1922 жылдан бері британдық Frazer Nash спорт машиналарын өндіру тарихы

British sports car company, founded in 1922
the British car company founded in 1922

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.

Frazer Nash Limited's business 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. 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'. 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.

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. 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. 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. Formula 2 cars produced by the company contested various races including four Grand Prix events counting towards the 1952 World Championship of Drivers. The cars were driven by Tony Crook and Ken Wharton.

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.

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. Starting in 2010 the company opened multiple development and office locations in Australia. 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.

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 engines were Plus Power, but mainly Anzani. Super Sports (from 1928) had no running boards. wheelbase chassis on Fast Tourer and Super Sports with short 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 1932–1933Competition 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. or 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. or 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. 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 1937 BMW engined. wheelbase.

Type Engine Approx Production Year Notes Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica/ Le Mans Mk II Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder) 34 1948–1953 Originally named "High Speed" and "Competition". wheelbase. Cycle wings. Conventional (Bristol) gearbox. Frazer Nash Fast Tourer/Mille Miglia Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder) 12 1948–1953 Full width body. Frazer Nash FN48 Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder) 3 1952 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 or Gran Sport Bristol engine options. One car fitted with Austin Atlantic engine. Last 5 cars were open versions of Le Mans Coupé. Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupe Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder) 9 1953–1955 or engine. Frazer Nash Sebring Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder) 3 1954 Full width body on Le Mans Replica Mk II chassis. engine. Frazer Nash DKW DKW 896 cc (water cooled, three cylinder two stroke) 1 1955 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. Frazer Nash Continental BMW engine (2.6 & 3.2 L) 2 1956–1957 V8 BMW engine. Listed at £3751 at the London Motor Show. Frazer Nash Namir 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

Frazer Nash placed equal 13th in the 1953 World Sportscar Championship with a Le Mans model having finished sixth in the 1953 RAC Tourist Trophy.