Napier-Campbell Bluebird

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Napier-Campbell 'Bluebird II'
related = Campbell-Napier-Railton Bluebird
production = one-off (1927)
body_style = open-wheel, front-engined racing car.
engine = 22.3 litre W12-block Napier Lion VIIA,
450 hp @ 2,000rpm,
502 hp @ 2,200rpm
designer=C. Amherst Viliers
transmission =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
width =
height =
weight =approx. 3 tons dry
fuel_capacity =15 gallonsThe 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. cite book
title=The Record Breakers, Sir Malcolm & Donald Campbell, Land and Water-speed kings of the 20th Century
author=Leo Villa
publisher=Hamlyn
date=1969]

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.

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. cite web
title=Bluebird at Pendine, showing the radiator and watched by the ubiquitous Freddy Roberts
url=http://www.brooklandsarchives.com/Gallery_C3/target22.html
publisher=Brooklands photo archive] cite web
title=1927 Napier-Campbell 'Blue Bird II'
url=http://www.bluebirdteamracing.net/bluebirdsupportersclub/car/1927.html
publisher=Bluebird team racing]

Bluebird's first record attempt was on 4th February 1927 at Pendine Sands.cite web
title=Bluebird at Pendine, setting the 4th Feb record
url=http://www.brooklandsarchives.com/Gallery_C3/target6.html
publisher=Brooklands photo archive] 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. cite book
title=The Land Speed Record
last=Holthusen
first=Peter J.R.
isbn=0854294996
date=1986]

1928

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Napier-Campbell 'Bluebird III'
related = Napier-Campbell 'Bluebird II'
production = one-off (1928),
rebuild of the 1927 car.
Other details unchanged
engine =23.948 litre Napier Lion "Sprint",
875 hp at 3,300rpm
transmission =final drive ratio 1.5:1
length =18ft
weight =52cwt dry
fuel_capacity =20 gallonsThe 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. cite web
title=rear above view of Bluebird III, showing the external radiators
url=http://www.brooklandsarchives.com/Gallery_C3/target33.html
publisher=Brooklands photo archive] These surface radiators were made by Fairey Aviation and contained 2,400ft of tube.cite web
title=1928 Napier-Campbell Blue Bird III
url=http://www.bluebirdteamracing.net/bluebirdsupportersclub/car/1928.html
publisher=Bluebird team racing] Removing the nose radiator allowed a low, rounded nose with better streamlining. cite web
title=record-breaking Pendine Sands
url=http://www.sandspeedwales.co.uk/mediac/400_0/media/Bluebird-1928-Daytona.jpg
publisher=Sand Speed Wales
format=photo] 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.cite web
title=Sir Malcolm Campbell, biography
url=http://www.bluebirdteamracing.net/bluebirdsupportersclub/peo/mc.html
publisher=Bluebird team racing] 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.

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. cite web
title=Verneuk Pan
url=http://www.bluebirdteamracing.net/bluebirdsupportersclub/pla/verneuk.html
publisher=Bluebird team racing]

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.cite web
title=Bluebird, 1929
url=http://www.racingcampbells.com/content/cars.asp#1929
publisher=Racing Campbells] 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.cite web
title=The 1929 Bluebird, showing the 'birdcage' grille
url=http://www.brooklandsarchives.com/Gallery_C3/target17.html
publisher=Brooklands photo archive]

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.

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.

References

* cite web
title=record-breaking Pendine Sands
url=http://www.sandspeedwales.co.uk/5907.html
publisher=Sand Speed Wales
format=photos Many rare period photos.