SUNBEAM S8 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

The first of the Sunbeam's problems arose from the choice of transmission. The intention was to use a shaft drive like the BMW, but the design adopted had a worm gear in place of the German machine's bevels. While easier to manufacture, it was inherently weak, and on prototypes the worm stripped its thread if the engine was fully used. The second problem was vibration.