Fairthorpe Electron Minor (RHD)

Vehicle Description

Two-seater English sports car with a curb weight of only 610 kg
– 1.2 L four-cylinder in-line engine with 36 kW (49 hp) and 4-speed manual gearbox
– Number of vehicle owners not known
– Odometer reading 30,117 miles
– Lightweight GRP body and steel frame
– Mountney sports leather steering wheel and other vehicle-specific modifications entered in ZLB
– Leatherette bucket seats
– Mileage speedometer with KM scale, engine temperature, fuel gauge, engine oil pressure and electrical instruments from the traditional English company Smiths
– German registration documents
This little sports car is amazingly agile

Fairthorpe cars were manufactured at Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, England between 1954 and 1961 and at Denham, Buckinghamshire, between 1961 and 1973. Fairthorpe Ltd was founded by Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett. The first cars were lightweight two-seater models with motorcycle engines and fiberglass bodies. In 1956 the open 2-seater Electron appeared, with a 1098 cc overhead cam Coventry Climax engine. The front suspension was independent with coil springs and drum brakes were used all round. A price reduced version followed in 1957, the Electron Minor, which used the Standard SC engine, gearbox and rear axle from the Standard Ten. Electron Minor, whose name is mainly remembered by Fairthorpe. This car had remarkable road holding, was economical and fast. It had two comfortable seats and a large trunk with a 10-gallon gas tank. Originally offered as a complete car, the big breakthrough came when it was discovered in 1959 that you didn’t have to pay VAT if you built it yourself from a kit. By 1970, 700 vehicles were produced and were the mainstay of the company. The cars were fully assembled or available as kits

Vehicle Overview