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'Audax' Cars
Designer: Raymond Loewy
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Sunbeam Rapier
The new 'Audax' model for Rootes had its debut at Earls Court 1955 in the form of the 2-door hardtop Sunbeam Rapier. Although it had a monocoque bodyshell by Pressed Steel, it was finished off by Thrupp and Maperley, who also did the Audax convertibles. Mechanically the Rapier was the same as Hillman Minx, but was given a higher compression version of the 1390cc engine with a Stromberg carb and modified manifolds, but a more powerful twin Zenith was quickly offered. In 1958 Sunbeam launched the Series II Rapier with wings along the boot sides, a more traditional Sunbeam grille, and a contrasting side flash. Mechanically a high compression 1494cc engine was fitted together a floor gearchange and revised steering. A convertible Rapier was now offered. The Rapier went to Series III in September 1959, with revised side grilles, a 'landscape' number plate mount, and a narrower side flash on the outside of a new interior. There was also a deeper windscreen. In April 1961 the Series IIIa Rapier gained the 1592cc engine already in the Sunbeam Alpine Series II. The final Rapier convertible was sold in summer 1963, before the roll out of the new Series IV Rapier in late 1963. A brand new Rapier had been designed, but this more expensive car was now released as the Humber Sceptre MkI, and the Rapier given new grilles, rear number plate. Rootes uprated the 1592cc engine to 84bhp with a twin choke Solex. Finally Sunbeam launched the Series V Rapier in September 1965 with a 1725cc version of the 4-cylinder engine, but it was a poor seller and was dropped in favour of the new Arrows Rapier in June 1967 after only 3700 were sold.
aa_Sunbeam Rapier Series I 1955 badgea
Sunbeam Rapier Series I 1955 - badge on door. Later Rapiers had badges on the side flash.
aa_Sunbeam Rapier Series I 1955 badgeb
Sunbeam Rapier Series I 1955 - badge on grille
aa_Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible badge
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible
aa_Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966 badge
Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966 - badge on rear wing
aa_Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966 badgeg
Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966 - badge on grille
ab_Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA 1961 grille
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIa 1961 - grille. This 'traditional' Sunbeam grille was first given to the Rapier for the Series III model and was retained until the end of production.
ab_Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible vent
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible
ab_Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966 grille
Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966 - grille. For the Series IV and V Rapiers, a slightly squarer grille was given, set between more rectangular side grilles now shared with other Audax models.
ac_Sunbeam Rapier Series II head
Sunbeam Rapier Series II. Sunbeam gave the Series II a more traditional Sunbeam grille flanked by 2-bar side grilles, behind which was a 1494cc tuned engine.
ac_Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible head
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIa 1961 convertible. The side grilles had changed from 2 middle bars to 4 bars for the Series III and retained this format until the the 1963 Seies IV update
ac_Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA head
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible
ac_Sunbeam Rapier Series IV
Sunbeam Rapier Series IV
l_Sunbeam Rapier Series III lamp
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible
Sunbeam Rapier Series I 1955 front
Sunbeam Rapier Series I. The 'Audax' models were launched at the 1955 London Motor Show with the Sunbeam Rapier designed by Holden 'Bob' koto at Raymond Loewy. Other models were released in 1956
Sunbeam Rapier Series I 1955 rear
Sunbeam Rapier Series I 1955. This 2-door pillarless hardtop Rapier launched the entire 'Audax' project in 1955, with square number plate and badging on the front doors
Sunbeam Rapier Series II front
Sunbeam Rapier Series II. a new 1494cc engine was given to the Series II, along with styling changes that made it resemble the Loewy Studebaker Silver Hawk.
Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible front
Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible. New 4-bar side grilles distinguish the Series III Rapier as well as a deep screen. Under the bonnet a revised 1494cc engine now output 78bhp
Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible rear
Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible. A new 'landscape' number plate mount was given to the Series III
Sunbeam Rapier Series III front
Sunbeam Rapier Series III was introduced September 1959, and as the IIIa in 1961 when it was given the 1592cc Alpine engine.
Sunbeam Rapier Series III rear
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIa 1961 convertible front
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIa 1961 convertible
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIa 1961 convertible rear
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIa 1961 convertible. Convertible Rapiers (and Minxes, Gazelles) were built up to mid 1963 by Thrupp and Maperley
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible rearw
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible
Sunbeam Rapier Series IV 1963 front
Sunbeam Rapier Series IV 1963. Rootes modernised the front of the Series IV to prolong sales until the new Arrows Rapier was ready
Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966 front
Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966. The Series V was introduced in September 1965, retaining the same appearance as the Series IV that had been introduced in autumn 1963. Under the bonnet, however, was a newly developed 1725cc version of the Rootes 4-cylinder engine.
Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966 rear
Sunbeam Rapier Series V 1966. At the rear, the Rapier retained most of its Series III styling, including the fins and the small rear lamps when other Audax models were modernised. However, a plainer bootlid was given and a wide chrome boot handle. The '1725' badge indicates this is the 1725cc Series V model.
t_Sunbeam Rapier Series III 1960 tail
Sunbeam Rapier Series III 1960. There were many styling changes for the Series III Rapier, and at the rear the new landscape number plate mounting and longer 'boot handle' are the most obvious
t_Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible tail
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIA Convertible
u_Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible side
Sunbeam Rapier Series III Convertible
u_Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIa 1961 convertible side
Sunbeam Rapier Series IIIa 1961 convertible. Convertible Rapiers (and Minxes, Gazelles) were built up to mid 1963 by Thrupp and Maperley
u_Sunbeam Rapier Series IV side
Sunbeam Rapier Series IV
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Hillman Minx Mark III to VIII
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Sunbeam Mark III
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Convertibles by Thrupp and Maberley
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Sunbeam Alpine Series I to V
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.
The names of Pinin, Farina, and Pininfarina are also considered
There are also notes on Pininfarina
as well as the car maker
and links tothat car maker
see also my Picasa car albums
withe even more on RedSimon
Simon is also a contributor to SuperCars.Net
And also to Wikipedia
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