Napier-Railton
The Napier-Railton is an aero-engined racing car built in 1933. The iconic Napier-Railton is fastest car to lap the Brooklands Outer Circuit.
Commissioned by Brooklands driver John Cobb, and designed by Reid Railton, it was built by Thomson and Taylor here, at their engineering works within the Brooklands Track.
The Napier-Railton is a highlight of our collection that is not to be missed!
Engine: 24 Litre Napier Lion
Top Speed: 170 mph
Manufacturer: Thomson and Taylor
Model: Napier-Railton Special
Built with parts of engines for aeroplanes, the Napier-Railton is exceptional to hear.
The Napier-Railton is run regularly on the Finishing Straight at Brooklands Museum and is usually present at Goodwood Festival of Speed each June.
Wealthy amateur racing driver John Cobb, three times holder of the world land speed record, commissioned the Napier-Railton specifically to race at Brooklands and to break world endurance records.
In 1935 it became the fastest vehicle to lap the Outer Circuit at an average speed of 143.44mph, a record that was never beaten.
The car was completed in 1933 and first appeared in a race at Brooklands in August of that year. Designed specifically to break endurance records and race at Brooklands, the Napier-Railton excelled at both.
It won several high-profile races at Brooklands, broke numerous world endurance records, and set the ultimate Brooklands lap record.
In 1949, the car was hired from John Cobb by the Romulus Film Company and was used in ‘Pandora and the Flying Dutchman’, a film about a racing car driver starring James Mason.
In 1951, the car was sold to the GQ Parachute Company of Woking, who had the car modified for testing aircraft braking parachute on the runway at Dunsfold airfield.
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![John Cobb In Napier Railton On Railway Straight, Brooklands Surrey]()
John Cobb In Napier Railton On Railway Straight, Brooklands Surrey -
![Finishing Straight Napier Railton]()
Finishing Straight Napier Railton -
![D12 Relived Napier 2]()
D12 Relived Napier 2 -
![Napier Bike Finishing Straight]()
Napier Bike Finishing Straight -
![Napier Railton Used For Parachute Testing. Driver Sir Ramond Quilter. May 1954.]()
Napier Railton Used For Parachute Testing. Driver Sir Ramond Quilter. May 1954. -
![Brooklands Museum Surrey, Napier Railton UKTV Secrets Of The Transport Museum]()
Brooklands Museum Surrey, Napier Railton UKTV Secrets Of The Transport Museum
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