If you own one of these cars, it is almost imperative that you become a member of The Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Register, or S.T.A.R. for short. This is a British organization with many regional sections throughout the U.K. and overseas. They publish an excellent magazine called STARDUST every second month containing information on club activities, interesting articles about these cars as well as advertising from various businesses catering to this breed. To become a member, contact the following:
In the U.K.
Ian Peskett,
Boreham Lodge Barn,
48 Southminster Road,
Tillingham, Southminster, Essex, CM0 7VF
Telephone 01621 778492
E-mail: ian.peskett@btopenworld.com.
In the U.S.A./Canada
Peter Woodall,
18801 NW 47th Avenue,
Ridgefield, WA 98642
Telephone 360-576-4969
E-mail: starcars8@comcast.net.
The following is a list of companies who stock spare parts for the Sunbeam-Talbot:
Sunbeam Talbot Spares (Primary Source for Spares)
David & Simon Bamforth (sometimes Tony)
3 South Drive, Royston, Barnsley
South Yorkshire, England S71 4PF
Tel/Fax: 011-44-1226-725076
E-Mail: dave.bamforth@btopenworld.com
Speedy Spares Services Ltd.
19-25 Old Shoreham Road,
Portslade by Sea,
England, BN41-1SP
Mail Order/Fax 011-44-1273 417889
Shop: 011-44-1273 412764
Web Page: Speedy Spares Services Ltd.
Kip Motor Company, Inc.
2127 Crown Road
Dallas, Texas 75229
Telephone Toll Free (US and Canada) 1-888-243-0440
Web Page: Kip Motor Company, Inc.
British Tools and Fasteners
2030 Andre Ave.
Los Osos CA
Telephone (805) 528-0418
Fax: (805) 528-0358
Web Page:British Tools and fasteners
British Wiring
20449 Ithica
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
Phone/Fax (708) 481-9050
Web Page: British Wiring
Suppliers of complete wiring harnesses for Sunbeam Talbot and MK Alpines (with correct fittings and colour coding), bullets & sleeves, fuseboxes and fuses, wire, plugs, grommets and the right tools to apply the bullets.
Water Pump Repairs (recommended by Ramon Spontelli)
Rebuilds by Automotive Friction, in Damascus, Oregon. Tel: 1-
800-545-9088
www.autofriction.com
Mercian Manuals
Peter Shimmell, a S-T list subscriber, and owner of Mercian Manuals in the U.K., has reprints of the Shop and Spares (Parts) Manuals for our Sunbeam Talbots and MK Alpines. He also stocks over 2500 manuals for a multitude of other vehicles and motorcycles. Click on the link above to visit their web site.
It appears that these two important items P.82494 Engine Mounts and P.88353 engine stabilizer rubbers are not available or at least very hard to find but I just had 2 stabilizer rubbers made (October 2006) by a company in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia called Himmelman Elastomers who are wizards making anything in rubber. They are not cheap at Can$75.00 each but what other choices do we have. They use the top and bottom plates from your existing rubber mounts and vulcanize them using new rubber. Click on their name above to visit their web site. Geoff Himmelman was the person I dealt with.
George Simpson in Cognac, France was good enough to scan five pages of the installation and adjustment of the "Kneer" floor shift conversions made for our cars in the mid to late 50's by F.W. Kneer in Bayside, NY. This document is available for viewing, downloading and printing in Adobe PDF format by clicking here.
Terry Poole has suggested the following method to secure the rimbellishers using Jubilee clips. To quote Terry:
I used a 3/4" dia. Jubilee clip but any narrow one would do the trick, it has to fit into one of the slots in the trim. (Could be filed to fit.)
I didn't make clear that the captive screw fitting has to be detached from the strip and fitted back on the other end, then the "spare" material cut off where the screw fitting originated and then bent to form a 90 deg. hook about 5/16" long in the direction shown. The hook-strips have to be located in the trim slots, hook towards the wheel centre, minus the screw fitting, then threaded through the slots in the wheel rim, before finally re-fixing the screw fittings and tightening up just so.
Make them all the same size and keep the wheels in balance!
I hope the photos make it clear. (click HERE to view images)
I'd like it to have been my idea but credit must go to my nephew, Martin Street's father, Peter, who sadly died earlier this year, taking with him a wealth of S.T. knowledge.
As anyone who owns one of these automobiles knows, the original oil filter cartridges are no longer manufactured but there are a few substitutes available that will fit. Some will slide over the 1/2" center post snugly while others might require an "O" ring to make a seal and some that are supplied by Sunbeam Talbot Spares (Bamforth brothers) in England come with a special stepped nylon top washer and a wide flat steel bottom washer to make the seal. Here is a list of known substitutes:
Wix 51001 (NAPA 1001) - normal 1/2" center hole.
Wix 51010 (NAPA 1010) - normal 1/2" center hole and comes with the correct gasket for the top. As there are shorter that the original filters, be sure the spring on the canister top comes in contact with the filter.
Wix 51099 (NAPA 1099) - has large center hole and is readily available at a reasonable cost. It comes complete with the correct gasket for the top. Requires a stepped nylon top washer and a wide flat bottom washer.
Fram CH834PL1 - Large center hole. These are available through Sunbeam Talbot Spares (address above) and require a stepped nylon top washer and a wide flat bottom washer which are provided with the filter.
Message from Chris Mottram
Here is what I have learned about the Sunbeam MKIII oil filter. It is different than the MK1 and MkII filters mentioned on your website. The MK III filters are as follows:
TECALAMIT PART NO : FP 9363
AC DELCO PART NO : M 14
ROOTES PART NO : 23855
Crosland 480 (currently available from Bamforth)
I have attached a picture of the new Crosland 480 and associated seals, the AC M14 that I removed from my MKIII (circa 1962), and the MKIII oil filter housing. I could not find a match in the US based on the above part numbers, but I did not try taking the old filter to a car parts store to see if they could physically match the filter.
Thanks
The Rootes Group recommended spark plug for these cars was a Champion N-8 which is no longer manufactured. The current equivalent to this plug is a Champion 120 (N5C) or an Autolite 404.
Peter Woodall (S.T.A.R. representative for Canada and the U.S.) has had great success in having steering wheels rebuilt by Backwards Unlimited in Poulsbo, WA . Contact:
Jim and Ingrid Ellis
4143 Gunderson Road, Poulsbo, WA 98370
Telephone: 360- 697-1471
Email message from Allen Lee
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 12:37:02 -0600
From: Allen Lee <plu637@otecom.net>
I have used the following for replacement parts on my 55 Mark III and my 53 Alpine. I thought some might find this helpful and I would appreciate hearing about any replacements you have found that work.
These numbers are from Their toll free number is 1-800-255-0088.
Rear Brake cylinder MGA 7-310.
Points A/H & TR2 53/56, part number 8-222
Condenser, part number 8-201
MGB Rotor, part number 8-238
Distributor Cap TR2, part number 8-260
Heater Water Control MGA, part number 2-7884 (will work except for cable pull)
Front Brake cylinder, part number 7-320, 7-321 (check first as these could be for a MK III only)
Heater Control Valve, part number for Austin Healey 2-749 (pull cable must be operated from Engine compartment)
Brake master cylinder is the same one that is on MGTD & TF, Lockheed 180-730 & replacement 181-195
Front Brake Cylinders for S-T MK II and IIA and Alpine MK I are the same as MG TD / TF (Moss Part # 180-620)
Carb needle valves, GRN 57371 for the 55 MkIII: GRN 109308 for the Alpine and seats GRN 109513 for both cars from Customer Services. E-mail Address(es): info@burlen.co.uk
I also have ordered parts from Sunbeam Talbot Spares which is easier now that they accept credit cards.
(Click the image to see the full chart in reduced size )
I had a scan made of a new "Lubrication and Maintenance Chart" that was attached to the inside back cover of the original Owners Manual and can now provide full sized (28 1/4" W x 21 1/4" H), color prints to hang in your garage for easy reference. They are very high quality, printed by an industrial graphics company located here in Halifax, Nova Scotia, using water based inks so I strongly recommend the un-laminated one be dry mounted.
The cost of an unlaminated copy is US$20.00 or US$25.00 laminated (as of April 2007) plus mailing tube and postage. If you wish to order one of these essential charts, please contact Bob Hamilton .
Last Updated July 28, 2008
