The Sunbeam Alpine is generally under-appreciated by sports car enthusiasts. With a distinctly softer edge than contemporary MG’s, Triumphs and Austin-Healeys (the Alpine offered real wind-up windows upon it’s introduction in 1959, unlike the others which still used side curtains), what’s little known is that the little Sunbeams were quite good handling sports cars. This particular Alpine is a Series II, which were produced from 1961 to 1963, and featured the uprated 1592cc 4-cylinder and twin Solex carburetors. It’s located in Williamsburg, Michigan and is being offered for sale here on eBay. The opening bid is only $600, and there’s no reserve. However, upon closer examination, there may be a reason for that price being so low…

As you can see from this shot, the British convertible has some body issues. Paint is flaking and peeling over the majority of the body and it’s been that way for a while based on the rust showing. To their credit, the seller doesn’t try to disguise this at all and has included pictures of some pretty bad spots. The seller also characterizes the car as 80% complete. I actually think they are being conservative in that figure as I would certainly call it at least 90% complete given the parts that go along with the car.

Speaking of parts, here are some of them that come along with the car. I don’t even know what all of these are, but I recognize enough to know that this is a substantial parts haul (check out the other pictures in the auction). There’s even a driver’s side door. Do you think the door was picked up to replace some damage to the original?

The seller posted this picture to show the door, I’m guessing. Unfortunately, it also highlights the rust in the rocker panel. This is a tough repair on Alpines as they are unibody cars, not body-on-frame like many British contemporaries. Supports and braces will have to be attached first in order to keep the body straight and intact. At this point, I’m wondering whether this is a car worth saving or a good parts car. It rolls, the engine is free, and its got that cool factory hardtop, although I don’t see a rear window.

The interior shots show an essentially complete interior, but hardly any of it would be usable without serious renovation. And there’s that dreaded rust again, all over the floorboards. While there’s not much in the way of true holes, I’m thinking a good jump on the floorboards would go right through. I think in my case, I’d pass on restoring this car, but I think it would make a terrific parts car if combined with a solid body shell. Anyone got a solid Alpine floating around out there that needs everything else? I’m thinking of these two solid but incomplete Alpines that were available a month ago. I don’t think there’s enough solid metal in this Alpine to turn into an Alger, but that’s an option also, I suppose. What do you think? What would you do?