UK vehicle statistics / Sunbeam
How many Sunbeam cars are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 2,513 licensed and 1,044 SORN Sunbeam vehicles in the UK, across 5 published model groups. That means 1 in 3 surviving Sunbeam is currently off the road.
Looking at a Sunbeam?
Population figures describe a model group, not the car in front of you.
Check its registration free for the official tax, MOT and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Is the Sunbeam fleet shrinking?
Adding up every published Sunbeam model group: Licensed numbers peaked at 2,579 in 2024 Q2 and stand at 2,513 in 2026 Q1, down 3%. That is up 3% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 1,044 are declared SORN — 1 in 3 of the 3,557 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.
Before you buy
- Ask why it was off the road — Of the 3,557 Sunbeam vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 3 is SORN (1,044 at 2026 Q1). A car that has been laid up needs a closer look at brakes, tyres and the MOT history.
- Check the actual Sunbeam — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Rarest Sunbeam models
The published Sunbeam model groups with the smallest surviving populations.
- Stiletto — 96 licensed, 80 SORN
- Talbot — 227 licensed, 80 SORN
- Tiger — 326 licensed, 98 SORN
- Rapier — 489 licensed, 235 SORN
- Alpine — 1,375 licensed, 551 SORN
Every Sunbeam model
| Model | Licensed | SORN |
|---|---|---|
| Alpine | 1,375 | 551 |
| Rapier | 489 | 235 |
| Tiger | 326 | 98 |
| Talbot | 227 | 80 |
| Stiletto | 96 | 80 |
How to read these numbers
Licensed means taxed and legal to use on the road at the end of the quarter. SORN means the keeper has declared it off the road — it still exists, but it is not in use. A model group's total is the best available proxy for how many survive, and a shrinking one means fewer donor cars, fewer specialists and slower parts supply.
Common questions
How many Sunbeam cars are left in the UK?
2,513 Sunbeam vehicles were licensed and 1,044 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, across 5 published model groups, according to DfT and DVLA statistics.
Which Sunbeam is rarest?
Of the published Sunbeam model groups, the Stiletto has the smallest surviving population at 96 licensed and 80 SORN.
Is the Sunbeam fleet shrinking?
Licensed numbers peaked at 2,579 in 2024 Q2 and stand at 2,513 in 2026 Q1, down 3%. That is up 3% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 1,044 are declared SORN — 1 in 3 of the 3,557 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.
Does a Sunbeam population figure describe the car I am looking at?
No. It describes the model group. Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record.
Source and limitations
Source: Department for Transport and DVLA, df_VEH0120_UK. Released 2026-07-15 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
DVLA make and model fields are administrative data and can contain omissions or inconsistencies. These statistics describe model groups, not an individual registration.
Confidential cells marked [c] represent between 1 and 4 vehicles and are treated as zero in aggregates, so totals can be slightly understated.