The following
blurb taken from the April 1964 issue of Manufacturer's News, answers an interesting question, but poses another at the same time. While we learn the name of the first movie star to drive a Tiger, we were for awhile,
pondering what car was displayed in the picture. The story of the prototype does not
mention using original wire wheels, even for a short period of time. For once I had hard
evidence to solve a dilemma. Photos of the Shelby car during a recent outing clearly
provide the proof that this portrait is from its youth.
"Tony Curtis, star of 20th Century-Fox production, 'Goodbye Charlie', is the first
Hollywood star to preview-drive the prototype of a new Sunbeam Tiger, powered with a Ford
V-8 engine, which is to be introduced in the U.S. by Rootes Motors, of England. Inception
of the California-inspired car coincidentally parallels Curtis' starring role in 'Johnny
Dark' a few years ago. In that picture, the star worked for an automobile company and
created a popular sports car. The Sunbeam Tiger began similarly at Rootes, which is now
manufacturing the car for world markets. Curtis is well-known as an auto aficionado." |
It turns out that this is indeed the Shelby-built prototype and the
giveaway is that one short section of stripe on the center door of the soft-top cover.
That paint scheme is still on the car and was clearly visible at United XXII in Eureka
- 1997. Now I need to talk with someone who can tell me how long the wire wheels remained
a part of the package.
|
