Campbell-Napier Blue Bird 1927 (Blue Bird II)

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.

The 450 horse-power Napier-Campbell was a masterpiece of machinery, built without regard to cost, it afforded no compromise in design or engineering, a car bred from the single-mindedness and perfection demanded by Malcolm Campbell.
Fitted with Napier Lion engines, it would take the land speed record an amazing four times, and when modified and re-powered as the Rolls-Royce Campbell, it would take out the record a further three times, putting the speed up during its reign from Parry Thomas's 171.02 mph, to a shattering 301.13.
The chassis was built at the K.L.G. sparking plug factory with strong and deep side members made from nickel steel, with four tubular cross-members. It was an orthodox chassis frame, but bigger and stronger than others.
Power came from the 12-cylinder Napier Lion engine, which was in three banks, the outer ones at 60 degrees to the vertical centre one. Peak power was 500 horsepower at 2,200 rpm. Each cylinder had two spark plugs.
The clutch had 16 plates driving to an epicyclic gearbox unit with the rear axle, the final drive being 1.27 to 1.
A safety factor was that the steering was duplicated, with a separate steering box and drop-arm for each front wheel. The body was a single-seater closely enveloping the mechanical parts. The gear lever and handbrake were mounted outside the body.

The famous "Blue Bird" name originated when Malcolm Campbell, already a successful automobile racer at Brooklands, was inspired by Maeterlinck's play "The Blue Bird of Happiness". He went to his local hardware shop and bought up all the blue paint he could to paint his car. With paint still wet, the car won two races at Brooklands and a legend was born.

This was the first car specifically built as a land speed record breaker. Powered by a Napier Lion 450-hp Broad Arrow engine, with three banks of four cylinders, the chassis was initially by Amherst Villiers, later Joseph Maina took over the mechanical design. It was built partly at the Robin Hood Engineering Works at Kingston, Surrey and partly at Povey Cross, Campbell's home. First trials were in January 1927, first record at Pendine Sands in Wales on 4th February, 1927. His speed was 174.88 mph.

NEW ALL BRITISH SPEED CAR

Title: "New All-British Speed Car. The Napier Campbell ... designed to compete World honours ... is expected to do 3 miles a minute!"
M/S of a parked racing car - the bonnet has been removed so we can see the engine. M/S of the same car, six men are gathered around it, some fiddle with the engine (look like mechanics). C/U of a man in a trilby and a man in a flat cap examine the steering wheel. M/S of the driving seat and the steering wheel. C/U of the radiator grill.
M/S of the car - the bonnet has been replaced, showing the body to be futuristically curvy and aerodynamic. C/U of the six men posing with the car, another man sits in the driving seat. C/U of a man sitting in the driving seat on the car - he looks quite smartly dressed, not a mechanic, one of the designers, perhaps?

NEW ALL BRITISH SPEED CAR

Full title missing. According to issue sheet it should read: "New All-British Speed Car. The Napier-Cambell - designed to compete world honours - is expected to do 3 miles a minute".
Surrey.
M/S of group of mechanics / engineers fiddling inside bonnet of racing car. C/U of two men looking at instruments on dashboard. M/S of racing car with outer shell removed, revealing engine. M/S of racing car, with smooth, aerodynamic shell on, pan to show older racing car next to it. M/S of new and old cars parked next to each other.
M/S of little boy in pedal car (probably young Donald Campbell) driving between old and new cars, his mother and father (Malcolm Campbell) join him. The father encourages the boy to 'fix' his car using a big wrench. Various shots of team of mechanics / engineers fiddling with car - they remove outer shell and fiddle with engine. M/S of Malcolm Campbell sitting in driving seat of car. Various shots of car, with Campbell behind wheel and line of mechanics in background. More shots of repair work being made to car. More shots of car, with and without outer shell.

BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME

Item title reads: "Better Luck Next Time ! Capt. Campbell, after attaining 135 miles an hour in first try out of his Napier-Campbell 450 h.p. 'Bluebird' has to abandon attempt owing to defect in gear box."
Pendine Sands, Glamorgan, South Wales
Crowds have gathered outside the garage where the record breaking 'Bluebird' is housed. A group of men push the car outside. Malcolm Campbell is at the wheel. A man in white overalls - an engineer, runs up to give an extra push. The crowds stand back and admire, but no action today.

BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME

Titles read: 'Pendine - Better luck next time! Capt. Campbell, after attaining 135 miles an hour in first try out of his "Napier-Campbell 450 hp "Bluebird", has to abandon attempt, owing to defect in gear box.'
Wales.
M/S of people standing on walls outside motor garage. Pan left to show the 'Bluebird' being pushed out by mechanics and crew. People follow the car.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED

Item title reads: "If at first you don't succeed. Captain Campbell breaks all World's records in his Napier "Bluebird" covering a mile in 20.66 seconds."
Pendine Sands, Wales
M/S crowd around Bluebird including Campbell and his engineer,.
Repeat shot, followed by L/S on sands on a wet day with Bluebird speeding left to right then right to left. The crowd mass around the car. L/S of sands, with the conditions looking drier, and the car races across again. M/S group of cars and the press. C/U of the official timekeepers vehicle. Repeat shot of Campbell and his engineer by the car, with crowds around.
Note: record breaking run.

WORLD'S RECORD BROKEN (aka CAPTAIN CAMPBELL AT PENDINE)

Titles read: 'Pendine Sands - World's Record Broken. Capt. Malcolm Campbell in his 450hp Napier "Bluebird" succeeds after many attempts and hairbreadth escapes.'
Wales.
Several shots of the 'Bluebird' racing car zooming along the beach. In a stationary car we see a man looking at tickertape. More of the car racing along at great speed. M/S of Malcolm Campbell with a group of mechanics around the car - he looks somewhat harassed. M/Ss of the car surrounded by a group of people. Campbell stands beside it.