Sunbeam 1000hp History
One hundred years ago England was on the verge of a new era.
Technology was moving forward and the pursuit of speed was making the headlines. In the Midlands town of Wolverhampton, the Sunbeam factory was preparing a beast of a vehicle that was purpose-built to challenge the World Land Speed Record.
Three brave drivers fought for the title of fastest – beaches in Wales and England saw Malcolm Campbell, J. G. Parry-Thomas and Baltimore born Major Henry Segrave risk their lives driving on the edge, now a beach in the USA was the only option to prove that man could go faster.
Massive aero-engines given a new life
The Sunbeam was to be powered by two huge Sunbeam Matabele aircraft engines that were in storage at the factory, having already led rather eventful lives. Built in 1918, but surplus to requirements when World War I ended, in 1920 they were placed in a hydroplane competing in an international powerboat race off the Isle of Wight and the following year in another race in Detroit. The boat’s fragile hull gave way and the boat sank. The waterlogged motors were recovered, returned to Britain and sat in Sunbeam’s Moorfield works until chief engineer, designer and Managing Director Louis Coatalen and Henry Segrave saw their potential for a record-breaking vehicle.
‘Jack’ Irving and Coatalen’s concept
The concept for the car saw one engine in the forward position and another placed behind the cockpit, with transmission via a three-speed gearbox and chain final drive. The bodywork was designed to be like an upturned boat which was to improve its aerodynamics.
The firm’s chief engineer Captain J. A. ‘Jack’ Irving, put Coatalen’s concept together, combining a chassis frame made by John Thompson Motor Pressings, steel forgings produced by Vickers, specially built Hartford shock absorbers and a Dewandre Vacuum servo braking system.
Rolled out of the Sunbeam works
Wind-tunnel tests completed on 2 March 1927 — less than four months after construction started on 11 November 1926 — and the car, along with 18 crates of spares, was loaded on the Cunard liner Berengaria in Southampton, bound for New York.
Daytona
When the car, driver and Sunbeam entourage arrived in Florida, they were met with a flurry of press, escorted by the local police and feted by Daytona Beach dignitaries.
The huge red machine rolled out for its first test run on March 21 in front of an estimated 10,000 spectators.
The fastest car on the planet
Tests completed, and problems overcome, at 9:30 am on March 29, the impressive car rolled out onto the Daytona sands, where the waiting press snapped photographs of car and driver. The engines roared and Segrave rolled out onto the beach track, and the run began.
He motored through the measured mile only to be pushed off course, but Segrave brought the monster vehicle back under control. The brakes failed and realising that the beach was running out fast, Segrave pulled the Sunbeam left into the sea, steering for the shallows. He slowed the car enough for him to drive under control back to the north end of the beach.
New tyres were fitted before he started on the return leg, his thunderous drive was successful.
A new World Land Speed Record
Segrave's average of 203.79mph for the mile made him the fastest man on the planet and the Sunbeam 1000hp had broken the World Land Speed Record.
Worldwide Fame
The press, in both America and Great Britain, went wild. On its return to Britain, it was displayed in the shopfront of Selfridges department store in London, and there were demonstration runs at both Brooklands and Monthlery circuits, before its return to Wolverhampton.
The Sunbeam arrives at Beaulieu
In 1958, the Montagu Motor Museum at Beaulieu received the Sunbeam on loan from the Rootes Group, and in 1970 when the National Motor Museum was established and prior to the present building being completed the iconic car was acquired by Lord Montagu at auction for the museum with the assistance of the Rootes Group.
The Sunbeam 1000hp alongside the Golden Arrow at the opening of the National Motor Museum in 1972
The car sat proudly at the heart of the National Motor Museum’s World Land Speed Record breakers display, alongside other World Land Speed Record breakers; Sunbeam 350hp, Golden Arrow and Bluebird CN7.
Restoration
National Motor Museum Senior Engineer Ian Stanfield and his team started work to strip down the rear engine of Sunbeam 1000hp, to discover the true extent of corrosion damage. After quiet years of investigation and steady restoration a campaign was launched to bring the Sunbeam 1000hp back to life as well as introduce a whole new generation to an extraordinary feat of engineering and part of Anglo-American heritage. The Museum made the decision to return the car to fully running condition—and send it back to Daytona Beach on the 100th anniversary of its World Land Speed Record run, in March 2027.
Engines restored
Three years of extensive restoration has seen both rear and front engines stripped, keeping everything as original as possible. Extensive work to strip, clean and restore the colossal 22.5 litre Matabele V12 aero engines, which once produced 435bhp to break the 200mph barrier. Parts that were weakened over time —valve springs, piston rings, brake linings – and other parts that were either missing or damaged have been replaced. Makers’ marks were found when the chassis pressure-washed before soda-blasting. Unpainted parts were cleaned with a laser process, and other components were made from scratch. The compressed air starting mechanism for the engine had been lost over time, and another was recreated.
The fastest screwdriver on earth!
Other fascinating links back to the car’s construction were found. A 1921 shilling and an adjustable spanner were discovered embedded in thick oil on the suspension. When the oil tank was cleaned engineers discovered that the oil had solidified, but after a bit of shaking a vintage screwdriver eventually tipped out. The Museum engineers now claim it to be the first 200mph screwdriver!
Return to the USA 100 years on
The car with its distinctive bodywork emblazed with the flags of the United Kingdom and the United States will be make it post-restoration debut in the Headline Special Curated Class at the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Its display at the event will celebrate this symbol of great British endeavour and engineering, a significant piece of Anglo-American history, a step forward in motoring development and dynamics, and a remarkable story of courage and achievement.
On 29 March 2027, exactly 100 years after Segrave’s run, the car will once again thunder down Daytona Beach. It won’t be a repeat of the 203mph record, to preserve both the driver and this piece of motoring heritage — but the unique spectacle of hearing this leviathan roar again on the very sands where it made history, will be an experience not to miss.
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