Railton
A British performance-car marque known for combining English coachwork with powerful American engines and chassis.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Railton was a British automobile marque produced by the Fairmile Engineering Company in Cobham, Surrey, from 1933 until production was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. The marque was established by Noel Macklin after he sold his interest in Invicta and sought a new automotive venture. Its defining formula was to combine distinctive British-built bodies with American mechanical components, particularly Hudson and Terraplane engines, chassis, and running gear. The result was a relatively light British car with strong straight-eight performance, giving Railton an unusually sporting character for its period. The name honoured Reid Railton, the engineer and designer associated with several land- and water-speed-record projects. Although Railton was not thought to have directed the engineering programme in a major way, he received a royalty on each vehicle sold. Macklin was attracted to the Hudson Terraplane after observing its refinement, construction quality, and performance, but considered its standard American styling unsuitable for the British market. The first Railton therefore used an American chassis and engine beneath coachwork supplied by British coachbuilder John Charles & Company. The initial 1933 Railton Terraplane used a 4.0-litre Hudson straight-eight engine rated at approximately 100 bhp. It was offered first as a two-door tourer and later with saloon coachwork. Because its British body was lighter than the original Terraplane body, the car delivered notably rapid acceleration for its time. In 1935, the range moved to the Hudson Eight chassis and a larger 4.2-litre straight-eight producing about 113 bhp. Known broadly as the Railton 8, this generation could be ordered with bodies from several British coachbuilders, including Ranalah, R.E.A.L., Carbodies, and Coachcraft. Approximately 1,379 Railton 8 cars were produced, making it the marque's principal pre-war model. Railton subsequently broadened its range downward. The 16.9, introduced in 1937 and also associated with the Cobham name, used a smaller Hudson six-cylinder engine and chassis. Eighty-one examples were made in saloon and drophead coupé forms. In 1938, the Railton 10 added a still smaller model based on the Standard Flying Nine chassis, with saloon and drophead coupé body styles. Its production total was reported as 51 cars. This expansion gave the marque a wider price range, although Railton remained identified primarily with large, fast, coachbuilt automobiles. Macklin moved his attention to powerboats in 1939 and sold the company to Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit. Production was transferred to Hudson's works at Brentford in west London, but wartime conditions halted normal manufacture. A small number of vehicles were completed after the war from pre-war components. A new Railton was displayed at the 1949 London Motor Show, but its very high proposed price, reported at nearly £5,000, prevented it from entering series production. The Railton name was revived in 1989 by Railton Motor Company, a separate venture established in Wixford, Warwickshire. Automotive designer William Towns developed two Jaguar XJS-based convertibles: the F28 Fairmile and the F29 Claremont. Both retained the XJS mechanical and interior architecture while receiving original aluminium bodywork designed to give them a more dramatic, bespoke appearance. The project envisioned cooperation with Jaguar dealers for sales and servicing, but only two cars were built from scratch by 1991. The rights and tooling were acquired by entrepreneur Graham Pierce in 1994; the company was reported dormant the following year and was dissolved on 4 July 2000. Railton therefore survives principally as a historic British marque and as a small number of collectible pre-war and Jaguar-based revival cars.
History
Railton emerged in 1933 when Noel Macklin, having disposed of his involvement with Invicta, partnered with the Fairmile Engineering Company to create a new performance-car business. The concept was to use American mechanical hardware, especially Hudson and Terraplane chassis and engines, beneath bodies designed and built in Britain. This arrangement offered a practical combination of American power and durability with British coachbuilding and a more restrained visual identity. The marque's name was taken from Reid Railton, a prominent speed-record-car designer who received a royalty, although his direct technical contribution to the production cars appears to have been limited. The first Railton used the chassis and 4.0-litre straight-eight engine of the Hudson Terraplane. British coachbuilder John Charles & Company supplied the body, initially in two-door tourer form and subsequently as a saloon. The lighter British body helped the car achieve impressive acceleration by contemporary standards. In 1935, Railton adopted the Hudson Eight chassis and a 4.2-litre engine. The resulting Railton 8 could be ordered in several body styles from different British coachbuilders, allowing the company to offer a broad range of bespoke-looking cars while retaining a common American mechanical foundation. Two particularly light cars were promoted for their exceptional acceleration, and approximately 1,379 Railton 8 vehicles were produced. The marque extended its range in 1937 with the smaller 16.9, later associated with the Cobham designation. It used a Hudson six-cylinder engine and chassis and was offered as a saloon or drophead coupé. In 1938, the Railton 10 was introduced on a Standard Flying Nine chassis. This model, marketed as a miniature expression of the Railton name, broadened the range but remained a low-volume product. The brand's identity nevertheless continued to rest on high performance, coachbuilt bodies, and the unusual Anglo-American combination of components. In 1939, Macklin redirected his efforts toward powerboats and sold Railton to Hudson Motor Car Company. Manufacturing moved to Hudson's Brentford works, but the onset of war brought production to an end. Some cars were assembled after the war using remaining pre-war parts. Railton also displayed a new model at the 1949 London Motor Show. Its proposed price was extremely high, however, and the car did not enter production. The original marque consequently disappeared as a volume manufacturer. A separate revival began in 1989 with the formation of Railton Motor Company in Wixford, Warwickshire. William Towns designed the F28 Fairmile and F29 Claremont, both open cars based on Jaguar XJS mechanicals and interiors. The project aimed to minimize development risk by retaining the Jaguar donor car's underlying systems while adding distinctive aluminium bodywork. The two announced models differed substantially in appearance: the Fairmile displayed large exposed rear wheels, while the Claremont used full rear fender skirts. Only two cars were built from scratch by 1991. Rights and tooling changed hands in 1994, and the company was subsequently reported dormant before being dissolved in 2000. No current production operation is identified for the Railton marque.
- 2000
Revival company dissolved
[1]The revival company was fully dissolved on 4 July 2000 after being reported dormant in the preceding period.
- 1991
Revival prototypes completed
[1]Two revival cars were built from scratch, one Fairmile and one Claremont.
- 1989
Railton revival announced
[1]A new Warwickshire company announced the Jaguar XJS-based F28 Fairmile and F29 Claremont convertibles.
- 1949
Post-war prototype displayed
[1]A new Railton was shown at the London Motor Show but did not enter production because of its very high proposed price.
- 1939
Production transferred and halted
[1]After Macklin sold the company to Hudson, manufacturing moved to Brentford before wartime conditions stopped production.
- 1938
Railton 10 introduced
[1]A smaller model based on the Standard Flying Nine chassis joined the range; 51 cars were reported produced.
- 1937
Smaller 16.9 model added
[1]The six-cylinder 16.9, also known as the Cobham in some contexts, broadened the marque's range with 81 reported cars built.
- 1935
Railton 8 launched
[1]Railton moved to the Hudson Eight platform and expanded its coachbuilt body programme; approximately 1,379 examples were made.
- 1933
Railton founded
[1]Noel Macklin established the marque through the Fairmile Engineering Company in Cobham, Surrey, using British coachwork on Hudson Terraplane mechanical components.
- 1933
Railton Terraplane introduced
[1]The first model combined a 4.0-litre Hudson Terraplane straight-eight engine and chassis with British-built tourer and saloon bodies.
Products and positioning
Performance-oriented British coachbuilt automobiles using powerful American or, in the revival period, Jaguar mechanical components.
Performance tourer and saloon · 1933
Railton Terraplane
The inaugural Railton model used a Hudson Terraplane chassis and approximately 4.0-litre straight-eight engine beneath British coachwork. It was first offered as a two-door tourer and later as a saloon. Its relatively light body gave it strong acceleration for the early 1930s, establishing the marque's Anglo-American performance formula.
Coachbuilt performance automobile · 1935
Railton 8
Introduced in 1935, the Railton 8 adopted the larger Hudson Eight chassis and approximately 4.2-litre straight-eight engine. Customers could select bodies from several British coachbuilders, including Ranalah, R.E.A.L., Carbodies, and Coachcraft. With approximately 1,379 cars produced, it was the most substantial model in the original Railton programme.
Six-cylinder saloon and drophead coupé · 1937
Railton 16.9 / Cobham
The 16.9 was a smaller Railton introduced in 1937, using a Hudson six-cylinder engine and chassis. It was available in saloon and drophead coupé forms and extended the marque beyond its large straight-eight cars. Reported production totalled 81 examples.
Compact saloon and drophead coupé · 1938
Railton 10
The Railton 10 was the smallest original-series model. It used the chassis of the Standard Flying Nine and was offered with saloon or drophead coupé bodywork. Its positioning emphasized access to the Railton name in a smaller package, with 51 cars reported produced.
Jaguar XJS-based convertible · 1989
F28 Fairmile
The F28 Fairmile was one of two models created for the 1989 Railton revival. Designed by William Towns, it retained Jaguar XJS running gear and interior components while receiving original aluminium bodywork. Its styling included prominent exposed rear wheels. Only one example was built from scratch in the documented revival programme.
Jaguar XJS-based convertible · 1989
F29 Claremont
The F29 Claremont was the companion model to the F28 Fairmile in the late-1980s Railton revival. It used the Jaguar XJS mechanical and interior base but adopted a separate Towns-designed aluminium body with full rear fender skirts. One example was built from scratch in the documented project.
Brand decisions
1989
Jaguar XJS-based revival strategyStrategyBackground
The revived company sought to reintroduce Railton as a low-volume specialist marque without developing an entirely new mechanical platform.
Action taken
William Towns designed the F28 Fairmile and F29 Claremont around largely unchanged Jaguar XJS running gear and interiors, adding distinctive aluminium bodywork.
Aftermath
The project produced two cars from scratch by 1991 but did not become a regular production business.
1939
Sale to Hudson Motor Car CompanyM&ABackground
Noel Macklin moved his attention to powerboats and sold the Railton business to Hudson Motor Car Company.
Action taken
Hudson transferred production from Fairmile's operation to its Brentford works in London.
Aftermath
The outbreak of the Second World War halted production before the new ownership could establish a sustained manufacturing programme.
Sources1 sources
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