Sunbeam Rapier

The Sunbeam Rapier was a car produced by the Rootes Group from 1955 until 1976 in two generations: the Series cars, which were revised several times, and the 1967 to 1976 fastback of the Arrow range. The first Rapier was a four-seat, two-door hardtop coupe announced at the London Motor Show in October 1955 and was the first of the Audax range of light cars, ahead of the Hillman Minx and Singer Gazelle. Although designed in house, its styling was inspired through the Raymond Loewy design organisation by the Studebaker coupes of 1953. Bodies were built by Pressed Steel and the cars were assembled at Ryton-on-Dunsmore near Coventry.