Blade

[eddyramrod]

Andreas, my friendly neighborhood garagiste, has just bought himself this...

1969 Sunbeam Rapier 1725 automatic, with aircon. It does need restoration, but it runs and drives, and the structure is solid. He's a big Rootes fan and I like this too, a lot! We're particularly going to need bits of chrome and rubber, especially round the windows. You know where I am...

[vulgalour]

These are on my wish list, but I doubt I'll ever get my mitts on one. I'd like a pale yellow or metallic blue one. They're a fantastic looking thing, but I hear they handle like a trout.

[eddyramrod]

Mac struts up front, leaves at the back. Same layout as a Mk2 Escort, in other words; universally worshipped for their handling. Of course this is heavier, softer and lower-powered, but it's a question of style. Or perhaps age. Anyway, 1725 with twin Strombergs, it should keep up ok most of the time. One of my teachers had a white one, almost exactly 40 years ago...

[vulgalour]

Well if someone offered me a Rapier or an Escort it would be an easy choice which I'd take, and it wouldn't have a silly blue oval on the front of it.

[eddyramrod]

No contest for me either, and can I have mine in green, just like this one?

[MrDuke]

Much as I love most of the styling on these, I've always thought the wheelarches were WAY too small, especially at the back. Or is the rest of the car just too big? Anyhow, if I had the money to buy a decent one, I'm sure I could stretch to some mild modification in that department. As I said, the rest of the styling is particularly lovely.

[Negative Creep]

Fuck me!? Motherfucker fuck you!

 

 

Oh sorry, wrong Blade

[lovejoy]

Great Rootes creation, I have had a few of these in the past, the Rapier being faster than the Alpine (single carb) version, but the Alpine versions dash is ALL varnished light wood, and looks much nicer than the black plastic Rapier appearance.

No big problems, but rear spring hangers usually dissolve (in UK climate), so not a prob where Andreas is !

 

I fitted 6 x 13 minilite copies with stretched 165/80's on the yellow Alpine version I had, and it looked great, but handling is a bit wallowy with standard suspension.

And these are heavy mothers too, relaxed driving but very solid feel. Overdrive fitted too, so 5 gears in effect.

All the usual Rootes niceties though, having had a brace of earlier drophead Sunbeam alpines too ( and a couple of tigers, but that's another story), and with the

pseudo Plymouth Barracuda styling,(despite what Peykanhunter says!!) I know why both Eddy & I like them. A small-block V8 would wake one up nicely

 

I actually do have a few bits of trim , and glass for one of these here, would it float across to the Med, I wonder....?

[scooters]

Rapier fastback

 

Ooerrr

 

 

One of my all time favourite motahs

 

Lucky sod!

[Pete-M]

Rapiers do absolutely fuck all for me. Nothing. I'll stick with my Mk2 Escort, tyvm.

[sporty-shite]

Well if someone offered me a Rapier or an Escort it would be an easy choice which I'd take, and it wouldn't have a silly blue oval on the front of it.

 

I'd take the Escort, personally.

 

 

 

 

Then I'd sell it for mega-scene££££££££££££££££££££££££££, and buy a Rapier. And some Alfas. And maybe a Scimitar. And, and, and.......................

[Autoplas]

Rapiers do absolutely fuck all for me. Nothing. I'll stick with my Mk2 Escort, tyvm.

 

Well said that man.....

[meggersdog]

I owned an Alpine in the late 90's and agree with Lovejoy on the dash.

Also like Lovejoy I have a few spares.A bonnet,passenger door,some glass,some rubber seals and some chrome.

I did have a shed full of spares but most got sold worldwide through ebay around 2005 when I had a clear out.

[eddyramrod]

Lovejoy and meggersdog, we need to get some offsite traffic going about these parts, as this car is missing some small items. Stand by for Pm incoming with my email address.... I have detail photos of various parts of the car so if I describe something badly, I should be able to illustrate the point.

[meggersdog]

Email sent.Going to do a stock take over the weekend.

[eddyramrod]

Received and replied, many thanks! Looking forward to the stock list.