Chrysler Talbot Sunbeam
The Chrysler-Sunbeam, well known to most for their Rallying success as the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. These cars were produced in Scotland by Chrysler spanning 5 years between 1977 and 1981. These cars were based on the Hillman Avenger with a slightly shortened chassis, and produced in the same former Rootes Group Linwood plant. The range came with a 928cc (modified Hillman Imp all alloy engine), 1295, 1598 and the Lotus 16 valve 2172cc engine, an engine that also saw use in various Lotus and the Jensen-Healey. These Chrysler-Sunbeams came in base model LS, then GL with the most luxuriant variant called the S. And at the same time as these cars appeared Chrysler sensibly dropped all the Avenger models bar the most expensive, so as to keep the marketing more simple and direct.
When Chrysler Europe sold out to the French PSA group early in 1979, the cars stayed the same but the marque name became "Talbot".
