The iconic 1923 Sunbeam 350hp – better known as Blue Bird – will return to Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire on July 21, 2025, to mark the centenary of Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1925 Land Speed Record.
On July 21, 1925, Blue Bird became the first car in history to cross the 150mph threshold on its way to securing the World Land Speed Record, achieving 150.766mph on Pendine Sands in the hands of Sir Malcolm Campbell.
Owned and maintained by the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Blue Bird will be on display outside the Museum of Land Speed from 10am to 5pm. National Motor Museum engineers plan to take the car onto the beach for a static photoshoot and, more excitingly, to fire up its mighty 18.8-litre aero-derived V12 engine.
Earlier this summer, Campbell’s record-breaker won Best of Show at the Heveningham Concours (June 28–29) and was displayed outside the Bluebird Restaurant in Chelsea on July 16. After Pendine, Blue Bird will return to its permanent home at Beaulieu, where it sits alongside the museum’s other Land Speed Record legends: the Sunbeam 1000hp, Golden Arrow and Bluebird CN7.
“We are excited to honour such a landmark World Land Speed Record anniversary with this and other events this year, which will both celebrate its importance in motoring history and provide more opportunities to see Blue Bird.” said National Motor Museum Trust chief executive Jon Murden.
The famous Sunbeam last returned to Pendine Sands in 2015 – the 90th anniversary of Campbell’s record – following a meticulous engine rebuild.
Find out more about the 350bhp Sunbeam and book your tickets to the National Motor Museum here.
Additionally, Blue Bird will join Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 hydroplane on Ullswater, Cumbria, on July 23 to mark the 70th anniversary of his first World Water Speed Record of 202.32mph. K7 will be on the water for static display at Glenridding Pier.
Special steamer sailings will be run on the day. More details from The Ruskin Museum website.
