Brand new buyer -- just fell in love with the car -- and wondering how to assess candidates

[Gordon Holsinger]

The wife and I have been watching a terrific British TV series, The Good Karma Hospital, and one of the characters drives a Series II. Fell instantly in love and have to have one. (And have since discovered the James Bond connection.) I have located one at a well-known classic car dealership not far from where I live but would like some guidance from those who really know the car as to what I should look for when I go drive it, which I will do this week. Is there anything in particular I should be on the look-out for, positive or negative? Many thanks!

When buying a antique Car such as a series 2 check closely for rust.

 

[Gordon Holsinger]

Thank you all for all this great advice and counsel. It is greatly appreciated. My automotive mechanical mastery extends to writing checks to mechanics -- which I got good at when I owned a '73 BMW 2002 a few years back -- though if I got the Alpine I think I would find a way to get better educated. Do any of you know anybody in the LA/Orange Country area whom I could have, for a fee of course if required, take a look at the car? This is the listing: https://philneweysportscars.com/vehicle/1962-sunbeam-alpine-series-ii/

The series 3 alpine with the hard top is what I would go for.

 

[Warren]

I second that series 3 big fins steel hardtop, a more useful trunk, and the list could go on and on. I know of a pretty nice one but it's at least double that $9,000 price. If not more but it's a super nice car.