RAILTON
Noel Macklin (Noel Maclin) and LA Cushman (LA Cushman) have decided to offer the British American cars with cheap gear and traditional English bodies. They were invited to cooperate with the famous designer of racing cars Reyltona Reid (Reid Railton), but its contribution to the creation of models was minimal. The choice fell on the chassis of the car company of the American Hudson ("Hudson"), and the production of bodies engaged in such companies as Ranelaugh ("Ranelo") and Coachcraft ("Kouchkraft"). Reylton was only necessary to minimize the alteration of the chassis and give his name for the company name.
The fastest car company Railton - two-seat Light Sports (161 km / h) in the production of a very long resist
Despite the fact that the chassis Hudson was typical American in-line eight-cylinder engine with nizhneklapannym splash lubrication system and 3-speed transmission, Reylton reduced its height and made more rigid with shock absorbers in Europe. Designed by the same body in many ways resembled the cars Invicta.
Railton car debuted in October 1933 at the exhibition Olympia ("Olympia"), while their value was one and a half times less than similar cars Lagonda ("Lagonda") or Invicta. The very next year, managed to sell 224 cars. The first time many of the influential British refused to believe that the U.S. is hiding under the chassis of the English body. But it has spread to a 1935 opinion of the high quality and great performance cars Railton has led to increased production to 377 pieces. In 1936 it sold 308 cars already on the higher price.
Car Railton in 1936 had an American chassis and body of the British
In 1935 appeared Light Sports ("Sport Light") - the most dynamic cars in those years. Only managed to sell a few copies. The following year the company entered into a traditional sector of the market by offering a more heavy machinery with a long wheelbase and luxurious bodies. In 1937 an attempt was made to start producing less expensive models, based on the chassis Hudson Six ("Six Hudson") with a 2.7-liter engine, but it was not successful: only 81 cars sold. In 1938-39 years. it was the turn of the new model Railton 10, which was actually passenger Standard Flying 10 ("Standard Flying Ten") to another body.
In 1938, McLean left the company Railton, to pursue the release of military patrol boats. After the Second World War has received the rights to manufacture the firm Hudson, but managed to produce only 12 cars, and were used only to pre-war sets. Last collected in the Railton 1948, a total of 1460 cars were built on the chassis with engines of Hudson and 51 relay-based Standard. Sam Reid Reylton in automotive history will remain as the creator of cars, as well as a creator of unique cars, have established a 30-40s. Several of the absolute speed records on land.
Railton Eight ("Reylton Eight"), 1933-1939
The first model Railton actually announced as the Railton-Tenaplane ("Reylton-Terrapleyn"), because it created on the basis of American cars Essex Terraplane ("Essex Terrapleyn") of Hudson. For the American production model upgraded chassis, equipped with low-speed in-line eight-cylinder engine and 3-speed transmission.
In turn, Reylton made stiffer suspension, equipping the car with the driver's seat with adjustable friction dampers. Despite the fact that these cars resembled sports models Invicta, their personalities were quite different. At the British sports cars of that period was characterized by the use of indirect transfers to the best possible use of the engine. Railton also takes a different approach: the engine with high torque and 3-speed gearbox with a wide range of gear ratios.
Sedan Railton Ranelagh 1935 to 4010
The testers were delighted. The magazine Autocar ("Otokar"), said: "The absolute silence and the absence of any hint of the presence of mechanisms - that's what fascinates in this car ..." and found that he was "ahead of his time in ten years." Even taking into account the journalists love 30s. to the hyperbole, it is necessary to listen to such a remark about the created car in a hurry.
In the first samples of installed engine capacity of 4010 cm3, and then - 4168 cm3. Depending on the type of car body top speed reached 145 km / h and acceleration time from standstill to 96 km / h takes just 10 seconds, a remarkable achievement for those years. The Company has never declared Railton amount of fuel consumption, which was terrible -18-23 l/100 km. The reason for this, the design of the engine. He was a long-excursion, with cast iron cylinder head and block. Though created in 1930, the valves were below, and an excellent performance, he was obliged to huge torque. Maximum power output was only 113 hp
In-line 8-cylinder engine capacity of 1936 Hudson 124 liters. a. had a spray lubrication system
However, buyers Railton treated very well by this motor, and in the U.S. of its production continued until 1954, until they came to replace the overhead valve engine. Up to 1936 cars Railton compete with the products of firms Alvis ("Alvis") and Lagonda ("Lagonda"), but then the company has switched to more expensive machines. It has increased the wheelbase, a heavier construction and proposed a more spacious vehicle. In those years, the client can get a tourist body, coupled with a retractable top, sedan or limousine with any amendments, which he could wish for.
All machines Railton Eight complete 3-speed transmission. Only a few copies have independent front suspension with a split front axle. And yet, other than the rest of the British character of the car led to the failure of the Eight. Railton products in the country until the end and did not appreciate. Total in 1933-39 years. the company released 1379 copies of the Railton Eight.
Railton in 1937 with an 8-cylinder Hudson, long wheelbase and the body of the company's Carrington ("Carrington")
Characteristics (1935)
Engine: P8, nizhneklapanny
Bore and Stroke: 76,2 x114, 3 mm
Displacement: 4168 cm3
Maximum Power: 113 hp
Transmission: 3-speed manual
Chassis: the steel frame
Suspension: dependent on semi-elliptic leaf springs
Brakes: drum
Body: 4 - or 5-seater aluminum timber-framed
Maximum speed: 142 km / h
Railton Light Sports ("Sports Reylton Light") 1935
How could it happen that such a phenomenally fast 4-seater car is the price of 878 GBP suffered in 1935 as a serious failure? Railton Light Sports, exceptional in all respects a model, demand did not enjoy. Perhaps a relatively small customer base is not interested in sports car based on the American Hudson? Indeed, in the same price range you can get 4.5-liter Lagonda or 3.5-liter Alvis - a purely British model, as they say, from bumper to bumper.
Gorgeous 2-seater Railton Light Sports in demand not used, despite its outstanding performance
The most dynamic cars in the UK market in those years was a fantastically unlucky. He looked fiercely. Because the body was made mostly of aluminum, its own weight of the vehicle was according to the magazine Autocar just one tonne. This powerful machine with a wheelbase of 2.94 meters to reach a maximum speed of 161 km / h and with only one gear change accelerates from zero to 96 km / h in 9.8 s. Even more impressive achievement - to accelerate to 145 km / h in less than 30 seconds!
More ferocious than the other models Railton, the appearance of a car engine displacement must-Chairman ago. Therefore, even though the machine was four-seat, rear seat passengers is clearly not enough. Wheels Railton with bore diameter of 16 inches, compared with its competitors look ridiculous: the Lagonda and Alvis were 18 - and 19-inch, respectively. It certainly has caused doubts in relation to the Light Sports in British traditionalists.
Chassis of the car was completely normal. As in other models, Railton, used by the American firm Hudson chassis with a low speed nizhneklapannym inline eight-cylinder engine and 3-speed transmission. Perhaps that's why magazine Autocar said "soft" nature of the engine and noted that "the car can keep moving in top gear, which is inherent in most perfect steam engine ... No need for a gear change does not diminish the interest in him."
Despite the fact that the Light Sports was an interesting car, he died before he could be born. It is believed that the company has produced only two instances of this model, but there is evidence that "created" a few more pieces.
In 1935 the car Light Sports, accelerates from zero to 96 km / h in 9.8 s, leaving a strong impression
Characteristics (1935)
Engine: P8, nizhneklapanny
Bore and Stroke: 76,2 x114, 3 mm
Displacement: 4168 cm3
Maximum Power: 113 hp
Transmission: 3-speed manual
Chassis: the steel frame
Suspension: dependent on semi-elliptic leaf springs
Brakes: drum
Body: 4-seater aluminum timber-framed
Maximum speed: 161 km / h
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