1935 Railton Eight

The Railton Company was started by Invicta car builder Noel Macklin and built by the Fairmile Engineering Company in Macklin's Fairmile estate in Cobham, Surrey. The name 'Railton' was after land-speed record car designer Reid Railton, who assisted in some aspects of engineering. Production began in 1933 and the intention was to build a high-performance automobile endowed with quality coachwork for a reasonable price. Impressed with Hudson Motors' straight-eight cylinder chassis, Macklin equipped his Railton vehicles with this powerplant. The modified Terraplane Eight chassis received British-style coachwork and most examples weighed less than the Terraplane. The 4,010cc side-valve straight-eight delivered 94 horsepower.

During the 1930s, the Hudson eight-cylinder chassis grew in length and width, and the inevitable increase in weight. To compensate, the engines received a twin-choke carburetor and manifold, resulting in a slight increase in power.

Macklin contracted several independent coachbuilders to design and construct the initial body style - a Tourer followed by a Light Tourer and Drophead Coupe. Customers and coachbuilders could also specify their own designs and specifications. Various other Hudson chassis were used over the years, the second series is based on the 4.2 litre Hudson Super Eight, and there was also a 'baby' Railton in the late 1930s, which was based on the Standard Ten.

The Railton Eights were among the fastest production cars of the era, and just 1,379 examples were built before Macklin sold his company to Hudson Motor Car Company in Detroit to concentrate on building powerboats.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2022