Vehicle Description
The Railton automobile company was created from the remains of the
Invicta Motorcar Company, run by then Captain and later Sir Noel
Macklin. Even though his Invicta brand had succumbed to the
world-wide depression in 1933, Sir Noel was undeterred in his
desire to build performance cars. He consulted with Reid Railton,
racer and designer of land speed record-setting machines like the
Bluebird, and the Napier-Railton Special on a plan to build a new
car. Hudson's Terraplane line was known for power, performance and
reasonable price, and Hudson was operating a healthy export
business to Great Britian from the United States. Macklin was
impressed. By combining the best of the Hudson underpinnings with
stylish and lightweight British coachwork, Macklin created a new
car he called the Railton - taking full advantage of Reid Railton's
famous name. A few six-cylinder Railtons were made, but did not
pack the performance punch of the eight. The Hudson chassis was
treated to a going-over, resulting in the car falling more in line
with the lower-slung look British automobile buyers were familiar
with. Railton and crew modified the chassis and steering layout at
the former Invicta works Fairmile Engineering Company in Cobham,
Surrey. The frame was dropped, spring base widened and steering
ratio upped to 15:1. Brakes were also improved. The suspension was
fitted with stiffer springs along with Andre Hartford Telecontrol
friction double-acting telescopic shock absorbers. Ride quality
could be adjusted from the cockpit via controls mounted under the
steering wheel. Early 1930s Railtons were fitted with bodies
fashioned from steel by John Charles Limited. Later bodies were
built by a number of coachworks, not the least of which was
Carbodies, which hammered and formed the original open Tourer body
on this charming example. While Railton did alter and tune the
suspension in the Hudson chassis, the engine was left largely
untouched. The bores in the Hudson eight are only 3 inches wide,
but the stroke is a well undersquare 4� inches long. Stump-pulling
torque is available at nearly any point in the engine's operational
range, which topped out at a mere 4,500 revolutions per minute. The
long-stroke straight-eight engine, in concert with the somewhat
unusual but smooth-action Hudson oil-bathed cork-faced clutch
mechanism, proved a smash hit with the English and American public
alike for its silky and linear power delivery. With the Tourer
weighing in at 2,200 pounds and that long-stroke Hudson Eight under
the bonnet, the Railton could get from zero to 50 miles per hour in
a just over seven seconds - quite impressive for an automobile
manufactured over 85 years ago. This sporty 1936 Railton features
Hudson's powerful inline eight-cylinder engine and smart
four-passenger touring coachwork. According to the previous owner,
this car was delivered to an unknown owner in the UK, and
registered as DGO 229. Its early history is not yet known, but in
the 1960s it was discovered in the care of a British farmer and
scrapper named John Wright. In 1967, it was acquired by two
brothers who shipped it to Boston, Massachusetts, and from there it
joined the Davis family of Little Rock, Arkansas in 1970 and
remained with them for many years. The Railton was acquired by a
Colorado-based collector in the 1990s, before landing with the most
recent owner in 2012. Finished in red-orange over beige trim and a
complementing beige convertible top, it is a striking and sporty
example of this rarely-seen marque. Wearing a well-maintained older
restoration, it displays a pleasing character, inviting regular
use. Inside, soft beige leather upholstery covers the seats and
door cards, with a generous size rear bench for friends or extra
luggage when touring. In classic British tradition, the elegant
wood dash houses an array of attractive Smiths dials including a
tachometer and pressure gauges for the Andre Hartford dampers. The
red-orange paint is older but presents well, with a few minor
imperfections found on close inspection. The large chrome
headlights, center-mounted driving light and wire wheels add to the
pre-war charm and character of this very rare sports tourer. Under
the bonnet is tidy, as is the rest of this well cared-for Railton.
The powerful and stout Hudson drivetrain coupled with light-weight
coachwork make this wonderful car a pleasure to operate.
Additionally, the classic cut down door allows for a fun elbow's
out driving experience that adds to the delight. Presented in
excellent condition, this car wears a well-maintained and
pleasingly mellow restoration enhancing the old-world character of
the 1930s era brilliantly. Railtons were produced in small numbers,
are coveted by collectors and are rarely offered for sale, creating
a rare chance to require an unusual and seldom-seen motorcar that
is perfectly suited for touring and club events. Offers welcome and
trades considered For additional details please view this listing
directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7509-1936-railton-tourer/
