The Maxton Rollerskate was created by Robert DeLano Sutherland, a Colorado businessman who operated a chain of lumber yards.

Sutherland graduated from Yale University in 1965, and later became a vintage car collector and amateur racing driver.

[5][2] Sutherland's goal with the Rollerskate was to recreate the experience of driving a classic British roadster, but with a modern powertrain and running gear.

The process of building Chassis 3 into a running car was the subject of a series of MotorWeek episodes on PBS television.

[7] The car is designed to accept a Mazda two-rotor engine, typically either a 12A or the longer, larger displacement 13B.

[8][10][22] Prior to starting on the Rollerskate, Sutherland commissioned the design and construction of another automobile which was later intended to become Maxton's up-market model.

Starting with a simple chassis of two parallel large-diameter tubes, Lawrence installed a six-cylinder engine from a Datsun 280Z in front, and the transaxle, clutch, and flywheel from an Alfa Romeo Alfetta in back.

All roll-resistance is provided by two long torsion bars running the length of the chassis, one on each side, that are attached to the suspension by 12-inch arms.

[25] A second copy with a narrow roadster body and cycle fenders was built by Church Green Engineering [de].

[24] Maxton considered substituting a Rover V8 for the Nissan inline six in Mille Miglias sold in the British market.

[15] The production Mille Miglia was to be renamed the Slingshot, but since only the prototype was built, the name change never took place.

The company released details about a planned coupe called the Maxton GT with an aluminum body and gull-wing doors.

[26] Sutherland was involved in the V12 project as one of the principals of another company called JHS Engines Ltd., along with former Cosworth employees Graham Dale-Jones and Terry Hoyle.

After both JWAE and the Brabham F1 team evaluated the engine and rejected it, development sponsor Ford pulled out of the project.

The P351 did poorly at Silverstone and Le Mans in 1992, and the last appearance of a Type 290 on a track was in an Arrows chassis in the 1998 and 1999 BOSS GP series.