National Motor Museum to celebrate the Sunbeam 1000hp at California’s Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum

06 August 2026

The delegation of the National Motor Museum will join the Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum on Saturday 15 August 2026, as part of Pebble Beach Automotive Week, to kick-off centenary celebrations for the remarkable Sunbeam 1000hp World Land Speed Record car.

The event will be held at the Concours Village at Pebble Beach, and Chief Executive of the National Motor Museum, Dr Jon Murden will be joined by the Museum’s Chief Engineer Ian Stanfield and Sunbeam Project Patron, Martin Braybrook for a special discussion exploring the story behind one of Britain’s most significant engineering achievements.

Back to the Beach: 100 Years of the Sunbeam 1000hp will take place in the Concours Village at Pebble Beach and will be moderated by Dr Jon Murden. This presentation will show the story of how the 1000 HP Sunbeam was built and its successful 203.7mph World Land Speed Record attempt by Sir Henry Segrave on Daytona Beach in 1927, securing its globally recognized status in motoring history.

Ian Stanfield and Martin Braybrook will also outline its recent restoration at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England, and the anticipation of the joy of hearing its engines roar at Pebble Beach, ahead of a short US tour, culminating in a return to Daytona Beach to commemorate the anniversary of the land speed record in March 2027. The conversation will examine the ambition, innovation and craftsmanship behind the creation of the Sunbeam 1000hp, as well as its enduring place in the history of motoring and the pursuit of speed.

Preserved by the National Motor Museum, the Sunbeam 1000hp remains a testament to the vision and technical expertise of its creators. Built during a pioneering period of automotive development, it reflects the ingenuity and determination that helped shape Britain’s motoring heritage and continues to inspire enthusiasts, engineers and visitors from around the world.

The Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum, part of the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, brings together leading voices from across the automotive community to share insights into the vehicles, people and stories that continue to shape collector car culture. The National Motor Museum’s participation offers an opportunity to share the story of the Sunbeam 1000hp with an international audience as it reaches this significant milestone.

The restored Sunbeam 1000hp will make its post-restoration debut at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance on 16th August 2026 when it will headline the Special Curated Class. The National Motor Museum and planning to return the car to Daytona Beach a centenary after it set the amazing breakthrough there on the 29th March 1927.

Find out more about the Forum talk at https://theconcoursstore.com/collections/forums/products/2026ccf-back-to-the-beach

Find out more at https://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/sunbeam1000hp/