Makes › Sunbeam › Grand Prix car (1923 French GP winner) · Factory competition · 1923
Sunbeam
Grand Prix car (1923 French GP winner)
First British car to win a Grand Prix (Segrave, Tours)
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- Not yet verified
- Years
- 1923
- Engine
- Inline six, front-mounted, longitudinal · 1,988 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,988 cc
- Power
- 76.14 kW / 103.5 PSFactory: 102.1 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 174 km/hFactory: 108 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Vincenzo Bertarione and Walter Becchia, under Louis Coatalen
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
On 2 July 1923 Major Henry Segrave won the French Grand Prix at Tours, the first Grand Prix victory for a British driver and for a British car. Sunbeams finished first, second and fourth.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Sunbeam Grand Prix car (1923 French GP winner) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Agence de presse Meurisse · Public domain
Sunbeam Grand Prix car (1923 French GP winner) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Agence de presse Meurisse · Public domain
Sunbeam Grand Prix car (1923 French GP winner) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Agence de presse Meurisse · Public domain
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
No production figures recorded yet.
History
After the failure of the four-cylinder 1922 cars, Louis Coatalen brought Fiat engineers Vincenzo Bertarione and Walter Becchia to Wolverhampton. They produced a six-cylinder 2-litre car that was, in Motor Sport's words, basically a 'green Fiat' with detailed changes. The first engine ran in April 1923 and testing began in May. The Fiats arrived with a supercharged straight-eight, the first supercharger in Grand Prix racing, but their engines swallowed dirt and failed. Segrave won the 496.5-mile race at an average of 75.3 mph in 6 h 35 min 19.6 s, ahead of Divo; Friedrich's Bugatti was third.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Grand Prix car (1923 French GP winner).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Inline six, front-mounted, longitudinal1 Independently researched |
| Cylinders | 62,3 Independently researchedSupercars.net's header says '4 cylinder' but its own figures (67 x 94 mm, 1,988 cc) match six cylinders; the Museum and Motor Sport say six. |
| Displacement | 1,988 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,988 cc4 Independently researched |
| Bore | 67 mmFactory: 67 mm4 Independently researched |
| Stroke | 94 mmFactory: 94 mm4 Independently researched |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Valvetrain | Two valves per cylinder, camshafts gear-driven from the rear of the engine3 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | 76.14 kW / 103.5 PSFactory: 102.1 hp · converted4 Independently researchedStated as 102.1 bhp at 5,000 rpm. |
| Power at | 5,000 rpm4 Independently researched |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | 34 Independently researched |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Pressed steel frame1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Semi-elliptic leaf springs1 Independently researched |
| Rear suspension | Semi-elliptic leaf springs1 Independently researched |
| Brakes | Mechanical drums, 356 mm (14 in), front and rear1 Independently researched |
| Steering | Worm and wheel1 Independently researched |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | 2,489 mmFactory: 2,489 mm4 Independently researched |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | 1,245 mmFactory: 1,245 mm4 Independently researched |
| Rear track | 1,245 mmFactory: 1,245 mm4 Independently researched |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 174 km/hFactory: 108 mph · converted4 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.
The 1923 car has a front-mounted inline six with DOHC and two valves per cylinder, pressed-steel frame, semi-elliptic springs front and rear, mechanical drum brakes of about 356 mm (14 in) on all wheels, worm-and-wheel steering and 765x105 tyres. The 1924 car was supercharged and produced 138 HP.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
1923 Sunbeam Grand Prix Level D Supercars.net
- Inline-6 ... Front Longitudinal
- body / frame Pressed Steel
- f suspension Semi-Elliptic
- r suspension Semi-Elliptic
- Mechanical Drums ... 356 mm / 14 in
- steering Worm & Wheel
-
2
Major Henry Segrave & the French Grand Prix Level A Patrick Collins · National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
- a new six-cylinder engine
-
3
Britain's first Grand Prix winner: when Henry Segrave's Sunbeam beat Fiat in France Level B Motor Sport Magazine
- basically would be a six-cylinder 'green Fiat'
- larger valves (just two per cylinder) ... cams driven by gears at the rear of the engine
-
4
Sunbeam GP 1923 Level B Supercars.net
- Capacity: 1,988 cc
- Bore X Stroke: 67 X 94 mm
- Power: 102.1 bhp at 5,000 rpm
- 102.1 bhp at 5,000 rpm
- 3-Speed Manual Transmission
- Wheelbase: 2,489 mm
- Track: 1245 mm Front & Rear
- Top Speed: 108 mph
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