1931 Frazer Nash Fabric Bodied 3-4 Seater Sports

1,496cc, Overhead Valve 4-Cylinder Inline Engine
Twin Amal Carburetors
4-Speed Chain Drive Transmission
Quarter-Elliptic Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Brakes

*Originally delivered new to racer Miss Cynthia Sedgwick
*In the present ownership for 40 years
*Engineering and sports icon
*Exceptionally authentic example
*Rarely seen in the USA

THE 'CHAIN GANG' FRAZER NASH

Frazer Nash was founded in 1922 by Captain Archibald Frazer-Nash, who in partnership with H R Godfrey had been producing the GN cyclecar. Designed by Godfrey and Frazer-Nash, the GN was Britain's first and best-known cyclecar. The two young engineers set up shop initially in Hendon, North London from whence the first GN emerged in December 1910. An unusually large proportion of the car was manufactured in house and GN used proprietary JAP and Peugeot v-twin engines before commencing production of their own in 1911. The chassis was a simple ash framework in which the engine was mounted fore-and-aft, driving via a belt-drive transmission system that would continue on the later Frazer Nash. By the outbreak of The Great War, GN had sold approximately 200 cars.

After the war, GN was bought by the British Gregoire Company and production moved to larger premises in Wandsworth, South West London in 1919. A steel chassis was adopted and belt final drive replaced by chains, and for the next few years the little GNs sold well. In 1922 both Frazer-Nash and Godfrey left the firm, the former to set up under his own name while the latter went on to co-found HRG.

Between 1924 and 1954, when production effectively ceased, approximately 450 Frazer Nash cars were produced, of which 350 were pre-war 'Chain Gang' models. Of these, 85 had the most popular TT Replica style of bodywork, which was offered between March 1932 and 1939. Frazer Nash used a number of different proprietary engines, the TT Replica, for example, being fitted with the 1½-litre, four-cylinder, overhead-valve Meadows engine; the 1,660cc six-cylinder, twin-overhead-camshaft Blackburne engine; and the 1½-litre, four-cylinder, single-overhead-camshaft Gough engine. However, it should be noted that the factory undertook the manufacture of individual cars to order and various combinations of engine and chassis were produced. Although the chain drive is highly unusual for a motor car of the period, a chain is more efficient than almost any other form of power transmission and the Frazer Nash system was one of the best. References at the time to 'smoking or red-hot chains lying on the road' after the rare breakage were mistaken. The reason they were handled with care was because they were dirty, and many chains lasted over 40,000 miles. With their unique form of drive, Frazer Nashes over-steered dramatically under power and it was said at the time that 'Frazer Nashes never go round corners, they merely change direction.'

Model names invariably represented events in which the brand scored successes, the Tourist Trophy elicited the 'TT Replica', the Colmore, Exeter, and further afield Boulogne, Nurburg, and Ulster. The Interceptor model as presented here bucked that trend, but alluded to its ability to snatch victory from others. With options of 2 or 3-4 seaters, overhead or side-valve powerplants, in all it is believed that a mere dozen Interceptors were built.

THE CAR OFFERED

This Interceptor is a fabulous benchmark example of the famed 'Chain Gang' 'Nash which emerges from nearly four decades of NorthEast Ownership. Adhering in every way to the way in which it would have been delivered, that original date of supply was October 13, 1931, and as for many, it was registered in the locality of the works and so wore an 'MV' prefix to its British Registration number.

One of the great benefits of the perpetual support from their fraternity which, since the 1930s, has been exercising these cars, is that their histories are well charted. In the case of car 2033, we know that it was delivered as new with a desirable four speed transmission and the preferred Meadows overhead valve engine, equipped with twin Amal carburetors. Its coachwork was supplied by lesser-known builder Wylder of Kew, one of a number of local London houses who supplied Frazer Nash. The car's original owner was a lady, Miss Cynthia Sedgwick who appears to have been an active sportswomen and serial 'Nash racer, also owning a TT Replica model in the early 1930s and being well known as one of a handful of successful females at Brooklands and a variety of speed trials. Ownerships trace from her to A A Baring, J E Glenny and A G Coulson up to 1967 when it was acquired by noted collector enthusiast K. Hainsworth. Later owners included Kenneth Tams from 1978 to 1982, and then Norman Pickup briefly from 1982 to 1983.

In 1983 the current owner was on the hunt for a British Sportscar and was intrigued by these legendary cars. He found '2033' advertised with the Vintage Bentley trading guru Stanley Mann in the UK, where it was for sale and had likely been traded against a 'WO'. A deal was struck and the car migrated to this country exactly 40 years ago almost to the day.

Viewed now even after many years of inactivity, the 'Nash is a remarkably good and honest example. It retains an overhead valve Meadows-engine which corresponds with its original chassis plate as the number with which it was born, (albeit records suggest that it may later have been powered by unit 10251). Its bodywork does not have a coachbuilder plaque but is known to be original to the car and corresponds with the way it was originally delivered, and so is likely its Wylder built three/four seater format, which retains original wood wherever evident. Its original undertrays are also present, as well as full weather protection with side screens, top and tonneau covers. Most probably the subject of an older restoration, the fabric and interior have a pleasingly authentic and aged look to them. Believed to have been on the road last in the early 2000s, the car nevertheless responded well to a check over and has been made to run. A more thorough check over would be recommended before being submitted to the aggressive sporting use it lends itself to.

Unquestionably a rare car to find on this side of the Atlantic, a 'Chain Gang' Frazer Nash is a truly legendary automobile built by one of the schools of engineering that boisterously carved its own path in the day and has always been appreciated by a succession of equally individually minded enthusiast collectors. Anyone who has ever experienced driving one of these machines knows that they're onto something that is incredibly charismatic, esoteric, but above all fast and fun, and here is an infrequent opportunity to acquire one on North American soil.