One of the most unusual car manufacturers must be Fairthorpe. The company was founded by Don Bennett who had a very distinguished career in the Royal Air Force during World War 2, as Air Vice-Marshall Don "Pathfinder" Bennett.

The first model was called the Atom and was a rear-engined open top "bubble" car with a choice of BSA motorcycle engines from 250cc up to 650cc and independent suspension all round. The next model was called the Atomota which was a front-engined coupe with a Standard Ten engine. Neither of these cars were sold in any quantity. The bodies were fibreglass mouldings and the styling was unusual if not quirky which, even in the austere post war market, was likely to limit their appeal.

The Kit car market was in full swing by 1956 and the Electron was their answer to this demand. The Automota chassis was adapted to accept the proprietary Mistral fibreglass body by Microplas and the engine was the Coventry Climax FWA. About 30 of these were delivered.

The Electron Minor of 1958 was the most successful model up to that date and was conceived as a small light sports car using the Standard Ten engine and triumph Herald suspension. Production reached the heady level of 20 cars per month and the model remained in production for nine years, by which time it was fitted with the Triumph Spitfire engine. About 500 were sold.

In 1959 the factory built a Formula Junior racing car based on the suspension of the Electron Minor and with a rather heavy tubular chassis. The engine was mounted at the front but on the near side of the chassis and the driver balanced this by sitting on the off side. The rear suspension was Triumph Herald with larger rear wheel bearings to take the extra loading. The body was as odd as any other Fairthorpe and was believed to have been moulded around an aircraft fuel drop-tank. With it's curious little rear fin and circular body it looked like half a bomb. The car was not competitive and was not developed as Bennett was not really interested in racing. The car was consigned to the rafters above the workshop where it was discovered by Duncan Rabagliati and is now owned by Ron Welsh who has restored it to raceworthy condition.

The road going Electron was quite popular in club racing circles in the late 1950's and 1960's and enjoyed considerable success as a cheap and production sports car. The introduction of the Austin-Healey Sprite at £80 less (£631) with full dealer and factory support made the Electron Minor more difficult to sell although it continued as a kit car until 1973.
In 1961 a 2 + 2 coupé version was announced called the Electrina but only about 20 were made.

The Zeta model of 1960 used a Ford Zephyr engine in the Electron chassis, but in spite of being one of the quickest cars to 100mph it was ugly and had marginal handling, and so only about 20 cars were sold. This was replaced in 1963 by the equally unsuccessful Rockette with the 1,596cc six-cylinder Triumph Vitesse engine which gave 70bhp. Sales figures only reached 25 cars up to 1967.

In 1967 the TX range was announced. This was the work of Don Bennett's son Torix and was based on the Triumph GT6 except that the rear suspension used cross over swing axles. These were originally patented by Granville Grenfell, the famous Brooklands based race engineer and the patent had probably run out by 1967.

The TX continued as a Fairthorpe, but was a separate marque from 1970. The company continues to exist but is presently not trading.

Owners of Fairthorpe cars are catered for by the Fairthorpe Sports Car Club:-
Secretary : Mr. B. Gibbs, Rose Cottage, Hollington, Long Crendon, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. HP18 9EF