1948-1957 Sunbeam-Talbot 90
The 1948-1957 Sunbeam-Talbot 90 was a solid, graceful, British-built sports sedan that used many Humber components. The massive separate chassis had solid-axle front suspension through the end of the 1950 model year, after which it was changed to an independent design.
The body of the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 was a modern envelope in four-door sedan form, with a vertical grille, sweeping semi-integral front fenders, flush rear sides, and rounded contours. The original 1944cc overhead-valve four engine was enlarged to near 2.3 liters for 1951, and its power was boosted in later years.
Most Sunbeam-Talbot 90s had a column-mounted gearshift, but a floor-control conversion was
offered later along with optional overdrive transmission. The Sunbeam-Talbot 90 was a product of the
Rootes Group, which campaigned it very successfully on the European rally
circuit in the '50s.
Pluses of the 1948-1957 Sunbeam-Talbot 90:
- Solid chassis engineering
- Rally-winner image
- Neat, inoffensive styling
- Stability and road manners
Minuses of the 1948-1957 Sunbeam-Talbot 90:
- Not very fast
- Parts in short supply
- Seldom seen in the U.S.
Production
of the 1948-1957 Sunbeam-Talbot 90:
- Mark I: 4,000
- Mark Il: 5,493
- Mark IIa: 4,312 (1952; total 1952-1954 approximately 15,000)
- Mark III: approximately 4,000
Specifications
of the 1948-1957 Sunbeam-Talbot 90:
Wheelbase, inches: 97.5
Length, inches: 168.0
Weight, pounds: 2,725-2,925
Price, new: NA
Engines for the 1948-1957 Sunbeam-Talbot 90:
TypeSize
Horsepower
Years
ohv
I-4
1,944 cc (119 cid)
64* 1948-1951 ohv
I-42,267 cc (138 cid) 70-85*1951-1957
* Gross
Want more information about classic cars? See:
- Classic Cars
- Sunbeam Sports Cars
- Muscle Cars
- Sports Cars
- Consumer Guide Auto
- Consumer Guide Auto Used Car Search