It was driven by Cobb, mainly at the Brooklands race track where it holds the all-time lap record (143.44 mph (230.84 km/h)) which was set in 1935.
Between 1933 and 1937, the Napier-Railton broke 47 world speed records at Brooklands, Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry and Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
[1] The car is powered by the high compression version (6.1:1) (RAF specification) of the naturally aspirated Napier Lion, a W12 of 23.944 litres (1,461 cu in) capacity, producing 580 bhp (433 kW) at 2585 revolutions per minute (recorded at 5,000 ft – performance at ground level may be different), and 1,250 lb⋅ft (1,695 N⋅m) of torque.
The 12 cylinders are in three banks of four (broad-arrow configuration), hence the triple exhaust system, and the engine has standard aerospace features such as dual magneto ignition.
The car was purchased by Brooklands Museum circa 1997 with the support of the UK's Heritage Lottery Fund and other donors.