This old thread came to my attention after reading a recently published item on Richard M. Langworth's website (
https://richardlangworth.com/sunbeam-harrington).
In 2014 while sitting at my friend's kitchen counter bar in Tubac, Arizona my attention was drawn to a book,
On page 63 there was a Harrington Le Mans with a V8 engine installed.
My excitement was shared with my friend and he said, "I know John, he lives in Tucson." I met with John Horsman for the first time after a brief phone call to his home. To engage in conversation with one of the engineers behind the Ford Advance Vehicles (FAV) GT40 program in the UK and the Gulf/Porsche racing program was prolific. Discourse with Horsman about his book and the Harrington Le Mans V8 did not disappoint. After hours I left feeling as though time had stopped. Horsman shared how he had asked one of the FAV mechanics about Carol Shelby's rebuilt 289 from a Ford Fairlane station wagon and if he could use the engine in his Harrington Le Mans. "They told me no problem if I wanted to use the 289 for the Harrington conversion. Along with original Tiger components and help from my friends Ermanno and Joachim we put the V8 Harrington Le Mans together. With the new engine it was thrilling to drive." This was Horsman's personal car during his ownership not a race car.
I saw Horsman for the last time at the Tubac Annual Collector Car Show in 2018. John Horsman passed away April, 2020, age 85. The car did sell at the 2012 auction. As Janne Iggbom mentions above the car went to Athens, Greece and resides at the Hellinic Motor Museum. Hellinic wanted to put together a display in honor of John Horsman's work with the Gulf racing team. They resprayed Horsman's gift to auto enthusiasts in the Gulf colors. Note: there are no bumpers or trim - a different hood and gas filling component.
I was going to go to Sweden last spring to visit with Janne Iggbom and see his Golden Rocket. The trip was put on hold. I want to feel the V8 power in a Harrington Le mans.