John Cobb's 24 litre Napier-Railton.

This unique car was commissioned by the Brooklands driver John Cobb and was designed with the Brooklands Lap Record, 500 Mile Race and the World's 24 Hour Record in mind. The chassis was designed by Reid Railton at Thomson and Taylor Ltd at Brooklands and the car took shape in their workshops in 1933.

The magnificent vehicle, with its immensely strong girder construction, powered by a 12 cylinder Napier Lion aero-engine, won fame not only as the fastest car at Brooklands but twice took for Britain the 24 hour record in 1935 and 1936 (150.16mph).

The Brooklands Outer Circuit lap record of 143.44mph taken in 1935 by the Napier Railton was never beaten.

The car is now on display in the Speed Record Exhibition in the Motoring Village at Brooklands Museum together with an excellent contemporary scale model of the Napier Railton and many photographs of the car and the people involved with it, including John Cobb, Reid Railton, Thomson, Taylor and the workshop engineers. Records at Brooklands were electrically timed and the Museum also has the original 1933 timing apparatus in the collection.

Holder of both standing start and flying start lap records, winner of the fastest short and the fastest long distance races ever run at Brooklands and creator of the highest speed measured officially there, the Napier Railton may be said to be truly the ultimate pre-war British Racing Car.

Brooklands Museum Trust was recently given the opportunity to purchase the car, by the owner, Lukas Hüni, who wished the Museum to be its permanent home.

Brooklands Museum

Phone: 01932 857381
Fax: 01932 855465

Visit the Brooklands Museum web site: http://www.motor-software.co.uk/brooklands/index.html

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