BLUEBIRD a long series of cars since 1931

BLUEBIRD a long series of cars since 1931

The appreciative crowd give an idea of the scale of the 1935 incarnation of Bluebird, which would set the world land speed record. 

luebird was not one single vehicle but a long series of cars and motor boats used to challenge world speed records. The 350bhp Sunbeam was just one of the early models.

Bluebird was the “lucky” name of Sir Malcolm Campbell (and later of his record breaking son, Donald), the descendant of a wealthy London diamond-dealing family who began his car-racing exploits in 1910.

Having topped 150mph (241kph) in the Sunbeam, he now set his sights on bettering

200mph (322kph), which he achieved in 1928 using, for the first time, a car designed to his precise requirements. At its heart was a 450bhp Napier Lion 12-cylinder aero engine.

Constantly updated and modified, by 1931 Bluebird featured a supercharged, 950bhp

Napier V12 engine. Campbell took the record to 246.09mph (396.04kph), and was knighted for his heroic feat.

But there was no stopping him. In 1932, he became the first man on earth past 250mph (402kph).

The car pictured here was crafted in partnership with engineer Reid Railton in 1935, with power coming from a huge 2,232ci (36,582cc) supercharged Rolls-Royce R-type V12 aero engine.

The design of this unit, at the time, was a closely guarded secret, but Rolls was eager to share the huge publicity Campbell generated. Thoroughly developed from earlier Bluebirds, it now had full-width bodywork and twin rear wheels.

Driving it on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, he achieved an amazing, record beating 301.129mph (484.620kph).