Sir Henry Seagrave’s famed Sunbeam 1000hp record breaker, which achieved 203.7mph on Daytona Beach in 1927 is to be celebrated at the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The Sunbeam’s restoration was completed just days ahead of it being shipped from its home at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, UK, to the US. On Saturday August 15, those responsible for its restoration will join the Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum line-up in the Concours Village to preview the year of centenary celebrations that will take place in 2027 for the World Land Speed Record car.
The chief executive of the National Motor Museum, Dr Jon Murden, will be joined on stage by the museum’s chief engineer Ian ‘Stan’ Stanfield and Sunbeam project patron Martin Braybrook for a special discussion exploring the story behind one of Britain’s most significant engineering achievements.
The forum, titled ‘Back to the Beach: 100 Years of the Sunbeam 1000hp’ will tell the story of how the 1000 HP Sunbeam was built and its successful 203.7mph World Land Speed Record attempt by Sir Henry Segrave on Daytona Beach in 1927. Ian Stanfield and Martin Braybrook will also outline its restoration, including the rebuild of its two 22.5 litre Matabele V12 aero engines, which once produced 435bhp combined.
On the following day, Sunday August 16, the Sunbeam will headline the Special Curated Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
After Pebble Beach, the Sunbeam will begin a short tour of the US, starring in the Petersen Automotive Museum, LA, from August 19 to January 3, 2027, and at the Motorsports Hall of Fame Daytona Beach, Florida, from January 16 to April 18. The plan is to then run the Sunbeam on Daytona Beach to commemorate the anniversary of the land speed record on March 29, 2027.
We will of course be covering this massive achievement – but if you’re attending Monterey Car Week, don’t miss the forum, which promises to be really special.
Find out more on the Sunbeam here.
