Campbell-Napier-Railton Bluebird

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Campbell-Napier-Railton Bluebird
related = Napier-Campbell Bluebird
Campbell-Railton Bluebird
production = one-off (1931)
body_style = open-wheel, front-engined land speed record car.
engine = 1,450 hp 23.9 litre supercharged Napier Lion VIID W12
designer=Reid Railton
manufacturer=Thomson & Taylor, bodywork by Gurney Nutting
wheelbase = 12ft 2in, track 5ft 4in front, 4ft 2in rear
length =25ft
weight =71cwtThe Campbell-Napier-Railton Bluebird was a land speed record car driven by Malcolm Campbell.

After Segrave's Golden Arrow, clearly a more powerful engine was required for Bluebird, with a chassis and transmission to handle it. A supercharged Napier Lion VIID was used, with over three times the power of the previous Bluebird and a large premium over Golden Arrow's unsupercharged 900 hp Lion VIIA. This was the first use of supercharging for . Golden Arrow's innovative vertical aerodynamic stabilising fin was also used, a first for Campbell.

Campbell's nemesis Segrave was killed in an attempt on the water speed record whilst Campbell was scouting for new record courses in South Africa. On his return he set off for Daytona with the new Bluebird, concerned at American challenges to the record. Segrave had, after all, at least been British. On 5th February 1931 he pushed the record to 246 mph, to great popular acclaim. On his return he learned he was to be knighted as Sir Malcolm Campbell. A year later he returned and pushed through to 251 mph. This record stood for another year, until he himself broke it with his next car, the Campbell-Railton Bluebird.cite book
title=The Land Speed Record
last=Holthusen
first=Peter J.R.
isbn=0854294996
date=1986]

References

* cite web
title=Bluebird, 1931
url=http://www.sirmalcolmcampbell.com/sir31.html
* cite web
title=Bluebird in the workshop at Brooklands
url=http://www.brooklandsarchives.com/Gallery_C3/target39.html
publisher=Brooklands photo archive
format=photo
* cite web
title=Engine and chassis in the workshops, bodywork removed
url=http://www.brooklandsarchives.com/Gallery_C3/target29.html
publisher=Brooklands photo archive
format=photo
* 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.
* cite web
title=1931 Bluebird
url=http://www.bluebirdteamracing.net/bluebirdsupportersclub/car/1931.html