History
Fairthorpe Rockette
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Manufacturer |
Fairthorpe |
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Production |
1963 to 1967 |
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Class: |
Sports car |
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Layout: |
Front engine, rear drive |
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Body: |
2 door sports |
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Engine: |
Six-cylinders |
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Transmission: |
Four-speed manual |
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Top Speed: |
112 mph, 180.3 km/h |
| wheel base: | 88.00 in, 2235 mm |
| front track: | 52.00 in, 1321 mm |
| overall length: | 147.00 in, 3734 mm |
| overall height: | 46 in, 1168 mm |
The Fairthorpe Rockette was a small light weight British sports car from the 1960s.
History
The Fairthorpe Rockette was introduced in 1962 and produced until 1967. Donald Bennett, a wartime bomber pilot, set up the motor manufacturing business in Buckinghamshire in the early 1950s, the Fairthorpe Rockette was introduced in the summer of 1962. The Fairthorpe Rockette was available to buy as a complete car or as a cheap kit form body and chassis.The price was initially £ 725 for the factory car and jut under £1000 by the end of production the kits came with a price of around £550 to £650.
The unusual car was a two plus one seat located in the centre rear the even more unusual centre cyclops headlight did not prove popular and was soon discontinued in the summer of 1963 after only a short time making this the rarest of all the models .
It was basically the same as the Fairthorpe Zeta except for the fact that it required a modified glass-fibre body to house a more powerful and larger Triumph Vitesse six-cylinder 1596 cc engine with 2 Solex semi-downdraft carburettors. a small Six-cylinder with cast iron cylinder head and block.This this gave a near 50-50 distribution of weight of 51 % to front axle, and 49 % at the rear axle fitted to a mechanical gear box with 4 gears and overdrive capable of well over 100mph. Improved with optional accessories for better performance and handling that include twin tail pipes, 3 SU type HS 2 carburettors and anti-roll bar.
PERFORMANCE: Fairthorpe Rockette
- Engine Capacity 97.61 cu in, 1596 cu cm
- Fuel Consumption 35.0 m/imp gal, 29.0 m/US gal, 8.1 1 x 100 km
- Max Speed 112 mph, 180.3 km/h
- max power (SAE): 70 hp at 5000 rpm
- max torque (SAE) 12.7 kgm at 2800 rpm
- max number of engine rpm: 5500
- acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 17.3 sec, 0—50 mph (0 —80 km/h) 11.1 sec
- speed in in direct drive at 1000 rpm: 17.5 mph, 28.1 km/h.
- power-weight ratio: 14.5 lb/hp, 6.6 kg/hp
- max speed in 1st gear: 32 mph, 51.5 km/h; max speed in 2nd gear: 53 mph, 85.3 km/h; max speed in 3rd gear: 75 mph, 120.7 km/h;
max speed in 4th gear: 97 mph, 120.7 km/h; max speed in overdrive: 112 mph, 180.3 km/h
Very few of the factory cars were made with less than 30 sold until the end of production in 1967.
Technical
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Fairthorpe Rockette Technical details and specifications (1962-1967)
ENGINE: 1596 cc
front, 4 stroke
cylinders: 6, vertical, in line
bore and stroke 2.61 x 3.00 in, 66.3 x 76.2 mm
engine capacity: 97.61 Cu in, 1596 cu cm
compression ratio: 8.75 : 1
cylinder block: cast iron
cylinder head: cast iron
crankshaft bearings: 4
valves: 2 per cylinder, overhead, in line, with push rods and rockers
camshaft: 1, side
lubrication: gear rotor pump, full flow filter
lubricating system capacity: 3.5 imp qt, 4.2 US qt, 4.0 1
carburation: 2 Solex semi-downdraft carburettors
fuel feed: mechanical pump
cooling system: waterTRANSMISSION:
driving wheels: rear
clutch: single dry plate
gear box mechanical; gears: 4 -F reverse and overdrive
synchromesh gears: 2nd
gear box ratios: (I) 2.93, (II) 1.78, (III) 1.25, (IV) 1 - (overdrive) 0.8
final drive: hypoid bevel; ratio: 4.11BODY AND CHASSIS:
Body plastic material
Type tubular
front suspension: independent, wishbones, coil springs, telescopic dampers
rear suspension: rigid axle, trailing arms, coil springs, transverse linkage bar, telescopic dampers.STEERING:
rack-and-pinion
turns of steering wheel lock to lock: 2.75.
turning radius (between walls): 11.5 ft, 4 mBRAKES:
front disc, rear drum.ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT:
voltage: 12 V
battery: 38 Ah
ignition distributor make: Lucas
headlights: 3 at front. later 2DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT:
wheel base: 88.00 in, 2235 mm
front track: 52.00 in, 1321 mm
rear track: 52.00 in, 1321 mm
overall length: 147.00 in, 3734 mm
overall width: 58.00 in, 1473 mm
overall height: 46 in, 1168 mm
ground clearance: 7 in, 178 mm
dry weight: 1025 1b, 465 kg
distribution of weight: 51 % front axle, 49 % rear axle© Motor car History
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Service
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Fairthorpe Rockette maintenance and Service Guide (1962-1967)
fuel type: petrol, 97 Oct
engine oil: 3.5 imp qt, 4.2 US qt, 4.0 1, SAE 20, change every 3000 miles, 4800 km
gearbox oil: 0.8 imp qt, 0.9 US qt, 0.8 1, SAE 90, change every 12000 miles, 19300 km
final drive oil;: 0.5 imp qt, 0.6 US qt, 0.6 1, SAE 90, change every 12000 miles, 19300 km
cooling system capacity: 7 imp qt, 6.3 US qt, 7.9 1.
tappet clearances: inlet 0.010 in, 0.25 mm, exhaust 0.010 in, 0.25 mm; valve
timing: (inlet) opens 18° before tdc and closes 58° after bdc, (exhaust) opens 58° before bdc and closes 18° after tdc
tyre pressure (normal load): front 22 psi, 1.5 atm, rear 22 psi, 1.5 atm.
tyres: 5.60 - 13
fuel tank capacity: 10.00 imp gal, 11.88 US gal, 45 1.
Luggage space: 17 cb ft© Motor car History
