The National Motor Museum has announced the first public start-up of Sunbeam 1000hp to hear the World Land Speed Record breaker roar for the first time in 90 years, after the rebuild of its rear engine. The much-anticipated start-up follows years of work to strip, clean and restore the colossal 22.5 litre Matabele V12 aero engine, which once produced 435bhp to break the 200mph barrier and make … [Read more...]
‘Pitch Up and Carry On’… Exhibition at the National Motor Museum will explore and celebrate the role of caravans during the Second World War
The National Motor Museum tells us: All words from the National Motor Museum; all photographs in the exhibition from the Museum and © Courtesy of Caravan magazine and Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection The Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, in partnership with the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, are to present Pitch Up and Carry On, a new exhibition opening 13 September 2025 … [Read more...]
Historic motoring anniversary celebrated as National Motor Museum takes Sunbeam 350hp Blue Bird to Wales
The National Motor Museum took the iconic Sunbeam 350hp vehicle to Pendine in Carmarthenshire, Wales on Monday 21st July to celebrate the centenary anniversary of its World Land Speed Record in 1925. In a separate report for Wheels-Alive (and also available from earlier today on this website), Robin Roberts described the event from his perspective, and what follows here is the story of this … [Read more...]
Limited edition ultra-luxury Bentley goes on display at the National Motor Museum
The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is hosting a special time-limited spotlight display of the Bentley Batur built by Mulliner, the bespoke and special vehicle division. With a limited production run of just 18 coupés and 16 convertibles, the Batur is the most powerful non-hybrid assisted Bentley ever built. The Museum tells us: (Photograph and words from The National Motor Museum). This … [Read more...]
National Motor Museum to take Sunbeam 350hp Blue Bird to Wales for the World Land Speed Record centenary
The National Motor Museum is taking the iconic Sunbeam 350hp vehicle to Pendine in Carmarthenshire, Wales to celebrate the centenary anniversary of its World Land Speed Record in 1925. The Museum tells us: (Photograph and all words from The National Motor Museum). The car christened ‘Blue Bird’ by its driver Sir Malcolm Campbell MBE, was the first to exceed 150 mph (240 km/h). The World … [Read more...]
Nigel Mansell portrait by renowened artist Anthony Lawrence donated to the National Motor Museum
Nigel Mansell portrait arrives at The National Motor Museum... They tell us: (Photograph and all words from The National Motor Museum). A portrait of the 1992 Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell has been gifted to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu by the family of the artist, Anthony Lawrence who died in 2022. The oil portrait was originally painted in 1992 for the front cover of … [Read more...]
National Motor Museum – Formula One 75th Anniversary Exhibition
Chris Adamson reports… (All words and photographs by and © Chris Adamson). A new exhibition to mark 75 years since the inaugural Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship in 1950 is set to be opened to the public at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu on Saturday 24 May. Ahead of the public unveiling, Wheels-Alive was given a sneak look under the covers as the final finishing touches were … [Read more...]
Icons of Formula 1 take to the National Motor Museum stage, Beaulieu
The National Motor Museum tells us: (Photograph and all words from The National Motor Museum). A chance to experience the thrill of Formula 1 and celebrate the legendary icons of speed will be on offer at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu this season. From the 24th May until 2nd November 2025 a new special display at the Museum will mark 75 years since the inaugural Formula 1 World … [Read more...]
The National Motor Museum launches a new dynamic website
The brakes are off for a new look National Motor Museum website... They tell us: (Photograph and all words from The National Motor Museum). The National Motor Museum has launched a brand-new website to enable motoring enthusiasts and history buffs world-wide to discover the story of motoring in Britain. The new look website – www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk - reflects the Museum’s new … [Read more...]
National Motor Museum engineers complete the rebuild of the Sunbeam 1000hp record breaker’s rear engine
Sunbeam 1000hp milestone as National Motor Museum engineers complete the rear engine rebuild... The Museum tells us: (All words and photographs from The National Motor Museum). In a landmark stage of the Sunbeam 1000hp restoration, National Motor Museum engineers have almost completed the rebuild of its rear engine after years of work to strip, clean and restore it. Sunbeam had only run … [Read more...]
Students restore a Hillman Super Minx to its former glory and are presented with award certificates
Young mechanics presented with award certificates at the National Motor Museum, for classic Super Minx restoration... The Museum tells us... (All words from The National Motor Museum; photographs ©National Motor Museum/ Adrian Pennells ). Lord Montagu of Beaulieu has presented award certificates at the National Motor Museum to students who successfully participated in the Mechanix course … [Read more...]
National Motor Museum grant from the Wolfson Foundation will help towards transforming the museum
The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, tells us: (Photograph and all words from the National Motor Museum). The Wolfson Foundation has awarded a £75,000 grant to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. The Museum will use the funding towards the cost of refurbishing the ground floor galleries - transforming the entrance and welcome, and to develop a new Ages of Motoring gallery. The Wolfson … [Read more...]
Sunbeam 1000hp record breaker restoration continues at The National Motor Museum
Despite hurdles galore, the restoration team at the National Motor Museum are making headway with the Sunbeam 1000hp. They tell us... (All words and photographs from The National Motor Museum). Cracked brake drum and sourcing new tyres and chains are the latest challenges for Sunbeam 1,000hp restorers... National Motor Museum engineers piece together newly restored parts, … [Read more...]
Patrons of The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu present Young Pioneer Award to Dorset-based car club entrepreneur
Zander Miller from Dorset has been presented with the 2024 Young Pioneer Award, bestowed upon him by the Museum's One Hundred Club... The National Motor Museum tells us: (Photograph and all words from The National Motor Museum). Twenty-one-year-old Zander Miller from Verwood has organised several large car meets across the south, all boasting some of the finest vehicles on the … [Read more...]
National Motor Museum honoured to win the Royal Automobile Club Museum & Collections Award
The National Museum tells us: (Photograph and all words from The National Motor Museum). The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu won the ultimate prestigious accolade of Museums & Collections of the Year in the 2024 Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards. The trophy was presented to Dr Jon Murden, the Museum's Chief Executive, at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London. … [Read more...]
Anthony Hamilton to celebrate TR2 recommission and partial restoration at the Classic Motor Show, NEC
The National Motor Museum tells us: (Photograph and all words from The National Motor Museum). Anthony Hamiliton, father to the seven-time Formula One drivers’ champion Lewis Hamilton, is to visit the National Motor Museum’s stand at the Classic Motor Show this week to celebrate his team’s skilled restoration of a 1954 Triumph TR2. The car was bequeathed by Mr D A Simes to the Beaulieu … [Read more...]
Donated Land Speed Record Sunbeam 1000hp artwork on display at The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
The National Motor Museum tells us... (Image and all words from The National Motor Museum). Innovative artwork by a renowned automotive artist Richard Neergaard has gone on permanent display at the National Motor Museum. The artwork features the Sunbeam 1000hp Land Speed Record vehicle and has been donated to the Museum by Richard to support current efforts to restore the iconic … [Read more...]
National Motor Museum engineers commence engine rebuild to bring Sunbeam 1000hp back to life
The Sunbeam 1000hp's unique engine is being rebuilt by National Motor Museum engineers... The National Motor Museum tells us: (All words and images from The National Motor Museum). Everything on Sunbeam 1,000hp was bespoke, apart from its two colossal 22.5 litre Matabele V12 aero engines which were spare parts from Sunbeam’s works – and neither has run for more than 80 … [Read more...]
National Motor Museum volunteer to take on 800 mile motorcycle tour in aid of charity
National Motor Museum volunteer Peter Driver will soon set off on an around Nbritain motorcycle ride in aid of the charity 'Mind'... The National Motor Museum tells us: (All words and photographs from Peter Driver/The National Motor Museum). Peter Driver, a volunteer with the National Motor Museum workshop, will be heading off from Beaulieu on September 4th on an 800-mile ride … [Read more...]
Iconic dragster powered up at National Motor Museum, ahead of anniversary build-up
In the build-up to the 60th anniversary of the British National Drag Racing Festival, The National Museum powers up an iconic machine... They tell us: (All words and images from The National Motor Museum). In preparation for the 60th Anniversary of British International Drag Racing Festival this year, the National Motor Museum have been preparing an iconic Allard Chrysler Dragster … [Read more...]