmans, Humbers, Singers, and Sunbeams.

This book, featuring images from the Rootes Archive Centre, by Richard Loveys, details the Group's history and key car models. It covers the Group's beginnings as a car dealership by William and Reginald Rootes, its transition to motor manufacturing, and its expansion through acquisitions and development of car and commercial vehicle ranges.

The Rootes Group significantly contributed to the war effort from 1939 to 1945, producing many military aircraft and vehicles. In its post-war peak, it produced iconic models like the Sunbeam Alpine and Hillman Imp.

Information

Author:	Richard Loveys
Details:	64 pages, 21 x 15 x 0.5 cm / 8.25 x 5.9 x 0.2 in, paperback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (GB, 2019)
ISBN:	9781784423391

The Rootes Story (Volume 1) - The Making of a Global Automotive Empire

This book traces the rise of the Rootes brothers, William and Reginald, and the development of one of Britain's key motor vehicle manufacturers. The Rootes Group acquired famous names like Hillman, Humber, Sunbeam, and Singer cars, as well as Commer and Karrier commercial vehicles.

Some Rootes models became household names: the Hillman Minx, Humber Super Snipe, Sunbeam Alpine, Singer Gazelle, Commer Superpoise, and Karrier Bantam. In the late 1950s, Rootes was the fourth largest car and truck manufacturer in Britain, exporting to over 180 countries and becoming a global automotive empire.

This book profiles the people and companies involved with Rootes, and details the cars and commercial vehicles they built, including specifications of key models. It also includes personal insights from employees and contributions from the Rootes family.

Information

Author:	Geoff Carverhill
Details:	240 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 2.3 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.91 in, hardback
Illustrations:	361 b&w and 52 colour photos
Publisher:	The Crowood Press Ltd (GB, 2018)
ISBN:	9781785004797

The Rootes Story (Volume 2) - The Chrysler Years

This book explores the Rootes Group's significant role in the 1960s and 70s, covering the vehicles they made, the people behind them, and the events leading to Rootes' acquisition by Chrysler and later Peugeot.

Former Rootes employees and management provide context, enriching the historical account. The book traces Rootes' efforts to remain a leading British car and truck manufacturer during the challenging 1960s and 70s, amid changing consumer preferences and increasing foreign competition.
Despite these challenges, Rootes produced iconic vehicles like the Hillman Minx, Super Minx, Singer Vogue, Humber Sceptre, and the Hillman Imp. The company also excelled in making durable vans and trucks under the Commer, Karrier, and Dodge brands.

The book highlights the racing achievements of Rootes vehicles, featuring racers like Paddy Hopkirk, Rosemary Smith, and Peter Procter. Rally driver Andrew Cowan recounts his victory in the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon in a Hillman Hunter.
The book offers an insider's view of Rootes, Chrysler, and Peugeot, through the experiences of former employees, providing a look into their boardrooms, design offices, and production lines.

Information

Author:	Geoff Carverhill
Details:	256 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 2.3 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.91 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	The Crowood Press Ltd (GB, 2023)
ISBN:	9780719841781

Louis Coatalen : Engineering Impresario of Humber, Sunbeam, Talbot, Darracq

Louis Coatalen is portrayed in this biography as a charming and witty man, determined to achieve success for his products by any means. His perseverance, occasional lack of scruples, ability to recognize good ideas, and talent for recruiting skilled individuals, combined with his leadership skills, made him a significant figure in motoring history.

Coatalen's journey from his birth in Brittany, his engineering training in France, to his rise in the British motor industry, bringing success to Humber and Sunbeam before WWI, is detailed. His aero-engines were widely used by the RNAS.

The book covers his personal motor racing story and his management of cars and drivers, including the first British car to win a Grand Prix and others that broke World Land Speed Records five times. Later in his career, after returning to France, he built the Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Company and invested in developing a powerful but ultimately unsuccessful diesel aero-engine.

Information

Author:	Oliver Heal
Details:	288 pages, 46.5 x 28 x 2.2 cm / 18.3 x 11 x 0.87 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Unicorn Press Ltd (GB, 2020)
ISBN:	9781912690695

Sunbeam Aero Engines

The Sunbeam Motor Car Company, the first major British aircraft engine manufacturer, entered the aviation industry in 1912. They were among the first to buy an aircraft for engine testing, flown by the renowned test pilot Jack Alcock.

During World War I, Sunbeam was a crucial supplier of engines and aircraft, especially to the Royal Naval Air Service. Sunbeam engines were the most powerful British engines of the time. They powered the first aircraft to torpedo an enemy ship, the only aircraft to fly at the Battle of Jutland, and the first seaplanes to operate in central Africa.

After the war, Sunbeam engines powered notable British airships like the R.34, the first aircraft to fly the Atlantic east to west and make a double crossing, and the R.33, the British dirigible with the most flight hours.

When Sunbeam returned to car manufacturing, their aero engines were used in land speed record-breaking cars, including the first to exceed 150 mph and 200 mph, ironically faster than any Sunbeam-powered aircraft.

Information

Author:	Alec Brew
Details:	160 pages, 25 x 17 x 1.5 cm / 9.8 x 6.7 x 0.59 in, paperback
Illustrations:	185 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Fonthill Media (GB, 2020)
ISBN:	9781781557945

Rootes Cars of the 50s, 60s & 70s - Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam & Talbot - A Pictorial History

The Rootes Group, despite having only a 10-12% market share, was the sixth largest British car manufacturer. Notably, during the 1950s, more than half of their cars were exported.

This book features every model produced from 1950 onwards, with full-color images and detailed information, including color schemes, optional equipment, technical specifications, and other manufacturers' cars built with Rootes components. It is the ultimate guide for Hillman, Humber, Singer, and Sunbeam enthusiasts. Cars produced by Chrysler/Talbot and Peugeot after acquiring the Rootes Group are also included.

The book contains hundreds of original photographs taken by the author at various car shows over the years, providing a unique pictorial history of Rootes-manufactured cars.

Features:
- Detailed model-by-model comparisons
- Extensive color photographs
- Body and styling differences
- Color scheme options
- Detailed technical information
- Standard and optional equipment details
- Dashboard instrument layouts and photographs
- Export models
- Cars built with Rootes components

Information

Author:	David Rowe
Details:	168 pages, 21 x 15 cm / 8.25 x 5.9 in, paperback
Illustrations:	1083 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2016)
ISBN:	9781787114432

Forgotten Rootes: The Unsung Sporting Cars of the Rootes Group

The sporting cars made by the Rootes Group have largely faded from memory. While some may remember the Sunbeam Alpine, few recall its contemporaries like the Sunbeam Rapier saloon or the fastback model.

The Hillman sports models are even more obscure but deserve recognition. The Hillman Avenger saloons were champions in Group One Racing and the British Touring Car Championship. The modest Hillman Imp was part of their rally team, along with the sporty Singer Coupe version. A Hillman Hunter Saloon won the challenging London-Sydney marathon rally, and the luxury Humber model also had sporting attributes.

The final chapter in the Rootes Group's sporting legacy was the Sunbeam hatchback in the 1980s. It included a sporty GLS variant, a Webber-enhanced Ti model with a spoiler, and a Lotus-powered version that won the RAC rally championship. This book corrects the oversight and honors these deserving yet often overlooked vehicles.

Information

Author:	Michael Burgess
Details:	96 pages, 23.5 x 16.5 x 1.2 cm / 9.25 x 6.5 x 0.47 in, paperback
Illustrations:	100 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2023)
ISBN:	9781398114135

Sunbeam-Talbot and Alpine in Detail 1935-1956

Sunbeam-Talbot was a marque created by the Rootes brothers in 1938 after acquiring the British arm of Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq. The cars were based on contemporary Hillmans and Humbers with a more glamorous and sporty style.

The book starts with the Talbot Ten, based on the Hillman Minx, which became the Sunbeam-Talbot Ten. The 2-litre version had the Humber Hawk's sidevalve engine. In 1948, the 80 and 90 models were introduced, featuring the stylish bodies associated with Sunbeam-Talbots and new overhead-valve engines from Hillman and Humber.
Independent front suspension was added in 1950 with the Mark II 90, transforming the cars' character and performance. The specifications were continuously improved through the Mark IIA to the final Mark III, now branded only as Sunbeam. The range included a convertible and the Sunbeam Alpine, a sporty two-seater.

The book details the Rootes Group's acquisition of the Sunbeam and Talbot marques and the evolution of Talbot and Sunbeam-Talbot until production ended in 1957. It provides technical descriptions of all models, covering chassis, running gear, engine, and transmission, with information on revisions and production changes.
The book also includes the cars' competition history, technical specifications, chassis numbers, production figures, and rally entries. It features 130 color photographs of surviving cars and 250 black-and-white archive shots.

Information

Author:	Anders Ditlev Clausager
Details:	240 pages, 27.5 x 22 x 2.4 cm / 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.94 in, hardback
Illustrations:	250 b&w and 130 colour photos
Publisher:	Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2009)
Series:	In Detail
ISBN:	9781906133139