The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, in Hampshire, has launched a campaign to return its Sunbeam 1000hp land speed car to Daytona Beach, Florida, in 2027, for the centenary of its record-breaking run.
Major Henry Segrave averaged 203.79mph over one mile in the purpose-built Sunbeam, also known as ‘The Slug’, on 29 March 1927 in front of around 30,000 spectators.
The Sunbeam 1000hp Restoration Campaign aims to raise £300,000 to restore the Sunbeam’s two 22.5-litre V12 aero engines before it runs in Florida in four years.
‘The Slug’ was the first car to break the 200mph barrier
The Sunbeam was built with one purpose: to break the 200mph barrier. But now it has been more than half a century since ‘The Slug’ was last fired up, and both its engines have been damaged by corrosion.
Ian Stanfield, senior engineer at the National Motor Museum, is in the early stages of stripping down the Sunbeam, which has been on display at the museum since 1958, but more money is needed to complete the restoration.
‘The Slug’ will tour museums and events across the world to raise awareness of the campaign and money for the project.
The National Motor Museum’s senior engineer, Ian Stanfield (right), has started stripping down the Sunbeam, pictured here with one of the carburettors
