Land Speed Sunbeam 1000 hp restoration reaches fundraising milestone at National Motor Museum

The Beaulieu National Motor Museum has announced that their Sunbeam 1000hp restoration campaign has achieved a significant milestone of £50,000.

The Museum is currently seeking additional support for the next phase of restoration, in order to achieve its ultimate goal of reviving the sound of the engines and raising £300k. This will fund the restoration of the World Land Speed record car, which will then be taken to Daytona in the USA for a special event commemorating its record-breaking 200 mph attempt in 2027.

Visitor to the Museum can currently view the exposed chassis on display. On January 27th, a special event featuring Beaulieu’s Manager and Chief Engineer Doug Hill and Senior Engineer Ian Stanfield will discuss the restoration process of this remarkable car. The evening will also feature a guest appearance by land speed record holder Richard Noble. All proceeds from the Transport Torque event will support the Sunbeam 1000hp restoration campaign.

The Sunbeam 1000hp Restoration Campaign was kicked off in March by Brookspeed Automotive, based in Hampshire. To increase awareness and garner support for the vehicle’s centennial celebrations and fundraising efforts, it will be taken on a European tour and showcased at various car museums in America. Additionally, schools, colleges, and universities will have the opportunity to participate in STEM workshops and activities.

The Sunbeam, equipped with two 22.5 litre engines that generated 435bhp each, has been out of commission for over 80 years due to internal corrosion caused by World War II. Through meticulous reconstruction, utilizing specialized expertise and custom parts, engineers from the National Motor Museum will revive the nostalgic experience of this pioneering vehicle and safeguard it for future posterity.

Constructed with the sole purpose of surpassing speeds of 200mph, this incredibly potent vehicle was navigated by Major Henry Segrave to earn the title of fastest car on the planet.

With the Campbell centenary this September, I hope that we can all get to see this icon roar again into life.