YHP 333X was one of the last works cars built by the famous Talbot Competitions Department in Coventry and the first Sunbeam Lotus to be painted in French owners 'Peugeot Talbot Sport' colours. It is also the only known Factory Team Sunbeam Lotus that still has the original pre-1982 bodyshell. First registered in May 1982, Chassis R4DCYAL301678 was originally prepared for Stig Blomqvist to compete in the 1982 British Open Rally Championship. Co-driven by his fellow Swede, Bjorn Cederberg, their results in YHP333X were 3rd overall on the Welsh International, retiring while leading the Scottish and taking another 3rd on the Pace National.
In June 1983, YHP 333X was sold to Talbot Sport contractors Mike Little Preparations in Carlisle, where it was converted from left to right- hand drive for Russell Brookes. With co-driver Mike Broad, Russell won the 1984 Bahrain International Rally. In October 1984 the car was sold to co-driver Campbell Roy of Huntly (who later became the late Colin McRae's manager), finishing 4th on the 1985 Snowman driven by Douglas Riach. The car competed on a number of other Scottish events, eventually being sold in April 2005.
The new owner arranged for the restoration of the car with the original Talbot WRC contractors Phil Davison and Jim Little(brother of Mike), both of whom were significantly involved in the car's creation and subsequent on-event service. Originality has been most carefully preserved throughout the car's rebuild with the original major components as fitted by the Competitions Department all retained. Safety modifications have been sympathetically introduced however for the car to qualify for a current MSA log book, thus enabling it to compete on stage events in the British Historic Rally championship Category 3 as well as MSA-regulated Speed Events.
The original big-valve 2.2 twin cam 16-valve Lotus unit with 911 07 identity, first built by Phil Davison of Ravic Engines, was again rebuilt by him in 2006 with subsequent service work also carried out by him. Although the engine will rev to 8000, the maximum power of 193bhp recorded at the wheels on the rolling road (dyno sheet in the history file) is achieved with the limiter set at 7200rpm. The 032 works numbered 'direct top' ZF gearbox, originally built by Brian Wileman has been rebuilt by his direct successor. The 027 works-numbered 4HA axle has a 4.55 crown wheel and pinion and a Salisbury plate-type limited slip differential.
The body is a genuine Safety Devices numbered shell, which was also completely refurbished in 2006. A new OMP 6-point roll-cage in steel has been fitted, with the mounting points preserved for the original alloy cage (which is included as are spare export dash and steering rack for converting back to LHD). The aluminium-skinned bonnet is Maurice Gomm crafted and the hand-crafted wheel-arch extensions are also original. While the suspension is rose-jointed, as per a works car, with Bilstein dampers and anti-roll bars front and rear. A 'quick' steering rack is mounted to a factory-modified and strengthened cross-member. The Springalex steering wheel is correct for the car as is the full set of six Carello Megalux spotlights with two Talbot covers, two Megalux covers and two Lucas covers. Period lightweight Recaro seats, as used by Talbot Team drivers Guy Frequelin and the late and great Henri Toivonen, complete what is a most authentically presented interior. Four period-correct and original Talbot-marked 9x13ins magnesium Minilites are fitted (a second set of display wheels is also included), while the jack is an original factory-modified Bilstein.
A former Rally Sport Magazine 'Cover Car' of the March 1983 and August 1987 editions and featured on U-Tube leading the Escorts on the 1982 Scottish as well as captured in more on-line action with a more recent in-car sequence, YHP 333X is a highly original and genuinely historic rally car from the once World Rally Championship winning Talbot Competition Department. A potential entrant for the proposed WRC Classic series for 2011, a Sunbeam Talbot Lotus, like this, is generally reckoned by drivers of the period to have been the the ultimate two-wheel drive rally car.
