Sunbeam Lotus celebration on Sunday

Car enthusiasts are to enjoy a special event this weekend.



The Sunbeam Lotus Owners’ Club is organising a ‘Drive-It-Day’ on Sunday (April 21).

The event is themed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the last Sunbeam Lotus to be prepared in Talbot’s Service Department at Himber Road, Coventry.

The final production car in stock left Talbot for Arbury Service Station in Bulkington on April 22, 1983 and the club will be meeting on the site of the dealership to mark the occasion.

The group will then head off on a scenic drive to take in some notable points around the area before finishing at MIRA for a session on the test hill and twin test circuit.

Back in 1983 the garage was run by Leon Gibbs, who will be joining in the fun this weekend, and who still owns the very last Sunbeam Lotus to come out of Talbot 30 years ago.

“All Sunbeam Lotus owners are welcome to attend the meeting at Arbury Service Station in Bulkington from 10am to 11.30am,” said Mr Gibbs, who sold 118 Sunbeam Lotus cars between November 1982 and November 1983, having made a deal with Talbot to shift the remaining stock of cars that had proved difficult to sell at a generous discount.

“The club will be meeting up at the dealership, before heading off on a drive to Sunbeam Way for a photo opportunity next to the newly erected road sign and then finishing with a couple of hours at the MIRA Proving Ground or a gentle session on the test hills and twin test circuit.”

The meeting at Arbury Service Station and the photo opportunity at Sunbeam Way is open to all members of the group and Sunbeam Lotus owners.

However the event at MIRA is not.

The Sunbeam Lotus Owners’ Club was formed in 1991 when the Sunbeam Lotus Register separated from Club Lotus, having been originally set up in 1983, and as such it is marking 30 years of continuous support to owners.

The group is keen to make contact with anyone who worked at Chrysler/Talbot and had dealings with the Sunbeam or Lotus projects.

Anyone wishing to get involved in Sunday’s action or to find out more is asked to contact events secretary Frank Urso via email to f11rso26@googlemail.com or by calling 07724 013 266.