It seems from what has been written that only a few 250cc versions were made, The 350cc bombed. The factory ones morphed into something else. The 322 Anzani was used by the works, but it is not known what happened to it.. Otherwise I think the reality is they were 650cc, which is edging out of Microcar territory. But as 650cc the thing had to be modified to take the power, in the doing the project then turned into the Atomata as better vehicle, which actually had different dimensions. From there you get rge Atomata Major, with the 650cc being replaced by a Standard 10 engine. When there is a restored Alomata we can revisit what it was like to drive. bUt I agree. I think Don was wildly optimistic with the original Atom.
As to Steve's question, I am not sure I know enough to answer it. Fairthorpe naturally took an interest in motorsport. It was a way of proving, and selling cars. Also being petrol heads, the key factory workers enjoyed it. However they were looking to make a economic sports car, not a racing car. Something an owner would likely use for club events. As it turned out the Electron was a competitive chassis looking for the right power. There was a sort of unofficial factory team. The factory supplied some Climax engined cars, which permed very well. So even now Fairthorpe appear in grids of minor racing series and clock up good results for their humble origins. But there are no Le Mans cars, or anything like that. The film appearance is strictly the first 5 minutes of the film.
Beyond Fairthorpe, John Green, the guy who really created the car, is alleged to have found Don unyielding to then build on the Electron success, with a more modern design. He left and begat the Daren series of cars, which are racing cars. In a way the first of those could have been a Fairthorpe. For Fairthorpe, they seemed to get stuck trying to reinvent the Electron beyond its sell by date, until Torix produced his vision of what a sports car should be. These are fascinating cars too, and rare.
So Fairthorpe did not bring much to the mix, in the way most Microcars did not bring much to the mix. In much the same way it tripped over success, got sidetracked into ideas that really were not going to work, and missed the opportunity to invest in improvement to remain in the market, with a successful car. It is for the taste and intelligence of the Classic Enthusiast, to recognise the potential winning design out of a lot of false starts, and ego trips; dip, and pick out a cracker at a fraction the cost of machines the mainstream hold up as beacons of quality. If your that way inclined, of course. Some will never see it, as fashion, or parroted ignorance, fills their closed mind. But to produce one of these forgotten machines, in prime sand kicking order, is a challenge I have always relished. And so often where the inquisitive enthusiast venture first, the mainstream arrives late on, co opts the gems, and polishes the history so that only a fool would not want to own one. Really?
I will leave you with a question. Which one, Austin Healey Sprite Mk1, or Fairthorpe Electron Minor? Your answer tells a lot about the kind of Classic Car Enthusiast you are.
