The Lotus-powered hot hatch that ruled the world
In the mid-1970s, the British automotive industry was in crisis, marred by bad management, frequent strikes and decreasing competitiveness compared to the increasingly successful Japanese automakers. It took its toll on Chrysler UK, which was the name given to the former Rootes Group after its takeover by the US based Chrysler Corporation. In particular, the Linwood facility was generating losses due to many reasons, including under-utilised capacity. The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was one of the most exciting hot hatchbacks to emerge from the 1970s. Chrysler originally commissioned Lotus Engineering to produce an effective entrant for international Group 4 rallying to compete with the dominant Ford Escort RS and this required that Talbot produced an appropriate road car for homologation reasons. Lotus took a 1.6GLS shell, installed a 2.2 litre version of the Lotus 16-valve four-cylinder engine and a five-speed ZF gearbox, and the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was born.
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show back in April 1979, the first examples were produced mostly in black and silver, as seen here, although later models were available in moonstone blue or silver. The car saw not only enthusiastic press reviews, but also much success in the World Rally Championship – in 1980, Henri Toivonen won the 29th Lombard RAC Rally in one, and, in 1981, the Sunbeam Lotus brought the entire manufacturer's championship to Talbot.
Bonhams will be offering this 1980 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus at their upcoming MPH March Auction held on the 21st March at Bicester Heritage. For more information on this and other vehicles at the sale, click on the link below. Photos © Courtesy of Bonhams.