National Motor Museum announces start-up of World Land Speed Record breaker Sunbeam 1000hp for first time in 90 years

The much-anticipated start-up follows years of work to strip, clean and restore the colossal 22.5 litre Matabele V12 aero engine, which once produced 435bhp to break the 200mph barrier and make Sir Henry Segrave the fastest man on earth in 1927.

The exciting start-up of the engine in the chassis will take place in front of special guests, Beaulieu visitors and event-goers at International Autojumble on Sunday 7th September at 2pm. 

While the painstaking rear engine restoration has been underway in the workshop, work has also continued on Sunbeam’s chassis in the National Motor Museum. See the team carefully lower the rear engine back into the chassis here: https://youtu.be/ykm5imgUQJU

Sunbeam can run with just one engine, but National Motor Museum engineers plan to use the expertise and knowledge they gained from the first rebuild to repeat the process for the front engine. Their ambition is to take Sunbeam 1000hp back to Daytona for the 100th anniversary of its record-breaking run in 2027. 

National Motor Museum Senior Engineer Ian Stanfield said: “It’s been a privilege to work on a Land Speed Record breaker, which not everyone gets to do, and we’re excited to announce the first public start-up at Beaulieu’s International Autojumble.”

Sir Henry Segrave reportedly said that the Wolverhampton Sunbeam factory building shook when both engines were started, as no silencers were fitted to Sunbeam 1000hp. However, Beaulieu’s start-up will take place outside in the grounds.

Ian explained: “With both engines running inside a closed building, it was going to be a bit different – there would have been vibrations which could have shaken the rafters and glass. That was very different to how we will run it outside.”

Sunbeam had only run for 300 yards (274m) before being packed into a crate to be taken to Daytona but National Motor Museum engineers needed to take apart and restore each part of the engine to make it work again. Parts were meticulously bagged and labelled, before being cleaned and restored, then reassembled. The workshop team relied on experience and knowledge, with no manual or documentation to help.

 Ian added: “They were clever people who designed and built Sunbeam 1000hp back in 1918. When you look at the materials they used, the machining was phenomenal, and the design was incredible.”  

The workshop team created a test bed with a set of gauges to fully prepare the restored engine, behind closed doors, for the public start-up.

To be one of the first people to hear the engine run again, the start-up is open to visitors at Beaulieu International Autojumble. For tickets and details see: www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/international-autojumble/ 
Tickets also include entry to the National Motor Museum, new exhibitions We Had One Of Those and Icons of Formula 1, Palace House with its recently refurbished themed rooms, adventure playground Little Beaulieu, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, the Secret Army Exhibition, unlimited rides on the monorail and beautiful grounds and gardens. For more information visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

Funds are still needed to complete the full restoration project. Donations can be made online at https://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/sunbeam-1000hp-restoration-campaign/. 

Sponsors and corporate donors, who would like to be associated with the campaign, can get in touch by emailing nellie.rogers@beaulieu.co.uk.