Before its takeover by Chrysler in 1970, the British brand Sunbeam was part of the Rootes group that also included Singer, Hillman and Humber. The Thomas Harrington workshops transformed the Alpine roadster, released in 1959, into a coupe intended for racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1961 to 1963. Sunbeam did not offer this version as a production car, but Harrington sold 250 cars.