Mystery 'Nash

Information is sought about a vintage Frazer Nash of which ‘Chain Gang’ VSCC members and the Frazer Nash Trust have no record.

It had a four-cylinder twin-cam engine with no maker’s name on it but which was assumed to be an Anzani, but earlier than the kind used in Squire sportscars, as it had no water pumps driven from the camshafts. It had twin Solex carburettors and ignition was by magneto and was possibly an experimental engine from around 1934. The body was a two-seater, exhaust system external, and the chassis the narrow-front-axle, small-brake version.

During WWII, it was owned by the enthusiastic Miss ‘Teddy’ Worthington, who was at the RAE in Farnborough. Someone may recall putting the twin-cam engine into the FN chassis. Miss Worthington would work on it in a cold garage into the early hours, calling for volunteers to help. I once fell for this, the prospect of bacon-and-eggs and a hot bath afterwards the incentive. No mechanic, I tried to help, and learnt a lot about cars, etc.

Some of us gathered to watch after the engine had been reassembled following a blown gasket, but water poured out of the block. After more work, it ran again, getting to a 750MC meeting in London.

It must have survived the war, as the enthusiasts who knew it would surely not have let it be broken up. A distinguishing feature was that every lamp had a separate switch on the fascia. If memory is stirred, something that Motor Sport is good at, letters con be forwarded.