Fairthorpe Cars

Fairthorpe cars were made in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, England between 1954 and 1961, from 1961 to 1964 at Denham, Buckinghamshire and from 1964 to 1973 in Denham, Buckinghamshire.

Fairthorpe Ltd was founded by Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett.

Fairthorpe Ltd remains listed (as does Technical Exponents Ltd) at Denham Green Lane (as at 2007), but Fairthorpe does not trade.

The first cars were lightweight two seat models powered by motorcycle engines and with glass-fibre bodies.

The 1954 Atom was powered by a rear-mounted, two-stroke, air-cooled motor cycle engine driving the rear wheels through a three-speed Albion motor cycle gearbox and chain to the back axle. A choice of 250cc or 350cc BSA single cylinder and 322cc Anzani twin-cylinder engines was offered. The body was mounted on a backbone chassis and had all independent suspension by coil springs and hydraulic brakes. 44 were made.

The Atomota replaced the Atom in 1957 and was a complete re-design with front-mounted engine and new chassis. The engine was a twin cylinder, 646 cc BSA overhead-valve unit from the BSA Golden Flash model. It was coupled to a Standard 10 gearbox and drove the rear wheels via a propeller shaft and hypoid bevel gear. The suspension used coil springs all round with trailing wishbones at the rear. The number made is uncertain and the last car seems to have been made in 1960.

In 1956 a new larger car, the open 2-seat Electron appeared using a 1098cc overhead cam Coventry Climax engine. The front suspension was independent using coil springs and drum brakes were used all round. The engine was expensive for the company to buy resulting in a high price of £1050 (complete) or £734 (kit) and only around 20-30 are thought to have been made.

A reduced price version the Electron Minor followed in 1957 using a Standard Ten engine, transmission and rear axle. In 1963 the engine was changed to the one from the Triumph Spitfire and front disc brakes came from the same source in 1966. A hardtop was available as an option. With various specification changes the cars went from a Mark I to a Mark VI which had a Triumph GT6 chassis.

It was the mainstay of production until 1973 with about 700 being built.

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