Background
1977 saw the aged Avenger replaced by the Talbot Sunbeam, which in the mind of Talbot’s Competitions
Director had great potential. The potential was further enhanced by sourcing a Lotus 2.2 litre twin cam 16 valve
engine and so the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was born. The car achieved homologation under Group 4 rules in
1979 and then Group 2 in 1980.
The 1980 season saw Talbot enter a select campaign of events culminating in the RAC Rally, where the works
drivers consisted of a young Finn, Henri Toivonen and an experienced Frenchman Guy Fréquelin. Talbot
decided to hedge their bets on the RAC Rally, choosing to install a more powerful Big Valve Head to Henri’s car,
while Guy ran the normal specification engine. In addition, Russell Brookes privately entered a lower spec ex
Tony Pond factory built right hand drive car, in his customary Andrews Heat For Hire livery.
Not much was expected of the fledgling Talbot team on the RAC, but by the end of the first day Toivonen was
up with the leaders. By mid-morning on the second day, Toivonen was leading. Toivonen swiftly pulled out a
strong lead and finally crossed the finish line in Bath with a five minute lead over Hannu Mikkola in 2nd. The
Sunbeams of Guy and Russell taking third and fourth respectively. Henri become the youngest ever winner of a
World Championship Rally, and Talbot their best result since 1968. As history has shown the Sunbeam was the
last two-wheel drive car to win the RAC.
This Car
Was first registered in 1982 and built to the full works specification of the 1980 RAC Rally winning car, by ex
Talbot Motorsport engineer Jim Little from Mike Little Preparations. The bodyshell is built to historic rally
regulations from a genuine Lotus Sunbeam donor car and features alloy arches, a raised transmission tunnel,
multipoint roll cage, double chassis rails and is finished in factory colours with a works copy registration
“KKV444W”.
The engine is an all steel Lotus dry sump engine with a big valve cylinder head. Whilst the transmission consists
of a close ratio gearset, a Salisbury 4HA works type axle with low CWP and a plated LSD. The brakes consist
of AP Vented Discs and Bells, as well as AP Racing Callipers all round, with 4 pistons and 2 pistons respectively
on the front and rear. The car has completed numerous events such as the Roger Albert Clark Rally and Rally
Sol in Spain.
Technical Specification
Engine:
Induction system:
Transmission:
Power Output:
2200cc 4Cylinder 16v DOHC
Naturally Aspirated Twin 48 Weber Carburettors
5 speed RWD
240 Bhp