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John Rhodes Cobb was an individual who had the necessary means and finances to participate competitively in racing during the 1920s. His list of impressive cars included a 10-liter Fiat, a 27-liter Parry Thomas Special named the 'Babs' Special, and even a 10.5-liter Delage V12. His Delage was even drive to a lap record at the Brooklands circuit with an average speed of nearly 130 mph.
As Tim Birkin's supercharged Bentley Special began to outpace Cobb's Delage, it became clear that a new racing machine was needed. Cobb commissioned Thomson & Taylor to oversee the project. Reid A. Railton, the companies chief engineer, designed a chassis that could accept the weight and power of an aircraft engine. The Napier powerplant displaced an astonishing 24-liters and over 500 horsepower. Despite its size, it was rather compact, being constructed with three banks of four cylinders for a total of 12 and set in 'W' configuration. Further tuning of the engine brought the horsepower even further, nearing 600. A special three-speed Moss gearbox was created to handle this power and torque. The entire package rested in a ladder frame fitted with a live axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs. Drum brakes were placed on the rear wheel and provided the only stopping power for car. To help reduce weight, the body was constructed from aluminum with seating for one. The design and construction of the body was handled by Gurney Nutting.
With a car of this caliber, there are going to be many unforeseen problems and potential shortcomings. During testing, the tires were unable to handle the nearly two-ton machine. By the time of the cars inaugural debut at Brooklands in August of 1933, Dunlop had found a solution and Cobb was ready to go racing. The car quickly made its way to the front of the pack and would finish in first place and even broke records. The cars winning streak and record breaking campaign would continue during the course of its racing lifespan. It set new world records at Montlhery, the Bonneville Flats, and at Brooklands. Its 143.44 mph speed set a record at Brooklands which is still unbroken.
Cobbs need for speed led him to contest the Land Speed Record. He commissioned Reid Railton to constructed a new machine powered by two engines. In 1938, he accomplished his goal by capturing the Land Speed Record with a speed of 350 mph. He later improved upon his record to 394 mph. After successfully campaigning on land, he turned his attention to water. While trying to break the World Water Speed Record in 1952, he was involved in a fatal accident. His life came to a premature end, leaving a legacy of many racing victories and 47 world records.
The Napier-Railton Special was later purchased by Sir Geoffrey Quilter who fitted it with disc brakes and modified the rear end for housing a parachute mechanism. The car was then used for testing parachutes. The car was sold in the 1960s and in 1963 it was raced to a second place finish in a Formula Libre race at Silverstone.
After many years of service, the car was due for a restoration, which it received in the 1970s. It was brought back to its original configuration though the disc brakes were retained. As the 1990s came to a close, the Brooklands society purchased the Napier-Railton and put it on display in the Brooklands Museum.
As Tim Birkin's supercharged Bentley Special began to outpace Cobb's Delage, it became clear that a new racing machine was needed. Cobb commissioned Thomson & Taylor to oversee the project. Reid A. Railton, the companies chief engineer, designed a chassis that could accept the weight and power of an aircraft engine. The Napier powerplant displaced an astonishing 24-liters and over 500 horsepower. Despite its size, it was rather compact, being constructed with three banks of four cylinders for a total of 12 and set in 'W' configuration. Further tuning of the engine brought the horsepower even further, nearing 600. A special three-speed Moss gearbox was created to handle this power and torque. The entire package rested in a ladder frame fitted with a live axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs. Drum brakes were placed on the rear wheel and provided the only stopping power for car. To help reduce weight, the body was constructed from aluminum with seating for one. The design and construction of the body was handled by Gurney Nutting.
With a car of this caliber, there are going to be many unforeseen problems and potential shortcomings. During testing, the tires were unable to handle the nearly two-ton machine. By the time of the cars inaugural debut at Brooklands in August of 1933, Dunlop had found a solution and Cobb was ready to go racing. The car quickly made its way to the front of the pack and would finish in first place and even broke records. The cars winning streak and record breaking campaign would continue during the course of its racing lifespan. It set new world records at Montlhery, the Bonneville Flats, and at Brooklands. Its 143.44 mph speed set a record at Brooklands which is still unbroken.
Cobbs need for speed led him to contest the Land Speed Record. He commissioned Reid Railton to constructed a new machine powered by two engines. In 1938, he accomplished his goal by capturing the Land Speed Record with a speed of 350 mph. He later improved upon his record to 394 mph. After successfully campaigning on land, he turned his attention to water. While trying to break the World Water Speed Record in 1952, he was involved in a fatal accident. His life came to a premature end, leaving a legacy of many racing victories and 47 world records.
The Napier-Railton Special was later purchased by Sir Geoffrey Quilter who fitted it with disc brakes and modified the rear end for housing a parachute mechanism. The car was then used for testing parachutes. The car was sold in the 1960s and in 1963 it was raced to a second place finish in a Formula Libre race at Silverstone.
After many years of service, the car was due for a restoration, which it received in the 1970s. It was brought back to its original configuration though the disc brakes were retained. As the 1990s came to a close, the Brooklands society purchased the Napier-Railton and put it on display in the Brooklands Museum.
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com