Description
Author: David Thirlby, Hardbound, 206 Pages, ISBN: 0854291830, 1st Edition, 1977, - Ex-Library book in excellent condition !
Archie Frazer-Nash (always with a hyphen) was an enthusiast as early as 1910. In that year he joined H. R. Godfrey to make cyclecars, hence the GN.
Some twelve years later they both left their company, Archie to build Frazer Nashes (without a hyphen) and Godfrey later to build HRGs. What they left behind them was a long and involved story — and one of the most treasured names ever to grace the radiator shell of a sports car.
How did it happen that two young engineers with little more to offer than engineering skills, wit, endeavour and staying power should stand out amongst a multitude of similar 'entrepreneurs' from the early days of motor car manufacture?
It's interesting to look at the facts; this book covers much new ground and clears many misapprehensions. Archie's 1914 car 'Kim' had by 1927 achieved over 50 victories. GN produced almost 6000 cars in England and France and had many racing successes. The 'chain-gang' Frazer Nash, with the rear wheels, driven by chains and having no conventional gearbox is the main part of the story.
Then came the Le Mans Replica, and with only 105 post war cars built, their successes were even more impressive.
Although always small in terms of the quantity built the cars were, successful, always interesting and inevitably remembered in a romantic light. A traditional English sports car with a fanatical following today.
David Thirlby, now in his late forties, bought his first Frazer Nash close on twenty five years ago, when second hand versions were relatively cheap and plentiful. He was Registrar of the Frazer Nash Section of the Vintage Sports Car Club for twenty years and has been the Editor of the Chain Gang Gazette at various times.
His qualification to write this book needs no further promotion. As a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and of the Institute of Marketing, he is now a marketing services manager. He served his apprenticeship with A. V. Roe and then worked for Napiers.
Married with two daughters, both of whom anticipate sharing a Frazer Nash each with their father, David has a wealth of other interests through jazz, industrial archaeology and all forms of transportation. As only those who know him will confirm,
David is an enthusiast participating to the full in anything he finds interest in.
