Napier-Campbell Blue Bird

Napier-Campbell 'Bluebird II'
Overview
Productionone-off (1927)
DesignerC. Amherst Villiers
Body and chassis
Body styleopen-wheel, front-engined racing car.
RelatedCampbell-Napier-Railton Blue Bird
Powertrain
Engine22.3 litre W12-block Napier Lion VIIA,
450 hp @ 2,000 rpm,
502 hp @ 2,200 rpm
Transmission3-speed epicyclic, ratios of 0.333, 0.666, 1
final drive ratio 1.27:1
Dimensions
Wheelbase12 ft 1.5 in (3.696 m), track 5 ft 5.25 in (1.6574 m) front, 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) rear
Length18 ft (5.5 m)
Curb weightapprox. 3 tons dry

The Napier-Campbell Blue Bird was a land speed record car driven by Malcolm Campbell. Its designer was C. Amherst Villiers 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 Blue Bird's achievement of the 150 mph barrier and to reach 200 mph.

  1. ^ Leo Villa (1969). The Record Breakers, Sir Malcolm & Donald Campbell, Land and Water-speed kings of the 20th century. Hamlyn.