Sunbeam Tiger joins the Sunbeam 350hp to bid farewell to the Sunbeam 1000hp

To mark the departure of the restored Sunbeam 1000HP land speed record car to the USA, where it will be one of the star features celebrating 75 years of the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, all three successful record breaking Sunbeams were gathered in the National Motor Museum arena at Beaulieu.

Between 1922 and 1027, Sunbeam cars set no less than five outright land speed records.  

In addition to the Sunbeam 1000hp car, that set the first record above 200mph on the 29th March 1927, the museum’s own Sunbeam 350hp set records with Kenelm Lee Guinnes at Brooklands in 1922 an the same car was later used by Malcolm Campbell in 1924 and 1925 at Pendine in South Wales becoming the first .to exceed 150mph in 1925. 

The third Sunbeam record-breaker is the privately owned Sunbeam Tiger that is seen regularly in historic motorsport events in the UK.   

On the 16th March this year, the Tiger (originally named Ladybird) celebrated the Centenary of the car setting a new record – the first by Henry Segrave who also piloted the 1000hp and later the Golden Arrow (also in the National Motor Museum) -  of 152.33mph on Ainsdale Beach near Southport.   This was the final time that an outright land speed record was set in England. 

This is the first time for many years that all three Sunbeams have been together.   The Tiger was one of two such cars owned and raced in period by racing driver Kaye Don.  

The Sunbeam Tiger is on loan to the National Motor Museum for a short time and will be on exhibition until the 6th July.   The museum wishes to record its thanks to owner, Vijay Mallya and to Blakeney Motorsport for kindly making this historic Sunbeam available. 

Specification: 

The Sunbeam Tiger was built in 1925 and its design is based on the successful series of Grand Prix winning racing cars made by the Wolverhampton firm.     It was used in motor racing events before and after its successful land speed record attempt in 1926.   The car is powered by a 3,796cc V12 engine based on two of the 6-cylinder Grand Prix engine blocks.  A supercharger is also fitted that takes the power output to over 300bhp.  Transmission is via a four-speed pre-selector gearbox. 

Engine: 3,796cc V12 supercharged 
Power Output: 306bhp 
Manufacturer: Sunbeam Motor Car Company Ltd., Wolverhampton 
Owner: Vijay Mallya