1959 Fairthorpe Electron Coventry Climax
- Engine
- Coventry Climax FWA series
The Fairthorpe Electron is a rare British sports-racer conceived by Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett, who founded Fairthorpe Cars in the mid-1950s. Only 21 or 22 were built using TR3 running gear and a Coventry-Climax FWA engine, with around seven survivors known today. This example was discovered abandoned on the Isle of Wight and underwent an extensive ground-up restoration including a new chassis, new bodywork, and a fully rebuilt 1220cc Climax engine prepared for competition by marque specialist Peter Waller.
Ownership
- 2018-02-23Auction saleSold £20,000 (≈ $25K)
- Date unknownIsle of Wight owner (long-term storage)none documentation
The car sat unused in a garden for over two decades. The chassis had deteriorated significantly and someone had made amateur bodywork alterations, though the TR3 running gear remained intact.
- Date unknownPrivate saleRobert Cobdenpartial documentation
Discovered the car on the Isle of Wight and undertook an 18-month ground-up restoration, commissioning a new chassis, new bodywork, and a full engine rebuild before entering it for auction.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
Comprehensive 18-month ground-up rebuild following extended storage; a new chassis was fabricated using the original as a pattern, a new bonnet and rear body section were produced by a Cobra bodywork specialist, and the brakes and suspension were fully rebuilt with Gaz dampers and springs fitted.
Carried out by vendor Robert Cobden. A roll-bar, harnesses, fire extinguisher, and battery isolators were also installed to meet competition regulations.
- —Engine rebuildPeter Waller
Original Coventry-Climax unit fully rebuilt and uprated for racing: crankshaft reground 10 thou undersize and balanced, connecting rods and Arias forged pistons balanced, FWE liners fitted enlarging displacement to 1220cc, lightweight flywheel and modified rear seal installed. Cylinder head gas-flowed with larger valves and a Kent Cams five-bearing camshaft. Reported output of 112 bhp at the flywheel with a safe rev limit around 8000 rpm.
Peter Waller is described as a marque expert for Coventry-Climax engines.
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