Railton (car)

The Railton was a British automobile manufactured from 1933 to 1940. It was produced by Fairmile Engineering Company in Cobham, Surrey, and later in Tolworth, Surrey. Conceived by Noel Macklin, the founder of Invicta, the Railton was an attempt to offer high performance at a relatively affordable price by combining a powerful American engine with a lightweight British chassis and body.

Railtons utilized straight-eight engines sourced from Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan. These engines, typically of 4.2-liter or 4.7-liter displacement, provided exceptional performance for the era, allowing Railtons to achieve impressive acceleration and top speeds. The chassis was typically a modified version of a Hudson design, but with improvements to the suspension and handling.

Bodywork was primarily outsourced to coachbuilders such as coachbuilders such as Carbodies, Ranalah, and Fairmile themselves. Railtons were available in a variety of body styles, including saloons (sedans), tourers, drophead coupes (convertibles), and even some specialized designs. The cars were known for their elegant styling and high-quality construction.

The marque was successful in motorsport, with Railtons participating in various races and record attempts. Production ceased with the outbreak of World War II in 1940. After the war, Macklin attempted to revive the Railton name but was unsuccessful, eventually selling the Railton name to a new company in 1989. This later attempt at a revival resulted in a small number of cars being produced using Rover V8 engines during the late 1980s and early 1990s, but these were not widely successful and production soon ceased again.

The original pre-war Railtons are now highly prized by collectors and enthusiasts for their performance, style, and historical significance.