Makes › Sunbeam › 3-Litre Coupe de l'Auto team car · Factory competition · 1912 Ultra Rare
Sunbeam
3-Litre Coupe de l'Auto team car
One of five works cars for the 1912 Coupe de l'Auto (1-2-3 in class); NMM car believed to be team car No. 5
Still being researched: identification guide, full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 5 Built
- Years
- 1912
- Engine
- Four-cylinder side-valve · 2,996 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,996 cc
- Power
- 59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 137 km/hFactory: 85 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
Sunbeam's 3-litre cars finished first, second and third in class at the 1912 Coupe de l'Auto at Dieppe, beaten overall only by two far more powerful Grand Prix cars. It was the first British success in a major international race since 1902 and the start of Sunbeam's racing record. Five cars were built for the race.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productioncars built for the 1912 Coupe de l'Auto | 51 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Sunbeam developed the team cars from its 12/16 road car for the 1912 Coupe de l'Auto, run alongside the French Grand Prix on the same circuit. Driven by Rigal, Resta and Médinger, the cars took the top three places in class. The National Motor Museum car is believed to be team car No. 5, the reserve car; after the First World War it was registered for road use, stored in the 1930s and acquired by the 3rd Baron Montagu in 1958.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard 3-Litre Coupe de l'Auto team car.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Four-cylinder side-valve2 Independently researched |
| Cylinders | 43 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 2,996 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,996 cc2 Independently researched |
| Bore | 80 mmFactory: 80 mm3 Independently researched |
| Stroke | 148 mmFactory: 148 mm3 Independently researched |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Valvetrain | Side-valve3 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | 59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted2 Independently researchedSource states bhp. |
| Power at | 2,800 rpm2 Independently researched |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 137 km/hFactory: 85 mph · converted2 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
National Motor Museum – Sunbeam 3-Litre Coupe de l'Auto (1912) Level A
- 5 cars built for the 1912 Coupe de l'Auto
-
2
Sunbeam 3-Litre Coupe de l'Auto Level A National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
- 4 cylinder, side valve
- 2,996cc
- 80bhp at 2,800rpm
- 85mph
-
3
Great Racing Marques - Sunbeam Level B Motor Sport Magazine · 1927-03-01
- practically standard productions with four cylinder side-valve engines of 80 x 148 mms.
- four cylinder side-valve engines of 80 x 148 mms.
- 80 x 148 mms.
- four cylinder side-valve engines
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