Conceived by business partners Reid Railton and Noel Macklin, Railton cars were based on Hudson mechanicals and assembled at the old Invicta works on Macklin's Fairmile estate in Cobham, Surrey.

Both men already possessed considerable motor-industry experience, Macklin having founded Invicta and Railton the Arab Motor Company.

Railton also designed John Cobb's Napier Railton, which took the Brooklands Outer Circuit lap record in 1933, as well as Sir Malcolm Campbell's 'Bluebird' Land Speed Record cars of 1931 to 1935.

Introduced in 1933, the first Railton used a modified Terraplane Eight chassis on which was mounted British-style coachwork.

The Railton weighed less than the Terraplane and with 94bhp available from the 4,010cc sidevalve straight eight, the result was a stylish car with outstanding performance for its day.

Priced at £499, it also represented remarkable value for money.

Tourers were offered at first, followed by saloons and dropheads.

Other Hudson chassis of variou...