Named after the mighty 1928 Sunbeam Tiger Land Speed Record holder, the Sunbeam Tiger was an Atlantic alliance similar to the AC Cobra. The Rootes West Coast dealer contacted Carroll Shelby with idea of putting a small block V8 into the Sunbeam Alpine and very quickly a prototype was built, shipped back to Coventry and driven by Lord Rootes (apparently with the hand brake still on). A deal was agreed and 3,000 260cu (4261cc) in Ford V8s ordered. The Sunbeam Tiger was launched at the New York Auto Show 1964 and then went into development with Jensen. Series I Tigers used a Series IV Alpine body which had rounded doors and a rounded bootlid. The Series IA Tiger used a later bodyshell that had square door edges. The final Series II Tiger had a square-cornered bootlid and a 289cu in (4737cc) Ford V8. The Tiger ended production when Rootes were purchased by Chrysler and there was no interest in selling a Ford-engined car.