66 “sunbeam”Minx barn find

[absunbeam]

Second part of the journey to get the Minx. Solid Calf car in need of interior work. Car has a duel carb replacement motor and 117k miles. Some writing on the door and qtr shows it was a courtesy car for a Sunbeam dealer! Passenger qtr has “All new Sunbeam Minx for 67” brushed on and per pol by the gas cap.
No Hillman badging on it just like the 67 Superminx Estate. Lots to keep me busy. Also picked up a 50 year collection of Rootes parts that need sorting.

 

[absunbeam]

Draining fluids and found the gas tank has about 5 gallons and surprisingly it doesn’t smell like old gas!
How many alpines/minx have aluminum oil pans and what years had them? This one has it. No rust thru evident on the lift motor is locked up so a good soaking is in order!

 

[husky drvr]

How many alpines/minx have aluminum oil pans and what years had them?

Having fun? No need to tease. I feel sure you must know the answer already.

No Audax chassis came from the factory with an alloy oil pan - and sorry - no on yours, also.

Your rear flange in the crossmember rear opening has been cut and notched for pan clearance ( hope some reinforcing was done if the spot welds were cut off). Then, the modified, Alpine coupe twin down-pipes kind of gives away the surprise of what is probably above.

Is the battery still mounted in the left front corner of the engine bay?

Have a good evening,

 

[absunbeam]

The battery is still in the left front corner and the down pipe has been modified. The fun never ends on this find! Trying to figure out the Courtesy Car writing on the door, the top looks like San Francisco middle is very faint, can make out the passenger qtr writing. Anyone knows what Sunbeam dealers were in the San Francisco area?

 

[absunbeam]

Pipe mods are evident, what would be cut on the cross member? The engine has been changed numbers didn’t match. So far the only investment is time and gas plus it made an excellent parts hauler.

 

[absunbeam]

The battery is still in the left front corner and the down pipe has been modified. The fun never ends on this find! Trying to figure out the Courtesy Car writing on the door, the top looks like San Francisco middle is very faint, can make out the passenger qtr writing. Anyone knows what Sunbeam dealers in the San Francisco area?

 

[nsbluenose]

Second part of the journey to get the Minx. Solid Calf car in need of interior work. Car has a duel carb replacement motor and 117k miles. Some writing on the door and qtr shows it was a courtesy car for a Sunbeam dealer! Passenger qtr has “All new Sunbeam Minx for 67” brushed on and per pol by the gas cap.
No Hillman badging on it just like the 67 Superminx Estate. Lots to keep me busy. Also picked up a 50 year collection of Rootes parts that need sorting.

Alan, Looking closely at your picture, doesn’t it say ‘petrol’ by the gas cap?

 

[Filister]

Can't guarantee for sure but I think Peter Pan motors which I believe was in San Fran and Jays imports which was in either Oakland or San Leandro both sold Rootes . I'm iffy on PP but Jay's I know sold them.
Love the Minx. Had it in the early 70's. Bought it from the classic "little old lady" who had to give up driving. Great car.

 

[husky drvr]

The battery is still in the left front corner and the down pipe has been modified.

Back in the day decades ago when I was trying to see if an alloy pan would fit the Husky, I had a loose alloy pan and full engine bay to compare. The comparison showed a likely interference between the sump front and that flange on the crossmember.

Your new pictures of the engine top cause me to think the manifolds on your engine are sV Alpine parts and NOT the coupe Alpine GT parts. IIRC, the GT exhaust manifold exits more to the rear with a sideways kick out. Your intake has a PCV which I don't think was on the GT part.

When we tried to see if the CD150's would fit, the front carb and filter wanted to occupy the same space as the battery. Also, with any engine movement sideways, there might have been interference at the brake master.

Bear in mind, There was a redesign of the front end sheet metal between the Husky II and your Minx. Just thought you might want to know stuff to look for as you proceed. It's definitely a YMMV situation.

I like your Minx and wish you the best with your project.

 

[alpine_64]

Draining fluids and found the gas tank has about 5 gallons and surprisingly it doesn’t smell like old gas!
How many alpines/minx have aluminum oil pans and what years had them? This one has it. No rust thru evident on the lift motor is locked up so a good soaking is in order!

None of the minx had the alloy pan, it's from the arrow based series cars. So someone had added that .. a bonus. The downside is that as they were for the slant mounted motor the drain plug is not at the low point so you need to jack the car on one side to ensure the oil all drains out.

 

[absunbeam]

Alan, Looking closely at your picture, doesn’t it say ‘petrol’ by the gas cap?

It does the brush mark was faint on the “R”

Alan, Looking closely at your picture, doesn’t it say ‘petrol’ by the gas cap?

 

[absunbeam]

• After trying different light, can make out the middle name as “Autocenter” which was or still is in San Francisco. Was the first multi-brand dealership in California.