Simon Cars - Sunbeam Rapier - British coupe from the Rootes Group with American styling

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Rootes Group
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'Audax' models
Designer: Raymond Loewy

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Sunbeam Rapier

The sharpest car of the Rootes 'Audax' range, and the one that cut into the market best. The Rootes Group commissioned Raymond Loewy Studios to help with the design of their all new Hillman Minx. Launched first as a 2-door coupe model badged 'Sunbeam Rapier' at the 1955 London Motor Show, this car was most similar to Loewy's Studebaker designs. Sunbeam Rapiers achieved some success in Rallies and motorsports and evolved until the Series VI car in 1967.

Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible	Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible	Sunbeam Rapier Series II. Introduced in 1958 and superseded by the Series III in 1959, Rolled over rear wings and a three panel front grille were the visible changes for the Series II, Under the bonnet a 1494cc engine replaced the MkI 1390cc unit	Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible	Sunbeam Rapier Series III
Sunbeam Rapier Series IV	Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible. Convertible bodies were available on the Hillman Minx, Singer Gazelle, and Sunbeam Rapier until 1963.	Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible	Sunbeam Rapier Series IV. There were no Series IV Minxes or Gazelles. They became Series V, as the Hillman Super Minx and Singer Vogue were launched. But the Sunbeam version of these new cars was christened "Humber Sceptre", so the Sunbeam Rapier was spruced up like Minx V and sold as Series IV and later as Series V with the 1725cc engine.	Sunbeam Rapier Series II. Introduced in 1958 and superseded by the Series III in 1959, Rolled over rear wings and a three panel front grille were the visible changes for the Series II, Under the bonnet a 1494cc engine replaced the MkI 1390cc unit
Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible. Like the other Series III Minxes and Gazelle the Rapier gained a larger winscreen. The 1494cc engine benefitted from the same tuning given to the Alpine engine.	Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible.	Sunbeam Rapier Series III was introduced September 1959, and as the IIIa in 1961 when it was given the 1592cc Alpine engine.	Sunbeam were the first to sell the Rootes 'Audax' model as the Rapier in Autumn 1955. By 1961 it was having some success on the Rally circuit and the addition of a 1592cc kept up its success.	Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible. The Rapier Series IIIA was launched in 1961, but the convertible was discontinued in 1963
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible	Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIa Convertible. Convertible bodies were offered on the Series IIIA but were discontinued in 1963 and never offered on the Series IV or V	Sunbeam Rapier Series IV. The Series IV was not intended, as a brand new car was in development based on the Sunbeam Venezia. This car was finally launched as the Humber Sceptre, and the Rapier spruced up for Series IV and V (1725 engine).	Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible.	Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible - taillight
Hillman Minx Series I to VI 1956-67	Singer Gazelle	Hillman Minx Californian	Sunbeam Rapier 1967 - 1976

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key text: This is the page introducing Simons love of cars from the website RedSimon which is a series of photo albums of Simon GP Geoghegan.
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