Inspiration (car)

Inspiration is a British-designed and -built steam-propelled car designed by Glynne Bowsher and developed by the British Steam Car Challenge team.[1][2]

Inspiration
Overview
ManufacturerBritish Steam Car Challenge
DesignerGlynne Bowsher
Body and chassis
ClassLand Speed Record (steam)
ChassisSteel space frame
Powertrain
EngineTwo stage turbine driven by superheated steam
Dimensions
Length7.6 m
Width1.7 m
Height1.7 m
Curb weight3 tons
Chronology
PredecessorStanley Steamer

Inspiration holds the World Land Speed Record for a steam-powered vehicle on 25 August 2009, driven by Charles Burnett III with an average speed of 139.8 mph (225 km/h)[3] over two consecutive runs over a measured mile. This broke the oldest standing land speed record set in 1906 by Fred Marriott in the Stanley Steamer.[4] On 26 August 2009 the car, driven by Don Wales, broke a second record by achieving an average speed of 148.308 mph (239 km/h) over two consecutive runs over a measured kilometre.

The runs were made at Edwards Air Force Base in California, United States. The car is 7.6 m long, 1.7 m wide and weighs 3 tons. It is powered by a two-stage turbine driven by superheated steam from 12 boilers containing distilled water. The boilers are heated by burners which burn Liquid Petroleum Gas to produce 3 Megawatts (10.2 million BTU/hr) of heat. The steam produced is at a temperature of 400 °C (752 F) and a pressure of 4000 kN/m2 40 bar (580 psi). The engine is capable of developing 288 kW (386 hp; 392 PS) and consumes around 40 litres (8.8 Impgal) of water per minute).[5]

The car has been retired to the National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu, England.[6]

Notes
  1. BSCC teamsteamcar.co.uk Archived 2009-08-10 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Land Speed Record Breakers August 2009 '...The Royal Automobile Club Recognises World Land Speed Record Breaking Team...' Archived 2014-07-06 at the Wayback Machine steamcar.co.uk, accessed 1 December 2018
  3. "Charles Burnett III, British-born speed king, dies in helicopter crash". BBC News. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  4. Glaskin, Max, Steam-powered car breaks century-old speed record, 25 August 2009, retrieved 1 December 2018
  5. Vehicle design details steamcar.co.uk, accessed 1 December 2018
  6. British Steam Car ‘Inspiration’ nationalmotormuseum.org.uk, accessed 1 December 2018
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