This article is about the British car company founded in 1922. For the electric & hybrid vehicle company Frazer-Nash Research, see Kamkorp. For the aircraft equipment manufacturer, see Nash & Thompson. For the American vehicle brand, see Frazer (automobile). For other Frazer-Nash entities, see Archibald Frazer-Nash.
Badge on a 1936 car
Frazer Nash was a brand of British sports car manufactured from 1922 first by Frazer Nash Limited founded by engineer Archibald Frazer-Nash. On its financial collapse in 1927 a new company, AFN Limited, was incorporated. Control of AFN passed to Harold John Aldington in 1929.
Until the Second World War AFN continued to produce a small number of sports cars badged Frazer Nash incorporating a unique multi-chain transmission. It continued after the war making another 85 sports cars before ending manufacture in 1957. The post-war cars had conventional transmissions.
UK agents for BMW arranged coachwork and made modifications, including badging the cars "Frazer Nash BMW".
Control of AFN Limited, UK agents for Porsche, passed from the Aldington family to Porsche in 1987.
History
Archie Nash
Frazer Nash Limited's business[note 1] was founded in 1922 by Archie Nash. Nash with friend Ron Godfrey had founded and run the GN cyclecar company in 1909 but their partnership split in 1922 and Nash began making his own cars by buying GN components and adding a new body. His new business's activities were centred on Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. The first true Frazer Nash was made in 1924.[1] However, Nash, a clever engineer and designer, seemed unable to run a business at a profit. Shareholders in this period even included author Evelyn Waugh. Eventually the faltering business was sold to a new company, AFN Limited, formed in 1927. Profitability did not improve and, with effect from 1 January 1929, H J Aldington was made managing director and Nash was given the post of 'technical adviser'.[2] Archie Nash managed to keep a small shareholding and as if to confirm the link in 1938 hyphenated his second name to his surname and became Archie Frazer-Nash.
Aldington brothers
During 1929 a majority of AFN's capital was acquired by Harold Joseph ("Aldy") Aldington (1902–1976) and AFN's operations moved to Isleworth, Middlesex. Thereafter, the business was run by the three Aldington brothers: Aldy, Don and Bill. The other two were Donald Arthur Aldington (1907–1997) and William Henry Aldington (1900–1980). They were all usually referred to by their initials.[2]
Frazer Nash and subsequently AFN produced around 350 of the famous chain drive models between 1924 and 1939.[2]
The last of the family owners/directors was Aldy's son, John Taylor ("JT") Aldington, who sold AFN Ltd to Porsche GB in 1987.
Frazer Nash BMW
Frazer Nash BMW 1937
circa 1939
AFN Ltd became importers and assemblers of BMW cars in 1934 and sold them branded Frazer Nash BMW. They were the official British BMW importer until the outbreak of war in 1939.
Bristol BMW
In 1946 at the 36th Ordinary General Meeting of the Bristol Aeroplane Company it was announced that its Engine Division had acquired the majority of the shares in AFN Ltd.[3] AFN Ltd produced about 85 more cars 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.
A Bristol 400 engine c. 1948
AFN, as owners of the UK rights to the 328 engine, licensed Bristol to make it against an agreement for its supply to them. 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 wins in the Targa Florio in 1951 and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1952. The post-war cars are very highly prized by collectors.
In 1954 AFN Limited added 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 until John Aldington sold out to Porsche in 1987.[4]
Post War Weapons and Multi Market Engineering until now
Within the 1950s weapons technology grew into a major factor of the company's operations. With the well tuned joining of several company parts in the year 1971 the still today existing unit of "Frazer-Nash Consultancy" was born. This moved through multiple hands over time and under the hood of various owners Besitzer: 1990 had a management buyout, 2004 it was moved to Devonport Management Limited which soon got acquired by Babcock International Group plc., 2021 it was taken over by KBR.[5] Starting in 2010 the company opened multiple development and office locations in Australia.[6] For summer 2022 a total staff of about 1000 employees is reported by the web pages of the company. Furthermore a revenue of 101 Million British Pounds (once equal to 186 Million Australian Dollars) for the fiscal year of 2020/2021 got reported.[7]
Products
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.
Pre-war models
1926 Fast tourer1929 Super Sports1933 Colmore1934 TT Replica1936 Ulster 100
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
engines were Plus Power, but mainly Anzani. 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
25
1930–1932
Meadows engine. Sportop version was fabric bodied. Falcon had a better equipped body. Long and short chassis options.
Frazer Nash Boulogne I and II
1.5 L in line 4-cylinder
30
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
5
1932
Single carburettor Meadows engine. Short chassis only Corsica body.
Frazer Nash Colmore
1.5 L in line 4-cylinder or 1660 cc in line 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 OHCBlackburne. Three or Four speed transmission.
Narrow body on Le Mans Replica chassis built to Formula 2 regulations. Also competed in World Championship Grand Prix and Formula Libre races.
Frazer Nash Targa Florio
Bristol engine (2 L in line 6-cylinder)
15
1952–1954
Turismo (100 hp (75 kW)) or Gran Sport (125 hp (93 kW)) Bristol engine options. One car fitted with Austin Atlantic engine. Last 5 cars were open versions of Le Mans Coupé.
Essentially a sports version of the DKW Sonderklasse, which AFN also imported. As in that car, the engine is installed longitudinally and drives the front wheels. The car competed in the 1955 RAC Tourist Trophy without success, and was then laid up at the AFN works. It was brought back to life in 2008, and was featured in Classic & Sports Car, August 2011 issue.
Wankel AG LCR - 814 TGti (0.8L) + 4x Electric Motors
1
2009
A concept car born of the collaboration between Italdesign Giugiaro and Frazer-Nash
Complete World Championship of Drivers results
Frazer Nash cars participated in four Grands Prix counting towards the World Championship of Drivers. Drivers of Frazer Nash cars scored 3 World Championship points.
All Grand Prix races counting towards the 1952 World Championship were restricted to Formula Two cars.
Although World Championship races held in 1952 and 1953 were run to Formula Two regulations, constructors who only participated during this period are included herein to maintain Championship continuity. Constructors whose only participation in the World Championship was in the Indianapolis 500 races between 1950 and 1960 are not listed.
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