Daphne Arnott was born in London, in December 1926. During the war she worked for the Hawker Aircraft Company and later went to St Georges Hospital, Hyde Park, as a nurse. During 1948 she became an active member of the family engineering business, as a garage proprietor. Family associations with motorsport spurred on an enthusiasm to take part in competition, a prototype 500 was constructed in 1951 and a new company formed for the manufacture of the cars.

George Thornton was born in 1916 and educated in London. For seven years he managed the family motorcycle business and later, was employed by Carburettors Ltd. working on Arnott carburettors and superchargers until the war. For the duration, he worked for De Havilland Aircraft Co. and became the General Manager of Arnott Racing Cars.

The Arnott factory in Harlesden was best known for manufacture of superchargers. Their first 500 ran at Brands Hatch in 1951, driven by George Thornton. They produced 9 cars in all and achieved some success with drivers like Ivor Bueb (in a modified car), John Brise and Denis Taylor.

Side view from Cadwell Park June 2004

A spin at Brands Hatch in 1953

At Cadwell Park, June 2004

The Arnott team. Dennis Taylor is in the cockpit and George Thornton is at the rear of the car. Photo courtesy of John Furlong.

As reviewed in Iota

Arnott also built a streamlined car, using Norton engines of 350cc and 500cc, to make record attempts at Montlhéry in August 1953, with John Brise at the wheel.

Cockpit of the Arnott 500

Dennis Taylor at an unfamiliar looking Brands Hatch in July 1952. In the early years the circuit was anticlockwise and there was no Druids hairpin. Photo courtesy of John Furlong.

In the paddock at Goodwood, 2005