Sunbeam 350hp, Kenelm, and the House of Guinness

House of Guinness explores an epic story inspired by one of Europe’s most famous and enduring dynasties — the Guinness family. Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York, the story begins immediately after the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the impact of his will on the fate of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben. The series is ‘inspired by’ the history of the real-life aristocratic Guinness family but series creator Steven Knight used the events of the past as “stepping-stones” to tell the story and examine the characters of House of Guinness.

One of the characters portrayed in the drama is second son Benjamin Guiness played by Dublin born actor Fionn O'Shea. In real life Benjamin Lee Guinness II (1842–1900) had two sons Sir Algernon Arthur St Lawrence Lee Guinness (1883–1954) and Kenelm Lee Guinness (1887–1937).

Kenelm Lee Guinness 

Kenelm became well known as a British racing driver of the 1910s and 1920s driving Sunbeam racing cars. He was also an automotive engineer and he invented and manufactured the KLG spark plug. He maintained an interest in the family business and was a director of the Guinness brewing company. Kenelm’s interests in motor racing first developed as a mechanic to his elder brother Sir Algernon Guinness. From 1913 he became an official driver for Sunbeam, joined late in the 1920s by Henry Segrave. Sunbeam’s chief engineer Louis Coatalen became a friend and assisted his motor-racing career.

Coatalen built the Sunbeam 350hp at the company’s Wolverhampton works during 1919 and early 1920. The car’s power came from a modified version of the 18 litre Sunbeam V12 ‘Manitou’ aero engine. 

History was made on 17 May 1922, when Kenelm Guinness drove the Sunbeam 350hp to set new World Land Speed Record of a flying kilometre speed of 133.75mph at Brooklands racetrack. The car was later sold to Malcolm Campbell, who named it "Blue Bird" and set two World Land Speed Records at Pendine, Wales, 146mph in 1924 and then 150mph 1925. 

After Guinness crashed on 27 September 1924 in the San Sebastian Grand Prix he never raced again. However, he accompanied his Sunbeam teammate and friend Segrave when he took the Sunbeam 1000hp car to Daytona in 1927 where the 200 mph World Land Speed Record was broken. 

 The Guiness Brewery in Dublin

^{Creative Commons / Mikel Ortega}

The Sunbeam 350hp is in the shortlist for the Car of the Year in the International Historic Motoring Awards 2025 – and the National Motor Museum is encouraging everyone to vote for the car to win the awards!

The Sunbeam 1000hp is being restored by the National Motor Museum – support our restoration campaign and follow its progress as we hope to take it to the USA and to Daytona in 2027 for the centenary of its World Land Speed Record. 

So, if the Sunbeam 350hp wins the award, or the Sunbeam 1000hp celebrates in America, we are sure to raise a pint of Guinness in celebration and to remember Kenelm Lee Guinness – a member of the house of Guinness who was a pioneer of motoring and speed.