An Englishman in Italian Suit.

• 
• 
• 

Some of the best car co-operations have been between British manufacturers and Italian coachbuilders. Pininfarina almost moved in with BMC in the 1960s; Bertone, Ghia, Frua, Farina or Allemano all tried out a Jaguar, Jowett, MG or Bentley at the time, while Zagato’s Astons have become nothing but legendary.

But the Sunbeam Venezia, seen here at the RetroClassics show held in Stuttgart last weekend, remains a bit of an oddity. And in between the Mercedeses and Porsches at the German show it was a real oddball. It’s not ultra rare, with some 145 to 200 examples believed to have been built between 1963 and 1965, but the coupe version of the Sunbeam / Humber Sceptre still attracts quizzed faces.

The sobre lines, hammered out in aluminium, are unmistakably Carrozzeria Touring and remind of Lancia’s Flaminia (note there's one parked behind). But there are some unusualities such as the triangular openings above the headlights (we’re sure we’ve seen it elsewhere, but can’t remember where. Do you?) and the shapely dashboard with every gauge and switch thinkable squeezed in. It’s intriguing, and so is its history. Click here for a detailed account, but feel free to let us know your opinions.

(Words Jeroen Booij, pictures Joris Bergsma)   

Aggiunga un commento...