Rare Car Archive

Makes › Sunbeam United Kingdom › Tiger › Tiger (V12 record car) · Historically significant · 1925

Sunbeam
Tiger (V12 record car)

Segrave's 1926 LSR car

Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

Sunbeam Tiger (V12 record car) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Sunbeam Tiger (V12 record car) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
1BuiltIndependently researched
2V12 cars builtIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
1 Built
Years
1925
Engine
V12 (60 degrees), formed from two Grand Prix six-cylinder units on a common crankcase; three blocks of two cylinders per bank · 4,000 cc / 4 LFactory: 4 L
Power
227 kW / 309 PSFactory: 305 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Vincenzo Bertarione and Walter Becchia (engine)
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

Unlike the surplus-aero-engine record cars of its time, the 1925-26 Sunbeam V12 was powered by a bespoke 4-litre engine. Segrave used it to take the land speed record at Southport Sands in 1926, and it was later raced successfully as a circuit car.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityOne-off 1 · Built1
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionthe individual 4-litre V12 car ('Ladybird', later 'Tiger') in which Segrave set the 152.33 mph Land Speed Record at Southport in 1926; a second car ('Tigress') was prepared for 1927 11Strongest evidence Factory production Independently researched
Total model production4-litre V12 cars built in total: the 1926 record car plus a second car built ahead of the 1927 season (raced as Tiger and Tigress) 21 Factory production Independently researched
Why more than one figure?

The 1 counts the individual record car; the type as a whole is two cars.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Segrave commissioned the car from Sunbeam, based on the 1924 Grand Prix car, and the engine was designed by Vincenzo Bertarione and Walter Becchia. It was ready in early 1926, and Segrave named it 'Ladybird'. At Southport Sands he set a record of 153.308 mph by the Southport Visitor's account, which records the mile as 152.33 mph. J. G. Parry-Thomas took the record in his Liberty-engined car at 168.74 mph. The Sunbeam then raced in Europe, where Segrave led at San Sebastian and the Italian Grand Prix and a fastest kilometre of 148.1 mph was set at Boulogne. A second car was built before the 1927 season; the two were raced as Tiger and Tigress and bought by Malcolm Campbell in 1932.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Tiger (V12 record car).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutV12 (60 degrees), formed from two Grand Prix six-cylinder units on a common crankcase; three blocks of two cylinders per bank2 Independently researchedMany sources say 75 degrees; Revs says the actual V angle was 60 degrees.
Displacement 4,000 cc / 4 LFactory: 4 L2 Independently researched
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
ValvetrainTwin overhead camshafts, two valves per cylinder, gear-driven from the rear2 Independently researched
Fuel systemNot yet verified
InductionRoots-type supercharger, single Solex carburettor2 Independently researched
Power 227 kW / 309 PSFactory: 305 hp · converted2 Independently researched
Power at 5,300 rpm2 Independently researched
TorqueNot yet verified
Redline 6,000 rpm2 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
Gears32 Independently researched
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisSteel ladder frame, similar to the Grand Prix cars with a longer wheelbase2 Independently researched
Front suspensionSemi-elliptic leaf springs2 Independently researched
Rear suspensionSemi-elliptic leaf springs2 Independently researched
BrakesCable-operated drum brakes2 Independently researched
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Revs Institute – Sunbeam Tiger V12: the quest to be the fastest in the world Level B
    • 1 the individual 4-litre V12 car ('Ladybird', later 'Tiger') in which Segrave set the 152.33 mph Land Speed Record at Southport in 1926; a second car ('Tigress') was prepared for 1927
    • a second example was produced ahead of the 1927 season
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Sunbeam Tiger V12: The quest to be the fastest in the world Level B Revs Institute (Automedia)
    • actual V-angle was a more common 60 degrees
    • create a four-liter V12
    • twin overhead camshafts with two valves per cylinder, driven by gears at the rear
    • Roots-type supercharger ... single Solex carburetor
    • produced 305 hp at a staggering 5,300 rpm
    • 305 hp at a staggering 5,300 rpm
    • big V12 engine had a 6,000 rpm redline
    • Mated to a three-speed gearbox
    • steel ladder frame chassis ... a longer wheelbase
    • Semi-elliptic leaf springs were fitted on all four corners
    • cable-operated drum brakes
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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