1933 Blue Bird Replica

[Phil UK]

American muscian Nas has recently released a picture of himself alongside what appears to be a replica of Sir Malcolm Campbell's 1933 Blue Bird car. Is the replica for real or just a "Photoshop" image? Anyone have any info?

Phil

[sabat]

I'm not a pro, but that looks like Photoshop to me.

[kiwi belly tank]

The car appears to have a modern tyre on it, compare that to the current Bluebird condition, that might help you.
  Sid.

[Crackerman]

I could find no pictures anywhere of that angle. Aside from the fact that any pictures were from 1933 and poor quality. It might be a replica (sweet!) or a computer model. The 1935 and later model is still kicking around if i am not mistaken.

Also, in the rear view picture Wikipedia has on file, notice what looks like the large vertical tailfin not ending in the center of the vehicle. It swoops to the right a significant amount on the way towards the back. Has this been talked about before? I just wonder how he decided he needed that much "yaw" to go straight.

[mtkawboy]

Years back I think that car was in the Daytona Nascar Museum. I remember seeing what I think was it and it was a monster in size

[PorkPie]

nothing to do with yaw....

when they switched in 1933 to a new, bigger engine.....the engine, driveline, differential makes it necessary to move the driver position to the side....so they moved the cockpit and tailfin complete to the side....in the 1935 version is the same...also here is the driver and tailfin position not centered.
The 35 version was the final shape which starts in 1927....

I could find no pictures anywhere of that angle. Aside from the fact that any pictures were from 1933 and poor quality. It might be a replica (sweet!) or a computer model. The 1935 and later model is still kicking around if i am not mistaken.

Also, in the rear view picture Wikipedia has on file, notice what looks like the large vertical tailfin not ending in the center of the vehicle. It swoops to the right a significant amount on the way towards the back. Has this been talked about before? I just wonder how he decided he needed that much "yaw" to go straight.

[Crackerman]

http://www.brooklandsarchives.co.uk/Gallery_C3/target8.html

I see it now. It is an optical illusion that i was seeing. 
Still a beautiful piece of machinery, 80 years old and still impressive.

[wobblywalrus]

In my hand now is a book by Malcolm Campbell "Thirty Years of Speed."  That car closely resembles the ones shown in the old pictures, but not exactly.  There are small differences.  My bet is it is a restoration or replica. 

[PorkPie]

no restoration, because the 1935 car is the 1933 car....as I wrote, the 35 was the final version of the 1927....different engineers redesigned the racer over the years...using all the time same chassis....which got the necessary modification, too....bigger, more powerful engine, new kind of drivelines and differentials....so. when they got in 1933 another power unit, the driver had to be moved to the side....

so, over all this years there is only this one car...the 1935...who normally got his home in Daytona, FLA...currently on display in Beaulieu, England, side by side to the other two Blue Bird record cars....Malcolm's first one, which was originally the  350 hp Sunbeam and Donald's Blue Bird CN7 from the Australian record.

In my hand now is a book by Malcolm Campbell "Thirty Years of Speed."  That car closely resembles the ones shown in the old pictures, but not exactly.  There are small differences.  My bet is it is a restoration or replica. 

[Phil UK]

The 1935 Blue Bird car, which as Pork Pie points out is a development of the 1933 car, appeared at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK so it's not possible that the vehicle in Nas' pic is a restoration. At most it's a new replica which no one has ever seen before or more likely it's simply a very clever image.

Pic attached from the FoS, more available on the Speed Record Club's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.656208857742162.1073741832.359703307392720&type=3

Phil

[wobblywalrus]

The fenders and sides more closely resemble the earlier versions of the Blue Bird shown in Campbell's book.  It would be interesting if there is an authentic replica out there somewhere.  That car must have made some fine noise.

[Phil UK]

Mystery solved!

This is indeed a powered replica created for a drinks commercial, full story here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ8937mC4P4

Phil

[kiwi belly tank]

Phil, You did good Mate.
I'm sure they don't realise that even today there are a lot of people around the world driven with the same passion to achieve more speed with their creations. Some with endless money, some with none.
  Sid.

[Phil UK]

Thanks Sid though I can't take credit for the find, I have some very good friends on Facebook. It is nice to see Sir Malcolm being remembered in this way though, brings historical speed record breaking to a whole new audience!

Regards,
Phil