powertvmark
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<div>Few names in the automotive world elicit giggles like Sunbeam. It almost sounds like a potato chip, doesn’t it? Regardless of the name though, Sunbeam actually produced some impressive cars during its heyday, among them the Alpine. Originally conceived as a one-off rally car, the British-built Alpine was revered for its handling but decried for its lack of power. Its 1.5 liter engine made just 88 gross horsepower; at the wheels, it likely made a lot less.<br />
<br />
But David Park solved that problem by dropping a big block Ford engine into his Alpine and posting the pictures up on <a href="http://www.britishv8.org/Other/DavidPark.htm" target="_blank">BritishV8.org</a> for the world to see. <br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.stangtv.com/photos/data/518/sunbeam1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<i>Pictures: David Park</i><br />
<br />
With such a light-weight car packing such a big engine, many modifications were required but the power-to-weight ratio is likely astounding. The engine is a Ford 410 big block, meant to look like the more-famous 427. It even has the same low-rise intake as the 427. Oddly appropriate for a car that looks a little too much like the Ford Thunderbird. To feed this much-bigger (and the dual <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edelbrock.com%2F&ei=zRWVSo-COMmntgfV-cxN&usg=AFQjCNF2th6rEXuCW16WhH1WmvZlC8q-Aw" target="_blank">Edelbrock</a> 600cfm carburetors) engine required a much bigger gas tank. There is also a <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lunatipower.com%2F&ei=4BWVSpzaIIuwtgeky9RI&usg=AFQjCNG10mrxym3MEzqkE7_sqn_W-wDLmA" target="_blank">Lunati</a> hydraulic camshaft and <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.accel-ignition.com%2F&ei=9RWVSt7KBcaStgf1huVR&usg=AFQjCNEknviltN5dUgz1YyJCQ_1hOPeukQ" target="_blank">Accel</a> dual-point distributor to round out the engine.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.stangtv.com/photos/data/518/sunbeam2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<br />
Surprisingly, most of the suspension remained stock, with the exception sway bars (front and rear) and Mustang II rack and pinion steering. A Borg Warner T10 4-speed transmission puts power to a Dana 44 rear end with 4.10 gearing. This Alpine even has a Cobra hood scoop fiberglassed to the hood. David Park even did all of the work himself, breathing new life into a potato-chip car.</div>
<div>Few names in the automotive world elicit giggles like Sunbeam. It almost sounds like a potato chip, doesn’t it? Regardless of the name though, Sunbeam actually produced some impressive cars during its heyday, among them the Alpine. Originally conceived as a one-off rally car, the British-built Alpine was revered for its handling but decried for its lack of power. Its 1.5 liter engine made just 88 gross horsepower; at the wheels, it likely made a lot less.<br />
<br />
But David Park solved that problem by dropping a big block Ford engine into his Alpine and posting the pictures up on <a href="http://www.britishv8.org/Other/DavidPark.htm" target="_blank">BritishV8.org</a> for the world to see. <br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.stangtv.com/photos/data/518/sunbeam1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<i>Pictures: David Park</i><br />
<br />
With such a light-weight car packing such a big engine, many modifications were required but the power-to-weight ratio is likely astounding. The engine is a Ford 410 big block, meant to look like the more-famous 427. It even has the same low-rise intake as the 427. Oddly appropriate for a car that looks a little too much like the Ford Thunderbird. To feed this much-bigger (and the dual <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edelbrock.com%2F&ei=zRWVSo-COMmntgfV-cxN&usg=AFQjCNF2th6rEXuCW16WhH1WmvZlC8q-Aw" target="_blank">Edelbrock</a> 600cfm carburetors) engine required a much bigger gas tank. There is also a <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lunatipower.com%2F&ei=4BWVSpzaIIuwtgeky9RI&usg=AFQjCNG10mrxym3MEzqkE7_sqn_W-wDLmA" target="_blank">Lunati</a> hydraulic camshaft and <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.accel-ignition.com%2F&ei=9RWVSt7KBcaStgf1huVR&usg=AFQjCNEknviltN5dUgz1YyJCQ_1hOPeukQ" target="_blank">Accel</a> dual-point distributor to round out the engine.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.stangtv.com/photos/data/518/sunbeam2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<br />
Surprisingly, most of the suspension remained stock, with the exception sway bars (front and rear) and Mustang II rack and pinion steering. A Borg Warner T10 4-speed transmission puts power to a Dana 44 rear end with 4.10 gearing. This Alpine even has a Cobra hood scoop fiberglassed to the hood. David Park even did all of the work himself, breathing new life into a potato-chip car.</div>
