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  • Fairthorpe Rockette (1962-1967)
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Fairthorpe
Sports Cars
1960s
Britain

History

Fairthorpe Rockette

Fairthorpe Rockette sports car

Manufacturer

 Fairthorpe

Production

 1963 to 1967

Class:

Sports car

Layout:

Front engine, rear drive

Body:

2 door sports

Engine:

Six-cylinders

Transmission:

Four-speed manual

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.

Fairthorpe Rockette Technical details and specifications (1962-1967)

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.

Fairthorpe Rockette (1962-1967)

Technical

  • 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: water

    TRANSMISSION:
    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: 4.11

    BODY 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 m

    BRAKES:
    front disc, rear drum.

    ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT:
    voltage: 12 V
    battery: 38 Ah
    ignition distributor make: Lucas
    headlights: 3 at front. later 2

    DIMENSIONS 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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Advanced Maintenance and Service Guides to download and save

Service

  • 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

     

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  • Fairthorpe Rockette (1962-1967)
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Fairthorpe Related | Vehicles launched in 1963 | British Automotive 1960s | British Sports cars | Sports Cars | kit-car

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