1959 Sunbeam Rapier - Bluebell - My Car

“If you had one of these on your drive, you were someone”.

That’s what Stephen Thorp, owner of this 1959 Sunbeam Rapier Series II, had to say about it.

The car, produced for just 12 months by Rootes Group between 1959 and 1960, cost £1,143 when new in 1959 - half the price of a house in those days. They don’t go for that today, of course - prices vary depending on condition, with models wearing their 66 years more readily understandably going for much less than gorgeous examples like this.

The car is finished in Windsor Blue over Corinth Blue and, Stephen tells us, is the final Series II in this colour combination. “Called ‘The First of the Fins’ because of the fins at the back,” Stephen told us, and “it’s done a genuine 48,000 miles”.

He’s had the car, which he affectionately calls Bluebell, for three years, having missed out on the opportunity to buy it in 2018 after its restoration by a former Rootes employee. “She was the star of the show on Bangers and Cash [a British TV program about a family-run auction house] in 2018,” Stephen said. Having lost the opportunity at the time, he “bought it from the guy who bought it from there, who sadly passed away. I was lucky enough to see it [for sale] and I bought it within 40 minutes”.

Such a strong decision doesn’t come from nowhere, so why was Stephen so committed to this car? As with many stories we feature, there’s a familial element to it. “The reason I bought it is because when my father was a young man, this was his dream car,” Stephen explained. “He could never get the funds together to buy it, so I bought it for him. I think he’d have been very proud.

“I’ve always loved the car myself, I think because he loved it, and I thought one day, I will get one. But I wanted a good one”.

And a good one this is. Everything on the car is immaculate - from the paintwork to the parts to the chrome. “[I love] the chrome work on the car,” said Stephen. “The little details. It’s a work of art. Even the hinges on the outside of the boot”.

Looking over the car, it really is a work of art, with so many design choices that hark back to driving in a different era. The dashboard has a map-reading light in the middle, to allow passengers to navigate more effectively. The rear doors have a winding mechanism to lower the B-pillar, allowing a sleeker look and more air cooling in the summer. The steering wheel even has a compass in the middle. “She’s a living museum”, commented Stephen.

His deference to history is evident not only in the condition of his car, but in the back seats too. A radio perfectly matching the colours and chrome is the only aftermarket addition, while a small, brown leather bag sits in the middle of the back seats, with the name Dr J. Watson painted on it in gold - a nod to the car’s first owner and his profession.

“It’s got a massive history going back, and it’s won trophies and magazine articles because she’s the only one left” explained Stephen. This was made even more evident as he reached into the back of the car and pulled out a placard from the Pride of Ownership stand at the Classic Motor Show the month prior - the car having been one of just six chosen to go on the prestigious stand. “To get on the Pride of Ownership stand, not only have you got to have a lovely car, but you’ve got to have a story and a bit of history to go along with it”.

As nice as the interior features might be, it’s still a car that’s approaching 70-years-old - and that brings about its own challenges.

“She’s an old lady, so she drives like one,” joked Stephen. “You’ve got no power steering, no power brakes. Everything is hands-on. But once you get rolling, it’s lovely.

“It keeps up with modern traffic. I’ve come down here today and probably done 65-70mph with no problem.

“The only thing is that you’ve got to totally adjust your driving when you get in a classic car. You get used to modern driving - stopping distances and so on. But apart from that, it’s absolutely beautiful”.

While this car might be the last of its kind and colour, we don’t think it’s a concern. Stephen is incredibly passionate about Bluebell and, with him as this museum on wheels’ curator, it looks set to continue for many more years to come.