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Hard top paint colors
- Thread starter Craigegg
- Start date
RootesRooter
Donation Time
I always thought all HT's came in black, unless the customer special-ordered it in something different.
A previous thread on the same topic: https://forum.sunbeamalpine.org/index.php?threads/hard-top-color.25606/
Mike
Mike
alpine_64
Donation Time
This was just for the ad .. in the first few years there were ads and press shots with white cars with white tops.I also always thought all the early series HT's only came in black until I saw this ad. So the world may never know.
However from factory in the series I/II the cars only came with the code 1 ( embassy black) hardtops with white interior trim. They were not offered to be ordered with other colours ex-factory.
When the series 3 was introduced and the GT model was offered the hardtop on a GT was body colour
Optional hardtops came black as stock.. but.. you could order from the factory a top in Body colour ..this lasted to series V.
wantasunbeam
Gold Level Sponsor
The SV I had when I was 19 , car was stock red with white hard top.
bulldurham
Platinum Level Sponsor
I think all the Series II's I have seen had black tops. I did mine in white when I restored it, to match the body paint.Looks like yours except not as well sorted.
ernestovumbles
Gold Level Sponsor
Mine's an S3, but I have had a black and a red hardtop on at various times.
I like no-top the best, but I think the matching red looks better than the black
I like no-top the best, but I think the matching red looks better than the black
Aladin Sane
Diamond Level Sponsor
Agreed, matched top looks better to me.
jdoclogan
Platinum Level Sponsor
My Series III GT brochure has both Blue and Red body examples. Both have body color matching hardtops.
Original Sunbeam Alpine/Rapier Series III/Series IV Color brochure states: "Soft tops and Hard tops are Black except G.T. Models, which have Hard tops in body colour."
1966 Colour chip card selection item states: "Hard top: Same colour as the body."
Straight from the Rootes factory to the Sebring race track in 1962. My Series II #41. Clearly a white hardtop. The body was Seacrest Green.
Original Sunbeam Alpine/Rapier Series III/Series IV Color brochure states: "Soft tops and Hard tops are Black except G.T. Models, which have Hard tops in body colour."
1966 Colour chip card selection item states: "Hard top: Same colour as the body."
Straight from the Rootes factory to the Sebring race track in 1962. My Series II #41. Clearly a white hardtop. The body was Seacrest Green.
Last edited:
alpine_64
Donation Time
Jerry,
The race team generally did the hardtops in white for the race cars . Likely for heat reflection and visibility. Other than the 61 stoock body alpine that ran at LM all the Sebring, Lemans, Rally and even rally Tigers ran white hardtops.
I wouldn't use the race cars as a reference for the production hardtops.
A wide note the 61 Sebring cars had the stock black hardtops but they painted white over the tops and the rear rails were still black on some of the cars.
The race team generally did the hardtops in white for the race cars . Likely for heat reflection and visibility. Other than the 61 stoock body alpine that ran at LM all the Sebring, Lemans, Rally and even rally Tigers ran white hardtops.
I wouldn't use the race cars as a reference for the production hardtops.
A wide note the 61 Sebring cars had the stock black hardtops but they painted white over the tops and the rear rails were still black on some of the cars.