Frazer Nash

Frazer-Nash Namir by Giugiaro — 2009 Italdesign Frazer-Nash Namir Concept

Frazer Nash was a British car manufacturer and engineering company founded by Archibald Frazer-Nash in 1922. Frazer Nash should not be confused with the unrelated companies Kaiser-Frazer and Nash Motors.

History[]

The company was founded in 1922 by Archibald Frazer-Nash who had, with Henry Ronald Godfrey founded and run the GN Cyclecar Company. The company was established in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, moving to Isleworth, London in 1929. The company entered receivership in 1927 and re-emerged as AFN Limited. The majority of AFN was acquired by H. J. ("Aldy") Aldington in 1932 and run by the three Aldington brothers, H.J., Donald A. and William H. Aldy's son, John Taylor ("JT") Aldington was the last of the family owners/directors until AFN Ltd was sold to Porsche GB in 1965.

In 1929, Nash & Thomson was formed by Frazer-Nash and Godfrey to develop the Frazer-Nash hydraulic aircraft turret

Main article: Nash & Thomson

The company produced around 400 cars until the mid-1930s, notably a series of famous chain drive models.

They became importers and assemblers of BMW cars in 1934 and sold them as Frazer Nash-BMW. They were the official British BMW importer until the outbreak of war in 1939. In 1954 the company started to sell Porsche cars, becoming the official importer for Great Britain in 1956. This lasted until 1965 when Porsche Cars Great Britain was set up; Aldington family members remained on the board of this company for some time.

During World War II, the company was involved in armaments production. It specifically built powered turrets for use on bombers such as the Lancaster.

Eighty-five more cars were produced from 1948 to 1957. These cars were entirely unrelated to the chain-drive pre-war Frazer Nash, but were largely a direct evolution of the sporting BMW 328, mentioned above. In the choice of Bristol engines the cars were natural successors to the imported BMWs, the Bristol engine being a development of that of the BMW 328. Models include the Le Mans Replica, the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio, the Le Mans Coupé and the Sebring. Competition successes included a third place at Le Mans (1949) and a win in the Targa Florio (1951). These post-war cars are very highly prized by collectors. The company participated in the 1952 Formula One season, the cars driven by Tony Crook and Ken Wharton.

There are several successor companies still (as of 2009) active in engineering consultancy (Frazer-Nash Consultancy) and electric vehicle design (Frazer-Nash Research).

Products[]

Car models[]

Considering the small number of cars made, the model range is vast and the following is not entirely comprehensive. Cars were all built to order and virtually any combination was possible. Some were rebuilt at the factory as different versions.

Type	Engine	Approx Production	Year	Notes
Frazer Nash Fast Tourer/Super Sports	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	165 in the 1920s	1925-1930	various engines including Plus Power, Anzani and Meadows. Super Sports (from 1928) had no running boards. 105-inch (2,667 mm) wheelbase chassis on Fast Tourer and Super Sports with short 99-inch (2,515 mm) option on Super Sport.
Frazer Nash Interceptor/Sportop/Falcon	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	5	1930-1932	Anzani or Meadows engine. Sportop version was fabric bodied. Falcon had a better equipped body. Long and short chassis options.
Frazer Nash Boulogne	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	16	1926-1932	Anzani or Meadows engine. Supercharger optional. Long and short chassis options
Frazer Nash Ulster	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	5	1929-1931	Competition version of the road cars. Long and short chassis options.
Frazer Nash Nūrburg	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	3	1932-1933	Competition model. Tuned Meadows engine. No doors. Short chassis only.
Frazer Nash Exeter	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	4	1932	Single carburettor Meadows engine. Short chassis only.
Frazer Nash Colmore	1.5 L inline 4 cylinder or 1660 cc inline 6 cylinder	19	1932-1939	Four seater. 105-inch (2,667 mm) or 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase chassis options. Four cylinder cars used a Meadows engine, six cylinder cars a twin OHC Blackburne. Three or Four speed transmission.
Frazer Nash TT Replica	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder or 1660 cc in line 6 cylinder	83	1932-1938	Gough 4 cylinder engine used as well as the Meadows and Blackburne. 105-inch (2,667 mm) or 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase chassis options
Frazer Nash Shelsley	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder or 1660 cc in line 6 cylinder	8	1934-1936	Gough (supercharger optional) or Blackburne engines. 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase.
Frazer Nash Ulster 100	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	1	1936-1937	Originally Anzani powered, later replaced by Gough engine and then a Meadows. Long rounded tail to body.
Frazer Nash Falcon	1.9 L in line 6 cylinder	1	1936	BMW engined. 102-inch (2,591 mm) wheelbase.
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	34	1948-1953	Originally named "High Speed" and "Competition". 96-inch (2,438 mm) wheelbase. Cycle wings. Conventional (Bristol) gearbox.
Frazer Nash Fast Tourer/Mille Miglia	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	12	1948-1952	Full width body.
Frazer Nash Targa Florio	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	14	1952-1954	Turismo (100 hp (75 kW)) or Gran Sport (125 hp (93 kW)) Bristol engine options. One car fitted with Austin Atlantic engine.
Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupé	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	9	1953-1956	140 hp (100 kW) engine.
Frazer Nash Sebring	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	3	1954	Open version of Le Mans Coupé.
Frazer Nash Continental	3.2 L V-8	2	1957	BMW engine. Listed at £3751 at the London Motor Show.

Grand Prix[]

Frazer Nash cars participated in 4 World Championship Grands Prix. Drivers of Frazer Nash cars scored 3 World Championship points.

(key)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1952	Frazer-Nash FN48 Fraser-Nash 421	Bristol Straight-6	D		SUI	500	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	NED	ITA
				Ken Wharton	4		Ret				Ret
				Tony Crook					21

Preservation[]

A number of examples exist in the hands of private colletors

Add details here please

References / sources[]

From Chain-Drive to Turbocharger: The A.F.N. Story by Denis Jenkinson, Patrick Stephens Limited, 1984 ISBN 0-85059-631-9

External links[]

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