THE BLUEBIRD EXHIBITION

News that the famous Bluebird K7 jet hydroplane is returning to its spiritual home at Coniston has led to a surge in interest in the amazing story of Donald and Malcolm Campbell, and the Lakeland Motor Museum is urging people to find out more about the Campbell speed king dynasty by visiting its own extensive Campbell Bluebird Exhibition.

The stars of the show are full sized replicas of the legendary Bluebird K7 Hydroplane, the 1935 Bluebird car and the 1939 Bluebird K4 powerboat. The exhibition also includes hundreds of pieces of Bluebird memorabilia.

‘Our tribute to Donald Campbell and his father Sir Malcolm Campbell takes you back in time to when big personalities, bravery and technology were pushed to the limit,’ said Chris Lowe, Curator at the Lakeland Motor Museum in Backbarrow. ‘Our exhibition, housed in its own unique building, tells their incredible story with full sized replicas of the vehicles, engine displays, timelines and an audio visual display.’

There’s even a chance to see Bluebird Electric 1 which broke the British speed record for an electric vehicle in 1997 when it hit 116mph. It was developed and driven by Don Wales, the grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell, and later raised the record to 137mph in August 2000. Along with the vehicles famed for speed records, the exhibition also contains more everyday vehicles belonging to the Campbell family. There’s a 1954 Land Rover which was once owned by Donald Campbell, and the main museum also houses a Bentley in Bluebird Blue which Donald Campbell bought in February 1949 – he had a personal St Christopher badge made which is still in position on the dashboard.

The original K7 Bluebird, which was recovered from Coniston Water in 2001 having lain there since the fatal crash in 1967 when Donald Campbell died, will return to the Ruskin Museum in Coniston in the next few weeks.