Railton Special

The Railton Special, later renamed the Railton Mobil Special, is an extraordinary vehicle designed by Reid Railton specifically for John Cobb's land speed record attempts in 1938. This engineering marvel was propelled by two supercharged Napier Lion VIID (WD) W-12 aircraft engines, generously provided by Marion 'Joe' Carstairs. To manage this immense power, it was equipped with a four-wheel-drive system.

Weighing over 3 tonnes and measuring 28 feet and 8 inches in length, the Railton Special was a true behemoth. On September 15, 1938, it set a new land speed record by reaching 353.30 mph, shattering the 350 mph barrier. Although Captain Eyston later surpassed this record, Cobb reclaimed it in 1939 with a speed of 369.70 mph.

Following World War II, with sponsorship from Mobil Oil, the vehicle was renamed the Railton Mobil Special. On September 16, 1947, it became the first ground vehicle to exceed 400 mph in a measured run. John Cobb set a new world land speed record, averaging 394.19 mph over the measured mile. This record remained unbroken until the American Goldenrod surpassed it eighteen years later in the category of piston-engined, wheel-driven land speed record cars.

Today, this incredible piece of automotive history can be viewed at the Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum in England.