
3 4 c m
40cm
actual image size: 32cm x 26cm
Description
On 17th July 1964, Donald Campbell (1921-1967) claimed the world land speed record at Lake Eyre, Australia, driving this gas turbine-powered Bluebird-Proteus car. Averaging a speed of 403.1 mph (648.8 kph), he achieved the only such record to be set outside the United States in recent times. Bluebird cost £1 million to build and was powered by a 4250 bhp Bristol-Siddeley Proteus gas turbine engine. In 1967, Campbell was killed on Coniston Water in Cumbria attempting to become the first to reach 300 mph on water.
Image Details
Image Ref.
10321262
© Science Museum / Science & Society Picture Library