Some cars don’t just drive through the landscape, they drive through your memories. For Shantia Farshidzad, it all started with a feeling. Not a vague nostalgia, but a loss that you can’t ignore. His mission? To find a car that was deeply rooted in his childhood in Tehran: a Sunbeam Minx Estate, or actually – as they were called in Iran – a Hillman Paykan.
Anyone who grew up with an old family car knows the feeling. The smell of warm vinyl, the rides on the back seat, the cassettes in the radio and the click of indicators. For Shantia, it all came together in the station wagon from the British Rootes Group – once mass-produced in Iran, but now rarer in Western Europe than a cat in a kennel.
After years of searching, combing through tips and sifting through yellowed advertisements, a turning point came in June 2021: through Theo Haverkamp – a petrolhead with antennae for obscure finds – Shantia heard about a Sunbeam Minx Estate. In Belgium. Fresh from the RDW inspection. Ready to be given a second life by someone with love and perseverance. The deal was quickly sealed, and then the real work began.
Restoring with your sleeves rolled up
Anyone who thinks that “restoration” only means removing some rust and applying a new coat of paint is mistaken. This Sunbeam was taken apart down to the last nut. And Shantia? She was there – in fact, she was right in the middle of it. In collaboration with garage Toncar, a process began in which getting your hands dirty was just as important as making choices. Such as: whether or not to have a front seat (spoiler: it ended up being a set of luxury seats with headrests) and how far you go in restoring it to original versus modernizing it for ease of use and safety.
The biggest surprise? Under the hood, it turned out that there was not the standard 1500 cc block, but a tough 1725 cc engine. A powerhouse, with much more potential for upgrades. A stroke of luck that gave the project just that little bit extra.
Bye bye yellow, hello Gulf Blue
Anyone who has ever seen a Sunbeam in canary yellow knows: tastes differ. For Shantia it was clear that the colour had to be changed. But to what? The interior had to be bright red – he was sure of that – but the exterior? After endless deliberation, sanding and doubting, the choice fell on Gulf Blue. And to be honest: it looks fantastic on him. Especially with the RoStyle rims underneath.
And then the details: fog lamps, reversing lights that were originally missing, an improved lock on the tailgate and even new seat rails for a safer seating position. The car has not only become more beautiful, but also safer, more practical and ready for the future.
Teardrop technique
Not everything went smoothly. Shantia's engine plan came to a standstill when the intended specialist suddenly passed away. But the project continued, and through intermediaries he ended up with a new engine builder. With success: the revised and upgraded engine runs like a charm, the gearbox got an overdrive and the chassis was also completely overhauled. New brakes, new shock absorbers, new rubbers, everything. Not a single corner was left untouched.
A dream that really drives
The result? A dream on wheels. A classic with character, modern technology and a soul from the past. But above all: an ode to family, memories and perseverance. Because this restoration was not just about steel, paint and petrol – it was about coming home in a car that once only existed in the mind.
📌 The full story of this special restoration – with all the technical details, emotional layers and surprising choices – can be read in the June issue of Auto Motor Klassiek. Still in the kiosk until next Tuesday!
(It continues below with some photos.)
This is truly a beautiful car, memories of a freer Iran.
I never had anything with Sunbeam! I like this one, also that light blue and those bright red chairs! Nice contrast!
(My very first Ford Capri 1 1/2 was about this light blue )
In the Netherlands these Sunbeams were usually rusted through at the very first maintenance in the garage, therefore not popular! In the Iranian climate they will certainly have lasted much longer!!
I find the engine highly interesting! Two thick constant vacuum carburetors!
How much horsepower does it have, 95?
Have lots of fun with it Shantia, I hope it will one day come to Iran so that you can drive it to Tehran!
Greetings, Peter.
Almost all cars from that time had a rust problem.
In my opinion Rootes cars were better than average.
I base this on approximately 45 years of experience.
The engine has been completely overhauled and upgraded to 2 times Stromberg Zenith CD 150.
Original 1 piece. Number of horsepower will indeed be around 95 Din (not to be confused with SAE)
That one guzzles gasoline like crazy and can't move forward!
Have you driven it?
Consumption is approximately 1 in 10 according to the year of construction.
Power is fine, this is a 1725 cc engine with high compression (Q version for the connoisseurs)
This in combination with an overdrive makes it a very pleasant car to drive.
Special model that I had not seen before. Also neatly restored with attention to detail.
Have lots of fun with it Shantia, and keep it beautiful.
A lHD Sunbeam, Hillman estate from the Arrow Range is extremely rare.
As far as I know this is the only one still running in Europe
Do they make cars in Iran, at least they have enough steel there?
Yes. This is a real Iranian car. Made of Iranian steel, they have plenty of that there.
No, not from Iran, this is an original Belgian car that was eventually saved by Shantia. Kudos in capital letters
Iran used to be Persia,
Ties with England, Parts were shipped and assembled under own name Paykan