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NEWS
Campbell's enduring 350hp Sunbeam lives again
A nearly century old record setting classic gets the restoration treatmentA vintage 350hp Sunbeam has been brought back to life after almost 50 years of laying dormant. The 350hp Sunbeam was produced over a two year period beginning in 1919 and this particular 350hp Sunbeam, once owned by Sir Malcolm Campbell, managed to break the world land speed record an astounding three times in the 1920s.
Powered by an 18.322-litre V12 engine, similar to the ones used on naval seaplanes, the 350hp Sunbeam hit the record setting speed of 215.25km/h driven by Kenelm Lee Guinness – he of spark plug fame – in 1922. The car was then passed onto Campbell, who painted the car its distinct blue colour and guided it on to reach 235.22km/h in 1924 and 242.62km/h in 1925, cementing its legendary status in the annals of motoring history.
The car was then sold to a number of different owners, most notably of which was renowned musician Billy Cotton, who drove the Sunbeam at the Southport Speed Trials in 1936. After Harold Pratley purchased the car in 1944, he loaned it to Rootes Ltd (successors to the Sunbeam Company), who cosmetically restored the car to use for promotional purposes.
In 1957, the 350hp Sunbeam ended up with Lord Montagu, who continued the restoration work and put it on display at the Montagu Motor Museum in the UK. It continued to travel around Europe for several years, and in 1962 Lord Montagu took it on a three-lap run at the British Automobile Racing Club Festival of Motoring at Goodwood. Montagu was even gracious enough to allow Sir Malcolm Campbell’s son, Donald, drive the Sunbeam in a lap of honour.
The 350hp Sunbeam returned to Montagu (by then operating as the National Motor Museum) in 1972, where it remained on permanent display. It then received a repaint and wheel rebuild in 1987, before being test fired in 1993 to assess the Sunbeam’s condition. However, the test fire went awry when blocked oil caused the engine to seize and eject a con rod through the side of the crank case, damaging the crank shaft and three pistons and valves.
However, it wasn’t until 2007 when the National Motor Museum’s workshop team decided to assess the damage, with a view to rebuild it, that the extent of the destruction was revealed.
The Sunbeam Talbot Darracq Register was contacted to assist in finding parts and help with specialist work for the rebuild, but it was still a huge endeavour. The rebuild took approximately 2000 hours, and relied heavily on volunteer work and donations by specialist suppliers.
“This project has been a long-running labour of love for the whole team and such has been their passion that many have dedicated hours of their own time to get the job done. There is huge satisfaction in seeing it finally completed,” said Doug Hill, National Motor Museum’s Chief Engineer.
However, not all work has been completed. Research on the original gearbox is still underway as the Sunbeam factory was destroyed, along with all original drawings and records, during the WWII bombings.
Andrea Bishop, Director of Collections at the museum, said that “to know the 350hp Sunbeam is whole again, and to hear its tremendous roar after all those years of silence, is absolutely thrilling. I wish Doug and his team well, in realising their aspirations to undertake the next phase of work to recreate the gearbox.”
The 350hp Sunbeam will once again be placed on display at the National Motor Museum, but not before being seen, and most definitely heard, at the Retromobile class car show in Paris early next month.
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Written byTung Nguyen
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