Talbot Sunbeam

The Talbot Sunbeam is a station wagon type vehicle launched by Chrysler in the mid 1970s in response to a recommendation by the British Government. This hatchback vehicle had a front mounted engine that was initially available in three sizes; 933 cc, 1300 cc and 1600 cc. This car had three doors and four seats. The power transmission was to the rear wheels. While the Sunbeam was marketed as a family car, in 1979 the 1600cc Ti model was released to cater to those young at heart; the Ti stood for ‘Twin Induction’. This car had sports seats, alloy wheels and side stripes for both the front and rear spoilers. With an output of 100 bhp, this vehicle was capable of achieving a speed of 0-60 mph in less than 10 seconds.

The Talbot later had a 4-cylinder 2172 cc engine with twin overhead camshafts and twin 45 mm Dellorto carburettors. With a 16-valve, all-alloy cylinder head, the engine displayed a consistent performance. This car offered 155 bhp power with a compression ratio of 9.4:1. In 1981, the commitment to quality by the company was proven by the fact that the Sunbeam Lotus won the World Rally Championship.

Despite the power that the car is capable of, the safety factor has not taken a back seat. The body of the car is designed to absorb relatively large impacts and the brakes offer efficient stopping capability. The suspensions too are designed to maximise the comfort of both the driver as well as the passengers.