I owned a Sunbeam lotus for about 5 yrs. My Dad was a salesman for them in the 80s. I remember being picked up in a esprit from school. Amazing. When he picked me up in the Sunbeam lotus I was so upset it looked pants. But.... When he drove me home I remember thinking one day I'm buying one of these... Mine has qed cams and larger 48s had low 200 bhps. Absolute brown trousers every time I drove it. Best car I've ever owned and I'm now spoiled for life.
Talbot Sunbeam Lotus specs
| Car type | Compact |
| Curb weight | 960 kg (2116 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 3.83 m (151 in) long, 1.60 m (63 in) wide, 1.41 m (55 in) high |
| Wheelbase | 2.41 m (95 in) |
| Introduced | 1979 |
| Origin country | United Kingdom |
| Gas mileage | 20.0 l/100 km (12 mpg US / 14 mpg UK) |
| Views | 15.2k |
| Submitted by | Inline 6 rules |
Powertrain specs
| Engine type | Inline 4, n/a, 16 valves, DOHC |
| Displacement | 2.2 l (134 ci) |
| Power | 152 ps (150 bhp / 112 kw) @ 5750 rpm |
| Torque | 203 Nm (150 lb-ft) @ 4500 rpm |
| Power / liter | 69 ps (68 hp) |
| Power / weight | 158 ps (156 bhp) / t |
| Torque / weight | 211 Nm (156 lb-ft) / t |
| Efficiency | 8 PS per l/100 km |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual |
| Layout | front engine, rear wheel drive |
Sunbeam Lotus competition
More Talbot cars 6
FastestLaps 2w ago
Even with stock 150 hp it must have been wildly fast compared to other cars of that era and especially of that size.
Richard 4y ago
last of the successful RWD rally cars. Motor magazine long term test car recorded 6.6 s to 60 and at club lotus sprints in the 80s FTD was usually set by a sunbeam or 7 rather than an Esprit or Elan. I had mine for 5 years - great days.
Nigel 4y ago
I drove one in guernsey when I worked on lotus cars (it might have been the one in the picture) the performance was amazing, and was a bit tail happy, what a great car.
S.A 5y ago
Lovely car of the past, my dad had a Talbot Horizon Special which looked a lot like the Sunbeam Lotus but was not nearly as fast lol
