Grand Prix Sunbeams 1922

Sunbeam Works Racing cars participated in the 1922 XVI Grand Prix de l'A.C.F.

The race took place on 15 July 1922 and was run to a formula stipulating that maximum engine capacity should not exceed 2 litres and that the cars should be two-seaters weighing not less than 650 kg.

[9] All four cars were subsequently sold to privateers and entered in various events with varied levels of success.

Rarely for a complete British Works team of the Vintage era, all four cars survive.

with a modified 1921 Grand Prix Sunbeam retired after only five laps as did K. Lee Guinness in car No.16.

[8] Segrave, in car No.21, the junior team member, in his second ever Grand Prix lasted ‘approximately half the full distance’.

[12] He was later to remember this event as ‘sheer misery’ (not least due to chemical fuel burns on his backside sustained by fuel spillage, the result of a hurried and untidy refuelling);[13] he did hold a fourth place behind the Fiats for most of his race.

The failure of the cars did irreparable damage to their designer Ernest Henry's previously shining reputation and career.

[8] Despite the mechanical weakness of its rear axle,[8] the performance of the Fiat 804 convinced Louis Coatalen, Sunbeam's general manager, to use the design as inspiration for his winning series of Grand Prix cars between 1923 -1925.

[10] Designed by Ernest Henry in Suresnes, with input from Louis Coatalen and the Sunbeam Experimental Department Wolverhampton.

[17] Before the Great War Ernest Henry was a part of the successful and innovative ‘Charlatans’ who designed the first ever double overhead cams four valve Grand Prix engines for the 1912 Peugeot;[18] the 1922 Sunbeam design follows similar principles.

[19] The aluminum body was the latest in streamlining and is typical of the Post Great War Henry design with the spare wheel carried longitudinally in the tail[17] and braced by the large fuel tank.

[21] Another unusual detail was the engine mounted directly on the chassis frame similarly to the 1921 'invincible Talbot-Darracq'.

[17] Following prototype testing at Brooklands and on the Isle of Man prior to the Grand Prix,[8] modifications were instigated to the tail support bracket.

[22] Different carburetor configurations and different tyre types were tried,[17] axle ratios experimented with,[23] aero screens and mudguards were installed or removed as required.

[40][41] Research of the history of individual cars derived from analysis of photographs and related period documents was carried out and published by historian William (Bill) Boddy, team car owner Neville Webb and Sunbeam specialist historian Bruce Dowell with varying conclusions.

[23] For the purpose of the Grand Prix the three Works team cars were designated Sunbeam I, II and III for Jean Chassagne (riding mechanic Robert Laly), Major H.O.D.

This Chassis was previously thought to have been team car No.4 from the serial stamped prominently on cockpit and bulkhead plaques but not into the frame itself.

The first car to be built;[23] unpainted it was tested by J Chassagne the liaison officer for the project[45] at Brooklands;[45] this resulted in variety of modifications notably re-configuring of the support bracket for the tail.

[7][47] Post-works, it was found fire damaged;[7][48] works and modifications to engine and body ensued[49] and private entries in speed events were made before the war.

Post war it passed through several hands and in the early 1970s it was rebuilt and rebodied with a 1922 Strasbourg style body[52] as an authentic example.

[42] damaged in practice fire and set aside, Segrave using spare prototype test car instead on race day.

events; it thus remains exceptionally original and complete[7] retaining all its components including body, leather seats and of course all running gear.

[55] 1922 Strasbourg Grand Prix race no.9 for Jean Chassagne (riding mechanic Robert Laly)[42] was shipped in 1925 to Sydney Australia for the racing driver Hope Bartlett;[56] it successfully competed in his and subsequent hands and continued to be developed; body was gradually altered and then removed by 1948;[57] engine was replaced in 1940 with an Oldsmobile engine; other engine, axle and various components were fitted as needed.

Oliver Heal and Bruce Dowell,[7] as well as Neville Webb in his book on the Strasbourg Sunbeams identified this car as chassis no.3.

Registration – not currently registered 1922 Strasbourg Grand Prix race no.16 for K. Lee Guinness and riding mechanic Bill Perkins.

[9][59] It was sold by the Works and in private hands continued to race at Brooklands 1926 and 1930;[60] subsequently used for touring; tail modified in 1936.

Eighteen European cars positions set by ballot as follows: Three Fiat 804 (Italy): 6 cylinder of 65mm x 100mm (1,991c.c.