Napier-Campbell Bluebird
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| Napier-Campbell 'Bluebird II' | |
|---|---|
| Production | one-off (1927) |
| Body style(s) | open-wheel, front-engined racing car. |
| Engine(s) | 22.3 litre W12-block Napier Lion VIIA, 450 hp @ 2,000rpm, 502 hp @ 2,200rpm |
| Transmission(s) | 3-speed epicyclic, ratios of 0.333, 0.666, 1 final drive ratio 1.27:1 |
| Wheelbase | 12ft 1½in, track 5ft 5¼in front, 4ft 9in rear |
| Length | 15ft |
| Curb weight | approx. 3 tons dry |
| Fuel capacity | 15 gallons |
| Related | Campbell-Napier-Railton Bluebird |
| Designer | C. Amherst Viliers |
The Napier-Campbell Bluebird was a land speed record car driven by Malcolm Campbell. Its designer was C. Amherst Viliers and Campbell's regular mechanic Leo Villa supervised its construction. [1]
This was Campbell's first car to use the Napier Lion aero engine. His intention was to surpass his previous Sunbeam Bluebird's achievement of the 150 mph barrier and to reach 200 mph.
Contents |
[edit] 1927
When first built, the car used a Napier Lion engine of around 500 hp. It was of conventional form with a front-mounted vertical radiator and the driver behind the engine. The three banks of the W-12 engine were hidden behind bulges in the narrow bonnet, with exhaust stub pipes protruding. [2] [3]
Bluebird's first record attempt was on 4th February 1927 at Pendine Sands.[2] A peak speed of 195mph was achieved, tantalisingly close to the magic 200mph, but the two-way average recorded for the record itself was lower at 174.88 mph. [4]
[edit] 1928
| Napier-Campbell 'Bluebird III' | |
|---|---|
| Production | one-off (1928), rebuild of the 1927 car. Other details unchanged |
| Engine(s) | 23.948 litre Napier Lion "Sprint", 875 hp at 3,300rpm |
| Transmission(s) | final drive ratio 1.5:1 |
| Length | 18ft |
| Curb weight | 52cwt dry |
| Fuel capacity | 20 gallons |
| Related | Napier-Campbell 'Bluebird II' |
The 1927 record was short-lived, as Segrave's Sunbeam 1000 hp achieved both the 180 mph and 200 mph targets a month later. This prompted Campbell to rebuild the car as 'Bluebird III' for 1928. He persuaded the Air Ministry to allow him a Schneider Trophy-tuned "Sprint" engine, as fitted to the Supermarine S.5 seaplane, of 900 hp.
Improved aerodynamics were innovatively tested in Vickers' wind-tunnel by R.K. Pierson, their Chief Designer. Bluebird’s body shape was substantially changed, with the famous coachbuilders Mulliner carrying out the bodywork. The results were unorthodox. A vertical tail fin was added for stability, a first for Bluebird and land speed record cars. Open spats behind each wheel also reduced drag. The biggest change though was the radiators, which were moved to the rear of the car and mounted externally. [5] These surface radiators were made by Fairey Aviation and contained 2,400ft of tube. [6] Removing the nose radiator allowed a low, rounded nose with better streamlining. [7] However one French newspaper compared its looks to a whale!
Following Segrave to Daytona Beach, on 19th February 1928 Campbell took the record at 206.956 mph, breaking the 200 mph barrier for his first time.[8] Once again though he only held the record for a couple of months, losing it by a whisker to Ray Keech and the White Triplex.
[edit] 1929
Campbell sought a more predictable venue than a tidal beach, so he set off to survey possible sites by air. Africa showed promise, first at a site a mere 600 miles from Timbuctu and so impractically inaccessible. A dry lake bed in South Africa, the Verneuk Pan, was still 450 miles from Cape Town but did have some chance of access. [9]
Bluebird was rebuilt for a third time. The chassis, engine and drivetrain remained the same, but the bodywork was replaced with one built in Dumfries by Arrol Aster.[10] This body was lower, requiring a hump around the cockpit where Campbell now sat astride the gearbox. The surface radiators were replaced by a conventional circular nose opening, covered by a distinctive 'birdcage' grille. [11]
Unfortunately, after a period of five years of no rainfall, it poured down almost as soon as they arrived. Campbell returned to Cape Town, where on his 44th birthday he learnt that Henry Segrave at Daytona Beach had set a new record in Golden Arrow at 231.44 mph. Bluebird was unable to match this at the African altitude and climate, but he made the best use of the long course and set the world 5 mile and 10 miles records at 212 mph. [8]
After Segrave had raised the record in Golden Arrow by a whole 30mph though, Campbell knew that Bluebird was beaten and began work on a new car, the Campbell-Napier-Railton Bluebird.
[edit] References
- ^ Leo Villa (1969). The Record Breakers, Sir Malcolm & Donald Campbell, Land and Water-speed kings of the 20th Century. Hamlyn.
- ^ a b Bluebird at Pendine, showing the radiator and watched by the ubiquitous Freddy Roberts. Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ 1927 Napier-Campbell 'Blue Bird II'. Bluebird team racing.
- ^ Holthusen, Peter J.R. (1986). The Land Speed Record. ISBN 0854294996.
- ^ rear above view of Bluebird III, showing the external radiators. Brooklands photo archive.
- ^ 1928 Napier-Campbell Blue Bird III. Bluebird team racing.
- ^ record-breaking Pendine Sands (photo). Sand Speed Wales.
- ^ a b Sir Malcolm Campbell, biography. Bluebird team racing.
- ^ Verneuk Pan. Bluebird team racing.
- ^ Bluebird, 1929. Racing Campbells.
- ^ The 1929 Bluebird, showing the 'birdcage' grille. Brooklands photo archive.
- record-breaking Pendine Sands (photos). Sand Speed Wales. Many rare period photos.
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