A unique Railton and its fascinating story

Post-war, Macklin took up ballooning before moving into the motor industry with a sporty light car christened the Silver Hawk. From his Cobham home his interest grew with first Invicta and, after the Depression, Railton.

From 1925, encouraged and funded by his wealthy friend Philip Lyle, Macklin’s mission was to produce an automobile that required no gearchanges.

After investigating steam, he took an unplanned sporty route with Meadows power and the rakish Invicta Low Chassis, but the idea returned with the 1933 launch of Railton.

This unique model still bears the name of engineer Reid Railton

Having given up movie-making, Macklin needed to fill the empty workshops on his estate with a new venture, and the key spark was the introduction to Britain of the Terraplane, a new model from Hudson’s Essex division with a powerful straight-eight.

The development of single-gear drive was partially achieved by employing this smooth, torquey 4-litre sidevalve conceived for long, straight American highways.

Macklin was impressed by the Terraplane’s build quality, refinement and performance, but not the American styling.

‘Wearing just a bonnet, scuttle and a driver’s seat, the chassis roared around the 7000-acre family estate near Old Warden’

He saw an opportunity for a quality car at a bargain price, launched under a new name and tailored to European tastes with a chrome radiator, lower ‘razoredge’ bonnet, better electrics, improved suspension and traditional English coachwork.

The smooth-talking opportunist was well known among the Brooklands set and managed to engage Reid Railton in the new business. For a royalty on each car, the brilliant engineer even allowed his name to be used.

Macklin also talked wealthy aviator and racer Richard Shuttleworth into investing a £10,000 third share to kick-start prototype development.

A cutaway door reveals the Railton’s patinated interior

How involved Railton was in the Terraplane’s remodelling isn’t clear, but within a year a prototype with handsome Freestone & Webb tourer bodywork was ready to wow press and customers.

Rather unfairly christened an ‘Anglo-American sports bastard’ by purists, the new Railton was much more than a repackaged Hudson.

Among the refinements were a new radiator, Andre Telecontrol dampers and reduced weight. Sammy Davis, respected ‘Bentley Boy’ and journalist for The Autocar, was among the many impressed by the Railton.

Strong torque gives the Railton impressive performance

‘The performance of this car has to be experienced to be believed,’ enthused Davis, who entered one for the 1934 Rallye Monte-Carlo, adding: ‘The price of £499, for saloon or tourer, is quite remarkable compared to other performance cars.’

Railtons chalked up impressive results on the toughest rallies, with third in the Monte for the Spanish de Ribeiro Ferreira team and two Glacier Cups on the 1934 Alpine Trial.

Macklin was a charming salesman with a clever marketing mind, and soon many eminent motoring friends were driving Railtons.

Lucas ‘King of the Road’ headlights dominate the front end

As well as investor Shuttleworth, customers included Whitney Straight, Kenelm Lee Guinness and Lionel Martin, who were all enthusiastic about the refined 4-litre’s performance, particularly in top gear.

To be certain his association with the model was justified, Reid Railton drove a tourer to the Alps with Italian engineer Achille ‘Sammy’ Sampietro of Thomson & Taylor.

The tough assessment included 48 hairpins up the Stelvio Pass, and the duo returned hugely impressed.

Railton founder Noel Macklin wearing his signature Eton tie

Christened with such names as University, Carrington, Claremont and Fairmile for the wide range of body styles from independent coachbuilders, the Railton cleverly cloaked its robust American mechanicals to appeal to English tastes.

From 1933-’39 nearly 1400 were built through part-assembly at the Cobham works, with various Hudson upgrades.

Chairman Shuttleworth, known as ‘Mad Jack’ for his hairy driving style, was taken with the Railton’s tough build and muscular performance.

Through the 1930s he had several close calls on road, track and in the air, including in Railtons.

Macklin with son Lance (seated) and the rapid Light Sports Tourer at the Fairmile works

Among his modifications were the lightweight 16in Dural wheels on his saloon.

When driving from London to his Bedfordshire estate with chum Charlie Martin, Shuttleworth made an abrupt left turn at 50mph.

One of the wheels collapsed and he nearly struck a Ford V8 coming the opposite way.

“There was a terrible scene and the gentleman was rightly livid,” recalled Martin. “Richard just roared with laughter and said, ‘I’d better get back to the drawing board.’”

Aviator and racer Richard Shuttleworth aboard his Blériot aircraft

The Railton’s strength was further confirmed by another accident in December ’36.

Returning from a trip to collect an aero engine, his saloon and trailer collided heavily with a Morris 10hp.

In a letter to Laurence ‘Cushie’ Cushman at the works, Shuttleworth praised the Railton’s safety.

‘The Morris was completely written off and beyond repair while the Railton was undamaged with the exception of one headlight, the dumb-iron fairing and two aluminium wheels.

First owner Shuttleworth drove this car as a bare chassis around this estate

We put on two new wheels and drove home,’ he enthused.

‘We all hit our heads pretty hard, and I don’t think it has done me any good, but it’s a wonderful advertisement for the car!’

Shuttleworth owned several Railtons, the first just a chassis wearing bonnet, scuttle and driver’s seat, on which he roared around the 7000-acre family estate near Old Warden.

Macklin agreed a discount and chassis 741240 was invoiced at £105 6s.

English dials replaced the US pieces found in Hudsons

Eventually, the frame was shortened in preparation for a Shuttleworth-designed sports body, but with war looming he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in September 1938.

Between harvest and flying commitments, the Railton was put on hold and the brave pilot never saw his car completed: he was killed in night-flying tests of a Fairey Battle on 2 August 1940.

His mother Dorothy was devastated, and as a distraction from her grief she became involved with the Red Cross, offering the family house as a hospital and convalescent home.

This special two-seater has a long bonnet and scuttle

After the war she formed a trust in memory of her son, which included an agricultural college and a remarkable museum of historic aircraft and transport.

As well as continuing the preservation of her son’s aircraft, Dorothy decided to complete his Railton. Having enjoyed a Terraplane during the ’30s, she had a special affection for the marque.

The bare chassis was sent to Kettering Rootes agent Blanchflowers in 1950, with instructions to build a two-seater body to Richard’s plans.

The long, exposed remote linkage for the Railton’s three-speed Hudson ’box

Registered JNM 700, the car’s special features included 16in wire wheels and blue paint in his favourite colour.

Dorothy, by then in her 70s, enjoyed driving the dashing Railton two-seater, but after just two years it was sold on.

Eventually, it was acquired by John Dyson and Richard Hughes, leading lights in the Railton Owners’ Club.

By then white, the car proved a challenge from the day it was collected in Surrey.

The Railton’s shape has a Teutonic character

“Richard drove it back, but across London it started to overheat and had to be left on a driveway,” recalls John. “It was hard to get on terms with, particularly the hideous front-wheel patter.

“We discovered it was a 1937 frame, but it lacked a torque arm to the front axle. There were rumours Shuttleworth used the chassis for ploughing.

“After crawling under it, we found a crack; that was patched, but it didn’t solve the problem.

“Richard raced it with the Vintage Sports-Car Club – he was the only one brave enough to drive through the wheel wobble.”

Two spare wheels cling to the back of the dashing Railton

Since his first Railton, an ex-police tourer by Carbodies bought in 1956, John has owned six over the years: “With that single downdraught Carter carb, plus strangled inlet and exhaust manifolding, it’s amazing they go as well as they do.

“A Zenith improves things, but it still has a long way to suck.

“The go-faster boys turned their noses up at Railtons and Broughs, but they weren’t really designed as sports cars.

“Hudson built thousands of Terraplanes, which were properly engineered compared to many English models.”

16in wire wheels and blue paint were special features for this car

A favourite was a Ranalah-bodied saloon: “It was comfortable and went really well, perfect for touring holidays because, unlike in a tourer, your luggage is secure,” he continues.

“I’ve also driven a Lightweight Sports Tourer and a Brough Superior, also based on a Hudson straight-eight.

“Both felt more like post-war Healeys.”

In 1970 the one-off Railton was auctioned by Christie’s at Beaulieu, where it was purchased by Prince Hohenlohe for his auto museum at Schloss Langenburg.

A busy spread of Smiths instruments and sweeping cowls greet you inside

The German aristocrat’s interest was no doubt encouraged by his wife, Princess Charlotte von Croÿ, who happened to be Shuttleworth’s niece.

The sight of the white Railton purring around the forested roads of Lower Saxony no doubt confused locals, but eventually the princess had the car repainted blue for museum display in honour of her uncle.

In 1975, when the princess decided it was time the Railton returned home, she generously gifted it to the Shuttleworth Collection, where it has been one of the star exhibits for 47 years.

“With that single downdraught Carter carb, plus strangled inlet and exhaust manifolding, it’s amazing they go as well as they do”

In 2017, Charlotte wrote a biography of her grandmother. Dorothy Clotilda Shuttleworth was a keen motorist and even drove on the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run in the ’30s.

During WW2 she ran a Fiat 500 Topolino that was also painted Shuttleworth blue and now sits on display with the Railton.

I’ve been intrigued by this unique sports car since the blue two-seater’s arrival in the 1970s.

With its shorter chassis and post-war body, it looks nothing like the Railtons I know.

The Railton’s 4-litre straight-eight produces a deep burble

Marque founder Macklin was more focused on marketing touring cars, and just a pair of two-seater sports cars known as the LST (Light Sports Tourer) were built by the factory for promotional work.

As well as impressive performances at Shelsley Walsh and Donington Park, the 100mph LST is best known for the Brooklands Test Hill record, when Cushman’s charge was famously photographed getting airborne over the crest.

In the sunshine outside the Shuttleworth family home, the two-seater has a Teutonic character to its lines, from its long bonnet and scuttle to the short, hunched tail and twin spare wheels.

The gearchange is neat and precise

Dominating its nose are the huge Lucas ‘King of the Road’ headlights that sit high on either side of the handsome, tapered radiator designed by The Autocar’s Frederick Gordon Crosby.

In the comfy cockpit, the busy spread of Smiths instruments below the sweeping cowls were to Macklin’s specification, replacing the very American Hudson cluster.

The broad four-spoke wheel was another change at the Fairmile works, while below is the long remote linkage for the three-speed American gearbox.

‘Once in third, the mighty torque pulls keenly even from low revs and it’s easy to see why road testers heaped on superlatives’

The 4-litre straight-eight wakes with a deep, smooth burble. The gearchange from the dogleg first has a narrow action but, with light gears and wet cork clutch, the selection is neat and precise if you don’t rush the upright lever.

Once in third, the engine is beautifully refined and responsive. The mighty torque pulls keenly even from low revs, and it’s easy to appreciate why pre-war road testers heaped on superlatives.

‘Ten years ahead of its time,’ enthused The Autocar.

The handsome tapered radiator was designed by The Autocar artist Frederick Gordon Crosby

You really could drive everywhere in top, which was the key appeal of this Anglo-American hybrid for Shuttleworth and his friends, the Lyle brothers, who were bored of endless gearchanging.

The worm-and-roller steering lightens on the move, while the friction-damped live axle copes well with the bumps on the twisty estate roads.

As the 4-litre ‘eight’ strokes the Railton around the very route its first owner steered, it’s a spooky feeling imagining this once-bare chassis tearing about with a cloud of dust in its wake.

You can almost hear ‘Mad Jack’ laughing as he volunteers the Railton to help plough the fields.

This special Railton is now cared for at the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire

During WW2, Railton car production was replaced by Macklin’s innovative high-speed Fairmile motor launch, which played a key role in torpedo attacks, secret-service drops in occupied Europe and vital sea rescues.

Knighted by King George VI for his nautical work, Macklin moved to France to help his crippling arthritis, where he died in 1946.

No Fairmiles survive, but his legacy is upheld by enthusiastic owners of Railton and Invicta cars.

This unique roadster couldn’t be in a better place to celebrate the two friends and business partners.

Images: Will Williams

Thanks to: Shuttleworth Collection and Gardens

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Mick Walsh

Mick Walsh is Classic & Sports Car’s International Editor