1924 Sunbeam 14/40 Tourer For Sale by Auction

Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
12th Feb, 2025 9:00

1924 Sunbeam 14/ 40 Tourer
Less than 1, 000 miles since full cosmetic restoration

Estimate
£25, 000 - £30, 000

Registration No: ND 8602
Chassis No: 5917ED
MOT: Exempt

Just two owners during the Sunbeam's first fifty-six years
Full cosmetic restoration since being purchased by the vendor in 2013 including complete repaint and retrimmed
Benefitting from an extensive mechanical restoration previously, including a full engine overhaul
Approximately 800 miles completed since the cosmetic restoration including two long-distance trips
Offered with an extensive history file containing the original buff logbook
Sunbeam's initial post-WWI offerings were based on its pre-war designs and the first truly new model was the four-cylinder 14 introduced in 1922. A major step forward, it evolved into the 14/ 40 of 1924. This was powered by the same four-cylinder OHV 2121cc engine, featuring magneto ignition and Claudel Hobson MZP carburetion. This unit was mated to a three-speed gearbox with right-hand change, suspension was by semi-elliptic leaves at the front and cantilever units at the rear, and four-wheel brakes were standard fare. The newcomer was offered with a variety of different bodies - two and five-seat Tourers, Coupe, Sports model, Saloon, and Saloon by Weymann. A total of some 2, 850 14/ 40s were manufactured during the model's two-year reign.

Chassis number ‘5917ED’ was supplied new to its first owner in December 1924 and was clothed in Tourer coachwork from new. The first owner, Ethelbert Stott, was a member of the Stott family in Manchester and surrounding areas, who owned Abraham Stott & Son cotton spinning company. Residing in Health Lodge, Leighton Buzzard for many years, he retained the Sunbeam for some thirty-six years, before the second keeper, a Mr Holden, had similarly long-term ownership of 20 years. Thereafter, the 14/ 40 was sold to a Health & Reach Motor Garage for use as a showroom display piece in 1980 and latterly purchased back into private family ownership in 1987, Still exceptionally original, the Sunbeam was passed through several owners within the family before it was sold in 2011 to the previous keeper as a recommissioning project, having been off the road for several years.

Between 1987 and 1990, the Sunbeam benefitted from an almost complete mechanical overhaul to the expense of c.£18, 000 and is understood to have covered minimal mileage since completion, with works including overhauls of the engine, front axle, radiator, dynamo and magneto; re-wiring; and new brakes, springs, fuel tank, stainless steel exhaust, as well as renewal of the weather equipment. Recommissioned by the previous keeper, the Sunbeam was back on the road in 2013 before being acquired by the vendor later that same year. Since being in the custodianship of the vendor, ‘ND 8602’ has been lavished with a full cosmetic restoration and further mechanical improvement to the sum of c.£8, 800. The body was removed and found in exceptionally original and sound condition other than requiring new running boards. The chassis was refurbished, and the body provided a full repaint before the interior was lavished with full re-upholstering in high-quality hide. The mechanical improvements comprised new brake drums and shoes, radiator re-core, water pump refurbishment, and new tyres.

Subsequently completing two long-distance trips from Derbyshire to Scarborough and Norwich without issue, as well as local use, the Sunbeam is thought to have covered c. 800 miles since the completion of the cosmetic restoration. Upon the beginning of the pandemic, the 14/ 40 was lifted on axle stands, where it has remained ever since. Periodically turned over on the handle, the radiator was drained of water at the time of storage, and therefore the Sunbeam will require a degree of recommissioning before being pressed into road action. Offered with an extensive history file across several ring binder folders, it contains the original buff logbook, extensive invoices back to the 1980s, the original instruction book, previous logbooks, numerous MOT certificates, photographs of the Sunbeam, technical information, and a current V5C document.

Fully mechanically and cosmetically restored with minimal mileage since, ‘5917ED’ is a very worthwhile re-commissioning project that is accompanied by full weather equipment, wall sign, and technical information poster.