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Original box for the BLUEBIRD WONDER speedboat model
Original box for the BLUEBIRD WONDER speedboat model

Original box for the BLUEBIRD WONDER speedboat model

Maker
Date1950s
Object number00008542
NameBox
MediumCardboard
DimensionsOverall: 86 x 275 mm
ClassificationsToys, games and souvenirs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThe original box for the BLUEBIRD Wonder Speedboat model, 00006358. The tin plate toy BLUEBIRD Speedboat was made in England by Sutcliff in the 1950s. The wind up boat features a white deck, red cockpit and blue hull, and has two transfers of the British flag on the cockpit. British speed boat and car driver Donald Campbell broke the world water speed record in 1955 in a BLUEBIRD on Lake Ulllswater England at a speed of 325.60 kph.HistoryDonald Campbell CBE (1921-1967) was a British car and motorboat racer who broke eight world speed records in the 1950s and 60s. He remains the only person to set both land and water speed records in the same year (1964). He died trying to extend his record in his second BLUEBIRD at Coniston Water in 1967. His death and his daredevil attempts on water and land speed records made him a hero.SignificanceAlthough the toy model bears little resemblance to the two world record breaking boats named BLUEBIRD which Campbell actually drove, this popular culture representation testifies to the high profile Campbell's achievements had in Britain during the 1950s.