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Those old enough to remember actor Don Adams’ TV sitcom character Maxwell Smart will recall that the bumbling spy drove a Sunbeam Tiger, a rare car when new in 1965 and one that’s even rarer now. The vehicle in the show Get Smart had a retractable machine gun under its hood and a few other essential spy accessories, but his red MK I roadster was otherwise similar to the 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk II that will chortle across the ramp at the Worldwide Auctioneers sale running April 22 through 23 in Auburn, Ind.

The Tiger has a fascinating history, although its life was short through no fault of its own. In 1962, Carroll Shelby officiated the unholy marriage between Britain’s AC roadster and Ford’s small-block V-8 engine, and the result was the Shelby AC Cobra. On the coattails of that car’s success in motorsport, Shelby and Sunbeam, a marque within the Rootes Group, set about to prototype a “baby Cobra,” shoehorning a Ford 260 ci V-8 under the hood of Sunbeam’s previously four-cylinder Alpine.

The 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk II crossing the bock this week through Worldwide Auctioneers. 

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Development was quick, and the car was introduced at the 1964 New York Motor Show, the same year racing prototypes competed but failed to finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Assembly of the Tiger was contracted to Jensen Motors, who just lost its contract to assemble the Volvo P1800 (another favorite TV-spy car). Altogether, 6,450 examples of the Sunbeam Tiger were made through 1967, when the model sang its brief swansong with a new model featuring Ford’s 289 ci V-8. Thus, the Tiger Mk II was born, living only long enough for 536 examples to be built, according to Tiger guru Norman Miller.

A Ferrari-like grille helps set the Mk II apart from its predecessor. 

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Essentially identical to its predecessor, the Mk II had a few distinguishing characteristics that included its 4.7-liter engine, a Ferrari-like eggcrate grille and bold side stripes above the rocker panels. And the Mk II developed about 200 hp in standard tune, 36 hp more than the Mk I. Despite carrying a capable lightweight engine, neither version of the Tiger had a high-strung disposition compared to the AC Cobra or Shelby’s Mustang.
The demise of the Tiger was yet another bungled chapter in British automotive history, the Rootes Group having been taken over by Chrysler in 1967. Mopar had no V-8 engine suitable for the tiny Tiger, which had barely an inch to spare within the cramped engine bay. Anyone who has fussed with the model knows that to replace the rear-most spark plug on the driver’s side of a US-spec car, the unfortunate mechanic must gain access through a plate on the interior firewall, or simply pull the engine.

The 4.7-liter V-8 engine makes about 200 hp. 

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Because the Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger are essentially identical, save for their engines and some unibody sheet metal beneath the exterior body panels, there exist many ham-fisted conversions as well as some quite deceptive clones. For this reason, documentation and impeccable provenance is essential when buying a Tiger. This car, serial No. 3 of Tiger Mk II production, is listed in The Book of Norman [Miller], the official registry recognized by serious Tiger enthusiasts. It also wears numerous original LAT (Los Angeles Tiger) options developed by Shelby, including its hardtop roof, polished wheels, hood scoop and two-inch exhaust.

Even the carpet and its jute backing are original. 

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Importantly, the car retains its original engine, carburetor, ignition, radiator and shroud, oil cooler and remote filter, brake servo, alternator, four-speed manual transmission and differential and even toolkit. During its 55-year life, it’s had four owners, the second of whom kept it stored for 30 years. Subsequently, its third owner commissioned noted Tiger expert Brad Jenkinson to perform a bare-metal restoration, refinishing the car in its original Carnival Red.

Options the car carries include a hardtop roof, polished wheels, hood scoop and two-inch exhaust. 

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Impressively, even the carpet and its jute backing are original, as is every nut and bolt. The car has an admirable show history, taking first-place awards at Hilton Head, La Jolla Pinehurst and the Shelby of America National Meet. With that résumé, this red rocket is estimated to fetch as much as $180,000.

Worldwide Auctioneers will roll out some heavy automotive artillery for its upcoming 14th annual Auburn Auction at its headquarters in Auburn, Ind. The two-day sale, on September 3 and 4, includes a suite of 31 Packards, a rare Isotta Fraschini and a Miller-Gulf racer. But the 1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupé stands out for its beauty, authenticity, provenance and show-winning credentials.

Bugatti‘s bygone-era model wears an early Atalante body, by French coachbuilder Gangloff, that’s at once sporting and classically proportioned, with a long hood, sweeping fenders and a compact cabin. Bugatti historian David Sewell has extensively documented this car, chassis No. 57641, which has resided in significant French collections, including that of Henri Novo and the Schlumberger Art Collection in Paris. Following a frame-up restoration, the vehicle was awarded Best in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2016.

The 1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupé being offered by Worldwide Auctioneers on September 4. 

Photo: Courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers.

At the time of the Bugatti Type 57’s manufacture, from 1934 to 1940, the model represented the pinnacle of technological advancement for the revered automaker. Designed by founder Ettore Bugatti’s son Jean, the Type 57 included S and SC variants—Surbaissé for “lowered” and Compresseur for “supercharger”—and featured a low-slung chassis. A total of 710 examples of the Type 57 were made, dressed in a variety of body styles. The Type 57S and 57SC Atalante, of which only 17 were produced, wear two-door coupé bodywork and were named for Atalanta, a heroine of Greek mythology. They are regarded as among the most beautiful of all Bugattis, evoking speed and expressing the graceful spirit of Art Deco style.

Chassis No. 57641 has resided in significant French collections, including that of Henri Novo and the Schlumberger Art Collection in Paris. 

Photo: Courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers.

They were advanced as well, with a 3.3-liter inline-eight engine using twin-overhead cams and developing 160 hp at 4,500 rpm. Such lofty numbers resulted in a 120 mph top speed at a time when most automobiles struggled to crest 50 mph. Shifting was via a four-speed gearbox, and the chassis featured a beam front axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, a live rear axle with reversed quarter-elliptic leaf springs, front and rear De Ram shock absorbers and four-wheel hydraulic finned drum brakes. With these technical underpinnings, the Type 57 served Bugatti well, setting numerous world records—beginning in 1936—and achieving victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937 and 1939.

The car’s 3.3-liter inline-eight engine uses twin-overhead cams and develops 160 hp. 

Photo: Courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers.

The provenance of chassis No. 57641 stretches back to a factory invoice, for French customer Monsieur Baptifaut, that’s dated November 15, 1938. The car next passed to the Joussy family in 1951 and was cited in The Bugatti Book, published in 1954 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Bugatti Owner’s Club. Parisian Bugatti collector Henri Novo acquired the car by 1960, and under his ownership it had an original supercharger added, as did many examples of the Type 57. Later, the Atalante was housed at the famous Schlumberger Art Collection in Paris before eventually arriving in North America. In 2012, the consignor acquired the car from collector Michel Seydoux and subsequently commissioned a full restoration by Bob Smith Coachworks in Texas.

A look at the compact cabin, from where occupants could experience traveling at a top speed of 120 mph. 

Photo: Courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers.

“We have had a significant amount of interest in this Bugatti, as expected, as it is a significant example,” says Rod Egan, principal and chief auctioneer of Worldwide Auctions. “We are not surprised at the attention it has garnered, as it was a Best-in-Class winner at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The roll-back style roof is not only very rare, but also very attractive. I eagerly await auction day so that we can see where the new home for this great car will be!”

The Bugatti’s body, from coachbuilder Gangloff, features a roll-top sliding roof. 

Photo: Courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers.

When it comes to value, Worldwide Auctioneers believes in letting the market speak, independent of published estimates. But if recent historic sales are any indication, this example is likely to bring substantial results. In 2020, Gooding & Company presented a Type 57S Atalante Coupé that fetched more than $10.4 million.

Learn more about Robb Report’s 2022 Car of the Year at the event taking place in Napa Valley here and in Boca Raton here.