Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica
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Car producer : |
Frazer Nash |
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Model: |
Le Mans Replica |
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Year: |
1953-1957 |
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Type: |
Roadster |
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 (1951) and the 12 Hours of Sebring, 1952. The post-war cars are very highly prized by collectors. The company participated in the 1952 Formula One season, the cars driven by Tony Crook and Ken Wharton.
Renowned for handling qualities and performance capabilities which bely its perhaps barrel-chested appearance, the Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica earned its title after AFN Ltd principal H.J. Aldington and Norman Culpan drove a prototype 'High Speed' model - with 2-litre 6-cylinder Bristol engine and shaft drive - into a fine third place overall in the first postwar Le Mans 24-Hour race, in 1949. Some 34 of these cars were produced between 1948 and 1953 and they accumulated a glittering record of motor racing success in period, topped by Franco Cortese's outright win in the 1951 Targa Florio race around the Madonie Mountains of north-western Sicily.
