Sunbeam was a British automotive manufacturer founded in 1905. Sunbeam traces its roots to Sunbeam Cycles, a bicycle and motorcycle company that spawned the Sunbeam Motor Car Company. The company had a few notable models during its early period such as the 3-Litre Super Sports, but eventually entered financial difficulties and was acquired by the Rootes Group in 1935. After a brief dormant period, Sunbeam was renamed Sunbeam-Talbot, and served as a brand for sporty, upmarket Rootes Group cars. In 1954, the Rootes Group dropped 'Talbot' from the brand name, returning the name simply Sunbeam. Several of the most well known Sunbeam cars were built during this era, including the Alpine, and lauded Tiger. The Sunbeam brand was in use until 1976, when it was briefly used as a name for a few models, before being discontinued entirely in 1981.