350 HP Sunbeam 1922
Designed by Louis Coatalen and built in 1922 it was powered by a V-12, 18,322-cc Manitou aircraft engine and with drum brakes on the rear only. This car was bought by Malcolm Campbell in 1923, after it had broken the records at Brooklands in May 1922, when Kenelm Lee Guinness drove it on the track at 135.75 mph. The engine was modified and a streamlined nose cowl and pointed tail were added in 1923-24 before Malcolm got his first official record with the car at Pendine Sands in Wales, on 25th September, 1924. His speed was 146.16 mph.

Immediately afterwards he put the car up for sale for £1,500 but then relented and decided to spend some additional time with it when he learned that Parry Thomas was about to make a serious attempt with the ex-Zborowski re-bodied Higham Special which Thomas had renamed Babs. Campbell returned to Pendine in mid July of 1925 and on 21st July raised the record to 150.76 mph, becoming the first driver to exceed 150 mph. To commemorate this he had some large scale models of the Sunbeam built, at least two of which are known to have survived.
 car specifications

Campbell-Napier Blue Bird 1927
This was the first car specifically built as a land speed record breaker. Powered by a Napier Lion 450-hp Broad Arrow engine, with three banks of four cylinders, the chassis was initially by Amherst Villiers, later Joseph Maina took over the mechanical design. It was built partly at the Robin Hood Engineering Works at Kingston, Surrey and partly at Povey Cross, Campbell's home. First trials were in January 1927, first record at Pendine Sands in Wales on 4th February, 1927. His speed was 174.88 mph.
 car specifications

Campbell-Napier Blue Bird 1928
Now powered by a Napier 900-hp unit, another Broad Arrow engine, designed for the Schneider Trophy Air Race. The cars body was redesigned with a long, low nose and a detachable tail fin, with surface radiators mounted on either side of the tail. An attempt was made to streamline the wheels by fitting fairings fore and aft and by using light discs to cover the wheel spokes. The sides of the cockpit were raised to protect Campbell from the slipstream. The new body was made and fitted by Mulliners. First trials and and a first record of 206.95 mph at Daytona Beach, Florida on 19th February, 1928.
 car specifications

Campbell-Napier-Arrol Aster Blue Bird 1929
This car had the same 900-hp engine but now sported a new more streamlined body built and fitted at Dumfries by Arrol Aster. It was much lower and was distinguished by a hump around the cockpit, due to the size of the gearbox and the fact that Campbell was seated astride it. Surface radiators were dispensed with in this reincarnation. First trials were at Verneuk Pan, South Africa in April 1929. Five and ten mile records were achieved and the speed reached on the record attempt was 218 mph.
 car specifications

Campbell-Napier-Railton Blue Bird 1931
Redesigned by Reid Railton and powered by a supercharged 900-hp Napier engine, developing 1,450-hp, this version of the car had an offset prop shaft and gearbox, to give Campbell a lower driving position alongside the gearbox, as well as improved streamlining. It had a new gearbox and the fairings around the wheels were increased in size. Mechanical alterations were made by Thomson and Taylor's, the new body made by Gurney, Nutting's. First trials were at Daytona Beach, Florida in 1931. The first record was 246.09 mph at Daytona Beach on 5th February, 1931. This same car with minor modifications and an new nose/cowling assembly set another new record of 253.97 mph at Daytona Beach on 24th February, 1932.
 car specifications

Campbell-Railton-Rolls Royce Blue Bird 1933
Powered by an R-type, supercharged 2,500-hp V-12 Rolls Royce engine, this engine required another new body with two bulges covering the cylinder banks and a forward facing air intake for the supercharger protruding from the nose, to create a ram air effect. This new body was again built by Gurney, Nutting's. First trials were again at Daytona Beach in February 1933, with the first record in this car set at 272.46 mph at Daytona Beach on 22nd February 1933.
 car specifications

 Cutaway Drawing of Sir Malcolm's Blue Bird, 1935

Campbell-Railton-Rolls Royce Blue Bird 1935
This car was powered by the same R-type Rolls Royce engine as 1933. This final version of the Blue Bird embodied some of the chassis of the 1927 car, plus the original front axle, brake drums and shoes. It had a new back axle with twin wheels out of alignment and double crown wheels and pinion. It also had a completely new body with an air intake slot in the nose which could be closed of for additional streamlining. The wheel fairings now formed part of the main body, which was built at Campbell's own garage at Brooklands, under Leo Villa's supervision. First trials were again at Daytona Beach in January 1935. This cars first record was 276.82 mph at Daytona Beach on 7th March, 1935. Subsequently this same year, this Blue Bird was taken to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where on the 3rd of September, 1935 Sir Malcolm Campbell set his last land speed record at 301.13 mph.
 car specifications

Campbell-Norris-Proteus Bluebird CN7 1960
Powered by a Bristol Siddeley Proteus free turbine engine developing in excess of 5,000-hp, this revolutionary car was designed by the Norris Brothers and built by Motor Panels, Ltd, of Coventry. It utilised four-wheel drive and two gearboxes, with the gearboxes having a fixed ratio, as there was enough power from the engine, in the lower speed ranges, to dispense with gear changing all together. It utilised three independent braking systems and a mass of complicated electronic instrumentation. First trials were at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah in September 1960. This Bluebird was then severely damaged after a huge crash later in the same month. The car was completely rebuilt, thanks to the generosity of Sir Alfred Owen, with the only noticeable changes being a different shaped cockpit cover and the addition of a tail fin for extra stability. The first trials of the rebuilt Bluebird CN7 took place at Lake Eyre in Australia in May 1963 (view the map), with the world land speed record being set at 403.10 mph at Lake Eyre on 17th July, 1964 after months of torrential rain and flooding. View the information sheet about Lake Eyre.
 car specifications

350 HP Sunbeam 1922
Country of Manufacture: Great Britain
Engine Manufacturer: Sunbeam
Cylinders V12
Bore 120mm
Stroke 135/142mm
Cubic Capacity 18,322cc
Valves 2 exhaust, 1 inlet, overhead camshaft
Carburettor 2 Claudel-Hobson HC7
Max. Power 355 b.h.p. at 2,300 rpm
Transmission:
Clutch multi-plate
Gearbox 4 speeds
Back axle bevel, 1.5 to 1
Type of drive Hotchkiss
Chassis: Channel section frame
Suspension: elliptic springs
Shock Absorbers: Hydraulic and Hartford
Brakes: 18 in. diameter drum
Wheels: Rudge-Whitworth wire, 880mm x 120mm
Dimensions: Wheelbase 10ft 7in., Track front 4ft 6in., Track rear 4ft 6in., Length 16ft, Weight 1,550kg
Body Manufacturer: material metal

Campbell-Napier Blue Bird 1927
Country of Manufacture: Great Britain
Engine Manufacturer: Napier Lion
Cylinders 12 - 3 banks of 4
Bore 139mm
Stroke 130.2mm
Cubic Capacity 22,299cc
Max. Power 450 bhp at 2,000rpm 502 bhp at 2,200rpm
Transmission:
Clutch 11 1/4in. dry plates; hand lever to disconnect gearbox when car stationary
Gearbox FBM 3 speed epicyclical
Ratios .333, .666, 1. Final drive ratio 1.27 to 1
Back axle crown and bevel independently supported
Type of drive Reinecker
Chassis: 3% Nickel steel by Vickers
Suspension: Woodhead 1/2 elliptic springs, front and rear
Shock Absorbers: Duplex Hartford
Brakes: Alford and Alder, solid steel drums, direct or Dewandre vacuum servo. 18in dia and 1 5/8in wide
Wheels: Rudge-Whitworth wire double-spoke to front, triple-spoke to rear
Tyres: Dunlop size 33 x 5in. to front 35 x 5in to rear. Inflated width of tyre 5.85in.
Dimensions: Wheelbase 12ft 1 1/2in., Track front 5ft 5 1/4 in., Track rear 4ft 9 in., Length 15ft, Weight 3 tons approx. dry
Body Manufacturer: Jarvis, material metal

Campbell-Napier Blue Bird 1928
Country of Manufacture: Great Britain
Engine Manufacturer: Napier sprint Lion VII Schneider Cup aircraft engine
Cylinders 12 - 3 banks of 4
Cubic Capacity 23,948cc
Max. Power 875 bhp at 3,300rpm
Transmission:
Clutch 11 1/4in. dry plates; hand lever to disconnect gearbox when car stationary
Gearbox FBM 3 speed planetary
Ratios .333, .666, 1. Final drive ratio 1.5 to 1
Back axle crown and bevel independently supported
Type of drive Reinecker
Chassis: Vickers underslung beneath rear axle
Suspension: Woodhead self-shock-absorbing springs
Shock Absorbers: Duplex Hartford
Brakes: Alford and Alder, solid steel drums, direct or Dewandre vacuum servo. 18in dia and 1 5/8in wide
Wheels: Rudge-Whitworth wire double-spoke to front, triple-spoke to rear
Tyres: Dunlop size 33 x 5in.
Dimensions: Wheelbase 12ft 1 1/2in., Track front 5ft 5 1/4 in., Track rear 4ft 9 in., Length 18ft, Weight 3 tons approx. dry
Body Manufacturer: Mulliner, material 18-gauge aluminium

Campbell-Napier-Arrol Aster Blue Bird 1929
Country of Manufacture: Great Britain
Engine Manufacturer: Napier sprint Lion VII Schneider Cup aircraft engine
Cylinders 12 - 3 banks of 4
Cubic Capacity 23,948cc
Max. Power 875 bhp at 3,300rpm
Transmission:
Clutch 11 1/4in. dry plates; hand lever to disconnect gearbox when car stationary
Gearbox FBM 3 speed planetary
Ratios .333, .666, 1. Final drive ratio 1.5 to 1
Back axle crown and bevel independently supported
Type of drive Reinecker
Chassis: Vickers underslung beneath rear axle
Suspension: Woodhead self-shock-absorbing springs
Shock Absorbers: Duplex Hartford
Brakes: Alford and Alder, solid steel drums, direct or Dewandre vacuum servo. 18in dia and 1 5/8in wide
Wheels: Rudge-Whitworth wire double-spoke to front, triple-spoke to rear
Tyres: Dunlop size 33 x 5in.
Dimensions: Wheelbase 12ft 1 1/2in., Track front 5ft 5 1/4 in., Track rear 4ft 9 in., Length 18ft, Weight 3 tons approx. dry
Body Manufacturer: Arrol Aster, material 18-gauge aluminium

Campbell-Napier-Railton Blue Bird 1931
Country of Manufacture: Great Britain
Engine Manufacturer: Napier sprint Lion VII Schneider Cup aircraft engine
Cylinders 12 - 3 banks of 4
Bore 139.7mm
Stroke 130.17mm
Cubic Capacity 23,942cc
Carburettor Claudel-Hobson 3 no.
Max. Power 1,350 - 1,450 bhp at 3,600 rpm Centrifugal supercharger
Transmission:
Clutch multiplate Ferodo lined
Gearbox KLG 3 speed constant mesh
Ratios 4.01, 2.27, 1.58
Back axle offset 7in to enable lower driving seat
Type of drive bevel gear final drive 1.58 to 1
Chassis: Vickers - steel underslung under the rear axle
Suspension: Woodhead - 1/2 elliptic springs front 3ft 1in rear 4ft 2 1/2in
Shock Absorbers: Hartford shock absorbers - 4 to each axle
Brakes: Alford and Alder18in dia steel disc with Clayton-Dewandre vacuum servo
Wheels: Dunlop steel
Tyres: Dunlop 35 x 6in front, 37 x 6in rear
Dimensions: Wheelbase 12ft 2in., Track front 5ft 4in., Track rear 4ft 2in., Length 25ft, Weight 4 tons dry
Body Manufacturer: Gurney Nutting and Co. Ltd, material aluminium

Campbell-Railton-Rolls Royce Blue Bird 1933
Country of Manufacture: Great Britain
Engine Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce Type R Schneider Trophy aircraft type
Cylinders V12
Bore 152.4mm
Stroke 167.64mm
Cubic Capacity 36,582cc
Compression ratio 6:1
Carburettor Rolls-Royce
Max. Power 2,300-2,500 bhp at 3,200rpm Single centrifugal supercharger
Transmission:
Clutch Duron faced
Gearbox 3speed gearbox constant mesh, indirect drive
Ratios 1.2 to 1 in top
Back axle offset 7in to enable lower driving seat
Type of drive bevel gear final drive 1.58 to 1
Chassis: John Thompson Motor Pressings
Suspension: Woodhead
Shock Absorbers: Andre
Brakes: Alford and Alder with Cayton Dewandre vacuum servo
Wheels: steel disc
Tyres: Dunlop 35 x 6in; pressure more than 100lb per sq in.; rpm at record speed 2,430rpm; tread 1/32in
Dimensions: Wheelbase 13ft 8in., Track front 5ft 3in., Track rear 5ft, Length 27ft, Weight 4.75 tons dry
Body Manufacturer: Gurney Nutting and Co. Ltd, material aluminium

Campbell-Railton-Rolls Royce Blue Bird 1935
Country of Manufacture: Great Britain
Engine Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce Type R Schneider Trophy aircraft type
Cylinders V12
Bore 152.4mm
Stroke 167.64mm
Cubic Capacity 36,582cc
Compression ratio 6:1
Carburettor Rolls-Royce
Max. Power 2,300-2,500 bhp at 3,200rpm Single centrifugal supercharger
Transmission:
Clutch multidisc
Gearbox 3speed gearbox, indirect drive
Ratios 1.19 to 1 in top
Type of drive duplicated
Chassis: John Thompson Motor Pressings
Suspension: Woodhead
Shock Absorbers: Andre
Brakes: Alford and Alder with Cayton Dewandre vacuum servo
Wheels: steel disc; twin rear wheels
Tyres: Dunlop 35 x 6in; front pressure 125lb rear pressure 110lb; tread 1/32in
Dimensions: Wheelbase 13ft 8in. but shorter by 1 1/2in on one side than the other due to layout of duplicated final drive. Track front 5ft 3in., Track rear 5ft, Length 28ft 3in., Weight 5 tons approx. dry
Body Manufacturer: Gurney Nutting and Co. Ltd, material aluminium

Campbell-Norris-Proteus Bluebird CN7 1960
Country of Manufacture: Great Britain
Engine Manufacturer: Bristol-Siddeley Proteus 705 gas turbine aircraft engine (modified to give drive shaft at each end), Compressor 12 axial-flow stages, 1 centrifugal stage, 8 combustion chambers 2 two stage turbines. Maximum Power, 5,000bhp at 11,000-11,800 power turbine rpm and 11,800 compressor rpm, plus 1,000lb approx. exhaust thrust at standstill diminishing with speed
Transmission:
Clutch none
Gearbox Unknown
Ratios Unknown
Axles spiral bevel at front and rear
Type of drive final drive 3.6 to 1
Chassis: Aeroweb sandwich 2 skins 0.048in thick light alloy spaced 3/4in apart by resin bonded 1/4in mesh honeycomb of 0.002in thick light alloy
Suspension: independent by ball-jointed transverse wishbones
Shock Absorbers: Girling oleo-pneumatic suspension struts with rubber rebound buffers
Steering: Gear Burman recirculating ball quick-thread mechanism as centre section of 3-piece track rod, operated by bevel gear and chains from steering wheel
Brakes: Girling disc brakes, inboard mounted, with duplicated operation from compressed air reservoirs. Discs 16 3/8in external dia. and 10 3/8in internal dia. Air brakes to rear. In all three seperate brake systems. Designed by Carl Noble
Wheels: Dunlop split-rim disc wheels
Tyres: Dunlop 7.8in section 52in external diameter
Dimensions: Wheelbase 13ft 6in., Track front 5ft 6in., Track rear 5ft 6in., Length 30ft, Weight 3.5 - 4.2 tons
Body Manufacturer: Motor Panels Ltd., material aluminium