Heritage on the Sands: Blue Bird at Pendine
- The Sticker Queen
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
Just down the road from us lies Pendine Sands, the legendary stretch of beach where motoring history was made. Yesterday, we took some time out to visit this iconic venue, especially as it marked exactly 100 years since Sir Malcolm Campbell etched his name into the record books.
Originally a Sunbeam 350 hp racing machine built by Louis Coatalen’s team around 1920, the car was purchased by Campbell in 1923. He famously painted it in his signature blue livery and christened it Blue Bird.
On 25 September 1924, he set a record of 146.16 mph here at Pendine Sands, then on 21st July 1925 he became the first person to exceed 150 mph, clocking in at 150.76 mph, driving the same car on the same sands.
Campbell went on to claim nine land-speed records, including hitting over 300 mph in 1935 at Bonneville and later picked up water-speed titles too.
A Century Celebration
To commemorate the centennial of that epic 150 mph run, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu brought the original Sunbeam Blue Bird back to Pendine yesterday. While there were no high-speed runs scheduled this week, guests were treated to a static display and a chance to see the 18.3‑litre V‑12 aero-engine up close.
Yesterday, Don Wales, Campbell’s grandson (and speed legend in his own right), piloted the car down the beach, albeit at a more modest pace than his grandfather but the symbolism was unmistakable
The weather was dreadful yesterday but I took Herman for a spin all the same, along with Karl in the 924 and some other Porsches from Laugharne.
We spotted this stunning 911 SC in the car park and had a great chat with the owner, we took the chance to explore the Beach Museum of Land Speed, a must-visit for motorsport fans and rounded off the afternoon with coffee and cake at the lovely Stone Range café - highly recommended!
Living so close to this hallowed ground is a privilege. It’s one thing to read about Campbell’s exploits, quite another to witness the iconic Bluebird return to Pendine.
Link to the Practical Classics video where Don drives Blue Bird
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