MK1A or MKII ?

NO, it is a commonly told urban legend. Only MkII received the 289.

Never say never. Strange things can happen when you run short of bits and bobs.

There's a few people who will swear on the bible that their MK1s came new with 289s.
 
Some dealers would upsell a swap from 260/289 at the time of purchase. Which is what I did with B382000078. She and I road tested with the 260, but then bought the swap with the car. $200 back then in the dark ages!

hmmmmmm - it would be interesting to see paperwork supporting that operation :-^)
 
Back in the mid 60's you had the Yanko's and the Baldwin's dealerships
doing 427 installs in seemingly mundane Chevy's of the time that had 327's under the hood. A yenko 427 Camero sold at auction recently for more than a Million bucks so I guess it's possible that a dealer could have and would have
done a motor exchange...but I gotta tell you two hundred bucks for a 16 hour job not including parts and engine are way out of range. Yenko got almost half the original cost of a Camero for their work in 65 so something like $2k would be my guess. So looking at the facts I'm with Norm...show me the docuements

Moondoggie
 
urban legand?

In 1975 I met Barry Greenberg, he was working on a friends Tiger, in his driveway ( Barrys). Barry lived a couple of blocks away. I was told Barry worked at a Sunbeam dealership in the 60's. Barry told us their was a rumor that late run mk1 Tigers came with 289's not 260's. In 1978 when I bought my Tiger the owner told me a story. I was told that their was a rumor about "late mk1's having 289's insted of 260's, this is one of those cars". Then I was told that they (owner & engne builder) installed a 68 302 crank, rods,pistons and 4v heads in the 289 block. I have never had the motor apart, so I dont know if they are 302 guts, but I have had the valve covers off, and they are 302 4v heads. I have asked for the numbers from my car to be checked in a BON, and was told they were the correct numbers. So is it a rumor or dealer swap, or .....
Vin B382002631
JAL 662639
Motor build date 3J10W
Trans - HEHE 016361
Rear End - J66 6357
 
We have all heard the "some late IA's came with 289" stories, it makes for an interesting rumor, but that's about it. Put it in context.. any MKIA with a 289 would also have had to had the 6 bolt bell housing as the 289's used by rootes were not the reare 64 1/2 5 bolt block, they were 6 bolts, and then in that case you would assume they would have put in the wide ratio toploader as well.

I have no doubt in period that people switched 289's into the cars, perhaps when brand new, maybe some dealers did the job too.. but it would never have come from the factory.

Randy, I have a lot of respect for what you post, but you also have a sense of humor, I wonder some times if you don't pull peoples legs a little and have a bit of fun? Did you also say your tiger lacked the black paint detailing on the body, no body colour in guards, MKII seats in the interior.. and 289 from new 9also is it a 5 or 6 bolt block that was installed?) Also, a 289 installed by the dealer at extra cost is a BIG difference than factory.. it's like the difference between factory options and period aftermarket parts.. yes amco made parts for the Sunbeam, dealer installed them, but they are not "correct" factory equipment.
 
mk2

maybe i read this wrong but it says the engine was installed in the 60's. that could be 1969 after the three+ year old engine was trashed. it doesn't say the factory installed it. it's quite possible someone else installed it.
 
maybe i read this wrong but it says the engine was installed in the 60's. that could be 1969 after the three+ year old engine was trashed. it doesn't say the factory installed it. it's quite possible someone else installed it.

True dat. :cool:
 
maybe i read this wrong but it says the engine was installed in the 60's. that could be 1969 after the three+ year old engine was trashed. it doesn't say the factory installed it. it's quite possible someone else installed it.

Yes but that was not the question...this was the question "Did Sunbeam install 289 ci engines in MK1A bodies at their factory? "

And the answer that that question in NO.....The factory did not install
289"s in Mk 1a's ...now could one or two of the vary last MK1a's have gotten
6 bolt 289"s ???? I doubt it...I'd be more inclined to believe that some MKII's got left over 260's since Chrysler was so cheap......and wanted nothing to do with a Ford powered sports car.....

Moondoggie
 
sort of true?

Well I just love "shaggy dog stories" which of course,in the UK, means "urban legend"..sort of? The fact is Rootes did install 289 engines in MK1A's.....But only in the Pre Production MK11's, which of course were MK1A's!... Mike Taylors article "A tale of five Tigers " Tells the story well.. except he was wrong..there were SIX!! ..Designated PP1to PP6 (pre production). Now as for the Rally Cars.....? Dont even start me on what they were fitted with? cheers DSD.:eek:

The first two pictures are of the same car ..If memory serves me "PP2" 289 Engine with 14 inch wheels and disk brakes all round plus other goodies.The white Tiger is "PP1" 260 engine but with all the styling mods (Should have a red interior).
 
...snip..I have asked for the numbers from my car to be checked in a BON, and was told they were the correct numbers. So is it a rumor or dealer swap, or .....
Vin B382002631
JAL 662639
Motor build date 3J10W
Trans - HEHE 016361
Rear End - J66 6357

The engine number listed in the Jensen prodiction records for B382002631 is a 260 from the B19KC shipment - the same group of engines supplied for all of the final 1966 model-year Sunbeam Tigers.
 
mk2

maybe i didn't clarify my post. i was referring to the advertisement for the car. old timers disease.
 
Verifying Paperwork

hmmmmmm - it would be interesting to see paperwork supporting that operation :-^)

Yup: If only I had the original salesman's copy and dealership stuff. All lost thru house moves and history. Dealership didn't survive the gas crunch resession of the mid 70's either. We have a Title from the State of NH when first required in 1971 and they called it an "Alpine Roadster". We also have bits and pieces of an annual registration from 1967. My, how time flew . . . .
 
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