Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute review

Date: 07.07.2015

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash is one of the marques you don’t hear of very often, though it has a pretty good story.

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

Frazer Nash Le Mans Tribute

LE MANS HERO

The heyday of the  Frazer Nash marque lasted through the 1920s and 1930s, over which time it’s believed to have built a mere 400 cars.

World War II interrupted proceedings and it wasn’t until 1948 that the company re-entered the market. Its debut effort was a Frazer Nash Competition (aka the High Speed) which starred at the Earls Court Motor Show. Powered by a two-litre Bristol six, it was a serious performance car.

The story goes that a show-goer and motorcycle racer by the name of Norman Culpan became besotted with the machine and insisted the factory build him one to race at Le Mans with co-driver HJ Aldington. With the factory supplying the pit crew, the pair managed a spectacular third behind a Ferrari and a Delage. The car was subsequently renamed the Le Mans Replica.

The car you see here is not the actual racer, but one of a series of eleven tribute cars built by Werner Oswald in the 1990s, based in the 1952 model.

Signed by former world champion and one-time Frazer Nash driver Stirling Moss, it’s seen some local action in historic rallies.

This example is ready to roll and promises a pretty unique exhaust note from the six, with its triple Solex carburetors.

One thing’s for sure. There’s little risk you’ll ever find another one parked beside you. As far as we know, there’s only one other in Australia.

ABOUT FRAZER NASH

Founded in 1922 by Archibald Frazer-Nash, the company (Frazer Nash Limited and later AFN Limited) was highly regarded for building unique sporting cars and the chain driven models developed a cult following.

In 1934 the company became the importers (and assemblers) for BMW cars in the UK. This lasted until the outbreak of the war in 1939. It built 85 cars in the post-war era, from 1948 to 1957.

SPECIFICATIONS

Frazer Nash Le Mans tribute

Body: Steel rail chassis with alloy panels
Engine: 1971cc Bristol straight six with triple Solex carburetors
Power: approx 120hp
Gearbox: 4-speed Bristol
Suspension: Bristol pattern front and rear
Brakes: Drums front and rear
Price: $225,000
Web: oldtimeraustralia.com

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