LATHAM Axial Flow Supercharger - Fascinating History of a Short-Lived Design

With only 650 units produced, the Latham Axial Flow Supercharger is one of the rarest vintage speed parts out there, but it's also one of the most well documented products I've ever seen. Dozens of magazine articles, brochures and photos exist of these unique supercharger systems, helping us understand the history and scope of the company and its high end blower setup. They were efficient, they were cool and they were highly publicized, but all of that didn't result in great sales. It is estimated that Norman Latham only built about 650 units before stopping operations in 1965.

Latham Manufacturing Company, owned by Norman Latham, began building custom axial flow superchargers in 1956. Latham Superchargers were used at Bonneville Salt Flats and Daytona Beach speed trials with great results. The superchargers were featured in Hot Rod Magazine, Motor Trend Magazine, Car & Driver Magazine as well as MANY other custom car publications.

By the 1960's, Latham Superchargers were available in kits to fit small block Chevy, Ford Y-block, Ford FE and many more applications. With prices nearing $1000 for a kit, Latham Superchargers were high-end speed parts. By 1965, the aftermarket was flooded with speed parts, and the Latham Supercharger was priced out of the market. Norman Latham held on to his patterns and materials, eventually selling the whole operation to Richard Paul.

The Latham Supercharger that started this whole research project is an 11-stage unit, originally built for use on a Ford FE engine. It is serial number 001427. It is complete with four YH Carter side draft carburetors, top and bottom pulleys, as well as the spring loaded tensioner. The most peculiar part of the equation is the Latham intake manifold, as most Latham kits simply used an adapter plate to mount the blower to an existing stock intake. This custom Latham intake is one of just a handful produced.

[Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

I heard a Latham at full boost at an AHRA-sanctioned drag race at Green Valley Raceway in 1962. A Dallas-area racer, I believe his name was Jack Simon, had stuffed an SBC into a Nash Metropolitan and topped it with a Latham. As an aircraft mechanic, I later became familiar with the sound of all manner of turbine engines, turboprop, jet, and auxiliary power unit, centrifugal compressors and axial and even the axial-centrifugal combination. But I still remember the sound of that Latham from 1962. You have a treasure there. Please, if you plan on spinning it again, clean and lubricate the bearings beforehand. The "will it run" instinct has, unfortunately, irretrievably damaged too many rare pieces of history.

[rustyturner]

You want rare? I had a Mercedes 300SEL 6.3 that had custom-made Latham blower fed by 2 Weber 45DCOE carburetors. Stock, this was the fastest sedan in the world from 1968-72; with the Latham, it would stay neck-and-neck with a Ferrari 365GTB Daytona up to 130mph (after that, the breadbox aerodynamics came into play). Normally, the 6.3 only got about 12 mpg; with your foot in it, the Latham about halved that. But, BOY was it the ultimate sleeper. Big old boxy rich-fart sedan that took off like a Cup car.

[bardwell]

Very cool. This was what was under the hood of the crazy ‘Tobacco King’ Ford Galaxie - the one with a Turbonique rocket drag axle!

[melodigrand]

If you were building model cars in the 1960s you knew about the Latham supercharger. AMT model company made a kit 1925 Model T Ford that included a Lincoln engine (MEL) that could be built with a Latham supercharger 4 carb setup.

[Poorexampeofhuman]

This is the first time I've ever heard of this design of supercharger, let alone this particular design builder

[kennycarter]

1976 my sr yr I traded my motorcycle to a friend for a 67 Cuda 4spb with a 70 340. His next car was a 66 Ford Fairlane 390. He got a Latham Supercharger from another friend whos dad use to drag race. That Latham really brought the 390 alive!

[kylejuve]

Absolutely gorgeous. Standing ovation on the fine whine and rollout.

[matthewf]

I bet that thing sounds absolutely glorious at full rip!

[DrRust]

I love the picture at 0:47 of the hot v nail head with the crank driven blower. That right there is the true spirit of innovation in hot rodding at the time

[timreed-dqnx]

Works just like the compressor side of a jet engine.

[daviddavid]

Hey, big thanks for these awesome videos. The pacing, the deep research, the old mags... Let's all give a big hand to this content.

[RenaiDudley]

There was one of these with the 4 carbies last year at the Bendigo swap meet in Australia

[halfwaydecentvehicles]

I went to high school with Richard Paul son, he showed me his dad's shop Westlake CA, 1986, I saw lamborghini Coutash, he let me sit in it, cool guy

[BillyG]

In Southern California, the Sherrifs department in Palos Verdes had a Pontiac with a Latham on it. Four carters. As kids we had the guys open the hood a show us the setup. It ended up and a highway pursuit vehicle.

[stevehilliard]

Great video, it was very interesting but when I heard you owned it that increased the excitement and when you demonstrated it turning my smile was huge. Thanks 😎

[mick_]

"Wow" a very sweet bolt on accessory. Too cool champion. 🇦🇺👍

[bobbyduke]

Never heard of them, but i want one now.

[gafrers]

Fascinating. Never knew these were made for cars

[JohnCompton]

The engineering and manufacturing prowess, especially when you are talking 1950's technologies, is astounding! The development and manufacturing process must've been quite expensive using 50's machinery and basically slide rules, hence the high cost. BTW, the pic of Norm Latham from the magazine article, priceless...lol...thanks so much for sharing!

[raywagner]

I bought one of the Richard Paul versions from Richard back in 2010. Never used it but it made for an amazing wall hanger for about a decade until someone found out I had it. It used the dual Webers and was originally designed as an underhood unit for the new body style 82 Camaro.