Frazer Nash Born: 1924 Nationality: British
Though Frazer Nash cars didn't appear under that brand until well after the first World War, the genesis of the marque goes back to 1905 when two young men met at a technical college. When they left, Archie Frazer Nash and Ron Godfrey set up a company to build cyclecars, starting an alternative branch of motoring that built cheaper and smaller vehicles than the cars which were being built at the time.
Essentially they were of a very light construction, and initially used single-cylinder motorbike engines. By 1913 they had developed their own air-cooled V-engines of 1.1-litre capacity, and the transmissions were usually two-speed, using twin chains on different diameter sprockets to get the ratios, the final power being carried to the axle via belts. A number of high-performance versions with capability to reach 80 mph were made before the war.
The war stopped production, but the owners used the time to develop a chain-drive cyclecar, and after the war they introduced this as their first new model. This one had three forward speeds and was powered by a variety of engines from Powerplus, Anzani and Meadows.
When the founders left the company in 1922, it was restructured as Frazer Nash Ltd, with the aim of producing sporting cars.However, Frazer Nash Ltd suffered financial problems until 1929 when a competition driver, HJ Aldington, took control and updated the range of cars available. A good businessman, he re-established the brand on a sound footing.
Shelsely and TT Replica models were produced, powered by a 1.5-litre Gough engine. There was also a 6-cylinder 1.7-litre Blackburne engine option for the Shelsely Replica.
He began importing German BMW cars in 1934 and sold them as Frazer Nash-BMWs. Some of the older-style cars continued to be built until the second World War in 1939. After the war, Frazer Nash restarted production, this time building its own car and using a 2-litre BMW engine jointly developed by the company and the Bristol Aeroplane Company, which had acquired the BMW patents as part of war reparations.
The Frazer Nash Competition introduced in 1947 produced 120 bhp, and the High Speed model secured a third place in the 1949 Le Mans. In the company tradition, a Le Mans Replica was produced for sale after that event.
Frazer Nash became the only British car to win the Targa Florio in 1951, and from that came the 100bhp Frazer Nash Targa Florio and the Gran Sport version which had an extra 40 bhp. Another competition win in Sebring in the US resulted in a Sebring Replica.
During the '50s, the company became AFN Ltd.
The Bristol/BMW engine continued to be used until 1956, when Frazer Nash re-associated itself directly with the revived BMW company and produced the V8-powered Continental with a 2.6-litre BMW engine. This was designed by Pininfarina and had a 130 bhp output which gave it a 0-60mph of 11secs. There was also a 120 bhp 2.4-litre Continental.
But the marque was dying, and despite an appearance at the 1959 London Motor Show, production ceased in 1960. AFN Ltd afterwards imported Porsche cars to Britain, and was eventually bought out by Porsche.
Best Car: Possibly the Frazer Nash Targa Florio Gran Sport (pictured)
Worst Car: Not known
Weirdest Car: Never was