PERFORMANCE-OPTIMISED ENHANCEMENTS

Both road and rally variants were capable performers. The car certainly had the power it needed. In the road version, the type 911 engine produced over 150bhp, while the rally variant had its output increased to close to 250bhp.

EXPECTATIONS WERE HIGH

With two names rich in motorsport heritage the car was soon earning both Lotus and Sunbeam major recognition on rally circuits worldwide, claiming the not-inconsiderable cachet of a World Rally Championship driven by Henri Toivonen and Guy Frequelin.

SPECIAL COLOUR SCHEMES FOR PRODUCTION CARS

Echoing the earlier Lotus-Cortina’s distinctive green and white colour scheme, the Series 1 cars were available only in black and silver with chunky, double-four spoked alloy wheels. Series 2 cars would be presented in an attractive pale blue with either black or silver stripes. Discreet but purposeful, the later cars were further distinguished by larger headlamps, a revised grill, new door mirrors, a larger fuel tank, minor engine modifications and most distinctively, high-mounted Marchal spotlamps above the bumpers.

A total of over 2300 examples of Series 1 and Series 2 Sunbeams would be built between 1979 and 1981.