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Topic starter
18/12/2021 11:08 am
The 1929 LSR "Golden Arrow" was also known as the "Irving-Napier Special". The "Irving" was from designer-builder John Samuel Irving who left Sunbeam's LSR program to pursue his passion. "Napier" was for the Napier Lion ll 23.9 liter 925 hp W 12 aircraft engine. It was built for and driven by ex-Sunbeam racing driver, Major Henry Segrave. It was shipped to Daytona, Florida to attempt a land speed record. On its first and only run it achieved a record. The car was clocked at 231 mph which was 24 mph above the prior record. They felt the car was capable of 174 mph but the Dunlap tires were only warranted for 250 mph. Further runs were planned, but a fatal accident by another entrant stopped the trials and the car was shipped back to England. Before the next Daytona event, Segrave was killed while setting a water speed record.
The model's box art replicates the shipping crate used to transport the car back to England.
18/12/2021 12:46 pm
Another great photo series and post Rich. Love the model. I assume this one was from Bizarre.
Topic starter
18/12/2021 12:52 pm
Another great photo series and post Rich. Love the model. I assume this one was from Bizarre.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right.
18/12/2021 1:09 pm
It is Bizarre No. B1008, issued in 2015.
18/12/2021 1:38 pm
Since the body contours show they obviously knew something about streamlining, I wonder why on earth they didn't fair in the front wheels to cut the aerodynamic churn. I think grand prix cars of the day had to have exposed wheels, but not LSR cars, surely? Or maybe it was to keep those speed-limited tyres cool.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
Topic starter
18/12/2021 5:42 pm
@graeme-ogg The engine had no radiator so the open wheels directed airflow to the engine. They planned to cool the engine with ice, but it seemed it wasn't necessary.
18/12/2021 6:13 pm
Just a word of thanks to all those who have shared their models, photos, and expertise about this older Golden Arrow. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your posts. Just great!
David H
18/12/2021 7:43 pm
@d-m-holcombe There was also a Western Models version in white metal. Western did a lot of LSR models, I still have their 1927 Sunbeam.
BTW, I saw the 1:1s on display at the Beaulieu museum in the UK in 1981.
David Green and David Green reacted
18/12/2021 10:41 pm
That's an incredibly cool model of the Golden Arrow LSR.