Railton

GB, 1933 – 1949

(1) Railton Cars, Cobham, Surrey, 1933 – 1940

(2) Hudson Motors Ltd, London W.4, 1940 – 1949

This was the work of Reid Railton, well-known as the designer of cars for the World Land Speed Record, and the Railton car was assembled in the old Invicta works after the company’s activities had been transferred to Chelsea. The Railton car set the formula for the Anglo-American sports hybrids of the 1930s, and the basis of the Railton car was a 4-litre Terraplane 8 chassis (from mid-1934, a 4.2-litre Hudson 8) lowered and given stiffer suspension. On this was mounted coachwork in the British style, and the rectangular bonnet (with rivets along it) and radiator closely resembled those of the Invicta. The result, which Railton car sold in tourer from for £535 in 1934, was capable of 90mph, and the Railton car could be driven almost anywhere in top gear, and possessed startling acceleration: the Light Sports Railton car of 1935 could reach 60mph in under ten seconds.

Mechanically, the Railton cars followed Hudson evolution with hydraulic brakes added in 1936; the Railton cars also grew heavier and more expensive, with saloons selling for £698 that year. Cheaper versions Railton cars were available in 1938/ 1939 with the 2.7-litre and 3½-litre 6-cylinder Hudson engines, and a 10hp baby Railton car introduced in 1938 at £299 had Standard mechanical components. Rather more than 1.400 Railton cars were made; a handful Railton cars were assembled after World War 2, but the ban on dollar imports and a list price of over £4.000 for a Railton car put a stop to the best of the Anglo-Americans.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

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