Chain-Drive Champion

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We have recently entered a decade in which Vintage car centenaries will abound, but few are likely to receive as much attention as that of the Austin Seven, which has dominated many of this year’s Vintage events. From November, though, Frazer Nash must take centre-stage.

The Frazer Nash Company

The Frazer Nash company was established in November, 1922, but car production did not begin until late 1923, and the first ‘true’ Frazer Nashes (not just modified GNs and Deemsters) arrived in early 1924. An ill-fated flirtation with the 1½-litre ohv engine from the new Plus-Power Engine Company spelt trouble for the marque, but Archie Nash extricated it by reverting to the Anzani engine, a 1½-litre sidevalve unit, which the Deemster had used.

Thus a successful formula was realised which would serve the Kingston marque well until 1928, when H J Aldington effected changes during Archie Nash’s sickness. These early cars are markedly different from the later offerings, which we are accustomed to seeing sliding around and spinning tyres at VSCC meetings. Lively and keen and with a manner of ‘changing direction’ which is unmistakably ’Nash, the early Anzanis are probably the nicer road cars.

Chassis 1026 was only the 16th Frazer Nash made, and the second with an Anzani engine, and is now one of the most original and historic survivors. As Frazer Nash’s centenary dawns, Zack Stiling fosters an appreciation for the early Anzani cars in the October issue of The Automobile, on sale now.

Words by Zack Stiling
Photographs by Stefan Marjoram

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