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The Sunbeam 12-16 H.P. cars of 1910-1914.

Author Bruce Dowell has spent a lifetime collecting photographs and other material related to the 12-16 H.P. Sunbeam. Through more than 400 photos (most previously unpublished), the associated text and a detailed appendix, he and co-author (and VCCAQ member) Peter Ransom trace the evolution of Louis Coatalen's creation. We see it carrying touring, sports and formal coachwork and operating in racing, ambulance and military guises. During this period we also see electric lighting displacing acetylene and bodies transforming from the upright styles of 1910 to the super-elegant Sporting Model of 1914. Technically unremarkable but extremely successful, the 12-16 H.P. Sunbeam of the 1910-1914 period was beautifully engineered and gained a well-deserved reputation for performance, ease of use, adaptability and above all, reliability. A number of major and minor competition victories enhanced that reputation and by the end of its production life the 12-16 had become - and would remain - Sunbeam's most successful model, with a total of 4,941 chassis manufactured. As late as 1908 it was not Sunbeam's practice to offer their chassis for sale without a body. By late 1909 this had changed and so, in addition to Sunbeam's own superb coachwork, many chassis were fitted with bespoke bodywork from outside firms, leading to the wonderful diversity of coach built bodies illustrated in this book. This is an evocative snapshot of the pre-World War I period, incorporating the mundane, the exotic and everything in between to present a unique and comprehensive view of the 'nicest Edwardian car' in the 2 to 3-litre market.