THE NEW "BLUEBIRD"

Press, Volume C, Issue 29679, 24 November 1961, Page 11

THE NEW "BLUEBIRD"

A BOVE are outlines of the new “Bluebird” car in which Mr Donald Campbell is to make another attempt on the world land speed record next year. The car is nearing completion in Coventry, and the attempt will probably be made on the salt flats at Lake Eyre. Southern Australia, between May and July. Basically the car is similar to the one in which Mr Campbell made an attempt on the record in September, 1980, but a number of modifications have been made. The most important of these is the addition of a tail fin, which it is felt will give greater stability at high speeds. Shaped in aerofoil section, and standing 7ft Bin off the ground, the fin has been designed in sectional construe-

tion so that one or more sections can be easily removed during preliminary trials if it is found necessary to compromise between the extra stability on one hand and the amount of drag caused by the fin on the other.

The fin can also be completely removed from the car if necessary. Other small modifications have been made to bring the centre of gravity further towards the front of the car. The batteries, originally at the rear, have now been fitted to each side of the body structure forward of the front wheels.

The port fuel tank has been dispensed with and the starboard tank capacity increased, so the car will still carry 25 gallons of fuel. One important modification has been to the bulkheads on either side of the engine compartment to provide space for the stowage of ancillary equipment. The new cockpit canopy is thicker and made of glass-fibre instead of perspex.

To avoid the possibility of wheelspin slewing the vehicle to one side the differentials in the gearboxes have been locked.