Fairthorpe Cars

[citation needed] The first cars were lightweight two-seat models powered by motorcycle engines and with glassfibre bodies.

It was coupled to a Standard 10 gearbox and drove the rear wheels via a propeller shaft and hypoid bevel gear.

The engine was expensive for the company to buy resulting in a high price of £1050 (complete) or £734 (kit); only around 20-30 are thought to have been made.

In 1963 the car received a larger version of the SC engine from the Triumph Spitfire and front disc brakes came from the same source in 1966.

It was offered in a choice of three stages of tune, with up to six carburettors and a BRM cylinder head, priced at £1,198, £1,281 and £1,407 respectively; the basic kit was available for £740.

[3] In 1967 Donald Bennett's son Torix joined the company and a new car the TX-GT coupé based on a Triumph GT6 chassis but with transverse rod independent rear suspension was announced.

By this time the market for hand-built small production cars was declining and the last model, the TX-S was a modified TX-GT with a variety of engines and the choice of the standard GT6 rear suspension.

[3] Another car, the TX Tripper, was produced by Torix's company, Technical Exponents, which shared premises with Fairthorpe.