Subject: Time:2:20 PM
OFFICE MEMO Railton Cars Date:9/21/93
From: mburdick@unmc.edu (Mike Burdick)
In yesterday's Omaha paper I found the following (for you big spenders):
1937 Railton Fairmile Series III Drophead Coupe. Estate sale of a
very rare English classic. Excellent restored condition. Serious
inquiries only. $42,000. 308-534-3526.
Can anyone supply a description or some history on this car?
Okay, Mike, since you asked...................from "A to Z of Sports Cars" by
Mike Lawrence:
"Funded by Noel Macklin, designed by Reid Railton (best known for his Land
Speed Record cars) and built in the old Invicta works at Cobham, Railton was
founded in 1933 and made an early Anglo-American hybrid. The chassis was always
a lightly modified Hudson and the best examples used the splendid Hudson 4.2
liter straight eight. After 1937 the firm lost its way when it tried going down
market to increase sales. In 1940 it was sold to Hudson. After the war a number
of cars were made up from parts in stock. The Hudson Six was fairly ordinary,
but the flathead eight was wonderful, being very smooth and torquey."
No pre-war production figures were given, by post war production was 16. My
guess is a 1937 drophead coupe would be a 4 or 5 passenger two-door, with a
nicely headlinered folding top, fixed built-in windshield, roll-up windows and
suicide doors. Would owning this car make one eligible for the Hudson Owners
Club?
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