New book on Frazer Nash

[Richard]

I see that Palawan Press (www.palawan.co.uk) have just announced the publication of a new book entitled "The Post-war Frazer Nash" by James Trigwell and Anthony Pritchard.

To quote the blurb "This beautifully designed and illustrated book traces the evolution of the Bristol-powered Frazer Nash from the first prototype based on the BMW 328 that had competed in the 1940 Mille Miglia road race to the last cars that appeared at the London motor show in 1957-58. Early chapters recount the founding of the company, the involvement of the German BMW company with AFN, the makers of Frazer Nash cars and the evolution of the BMW-derived Bristol engine that powered them."

Pre-publication price for the "cheap" edition is 250GBP up to 25th Oct. After that 300GBP.

Ho hum, I fear at that price it won't be on my Xmas wish list

Richard

[Ashley James]

In my opinion there is so much stuff on the Internet now that a book
isn't so important and, as I said before, there are so many
disappointing car books about, I only collect ones relating to
specific eras and published at the time.
Jenks book on the history of AFN probably covers it and can be bought
for a tenner.

Anybody want to bid me the £80 I foolishly paid for Oxley's offering?

Ash

[RGSchmitt]

Hello all -

"Jenks book on the history of AFN probably covers it and can be bought
for a tenner."

Denis Jenikinson's "From Chain Drive to Turbocharger" is an excellent history of AFN and covers all the Frazer Nash car production fairly well, but there never has been a comprehensive history of the 85 postwar cars.

Based on the contributions that co-author James Trigwell has made to my website (FrazerNash-USA.com) for almost 12 years and his nearly instant and detailed answer to any question during that time, I expect the Palawan book (Palawan Press - Frazer Nash) will be the "final word" on these cars for many years to come.

The Internet is truly a fantastic resource, but I don't expect in-depth coverage on thousands of "arcane" topics, perhaps not in any foreseeable future. Where is there a good biography (anywhere) of Archibald Frazer Nash? What can compare to "The Miller Dynasty" by Mark Dees (my favorite book so far)?

Yes, the price of "The Post-War Frazer Nash" is very high and will consume my reading budget for a few years, but I'll order a copy. Visitors will be allowed to read it; white gloves will be provided.

On related Frazer Nash news, I'm adding to the "replicas" page of my website. I think this is the best source about the Le Mans Replica "replica" cars built by Crosthwaite & Gardiner, Werner Oswald and others. It is:
Le Mans Replica "replicas"

Finally, there is a postwar Frazer Nash on the cover of "New Zealand Classic Car" magazine, September isssue. NZ Classic Car Issue 225 September 2009 -- Classic cars | vintage cars, car enthusiasts and historic racing
This is a Mille Miglia, 421/100/168. Copies can be ordered from the site.

Enjoy your drives!

Bob (Burbank, where it is hot and somewhat smokey)

PS I seem to know much about that cover car and have driven it.

[legavroche]

Ash, you did better than me as my copy was even more expensive! It was however signed by the great man himself so I suppose that makes all the difference!

Gavin

[Ashley James]

It's a pretty rotten book if one takes off the rose tinted
spectacles, but may have been acceptable when it was published.

I have numerous letters between him and Paul Duffield who owned my car
from the late sixties until I bought it from his son via Andrew Blow
3.5 years ago. It had gone to BCL for a rebuild in 1968 and they'd
kept it for three years, fitted it with two totally different wings so
that one headlight was 1.5" higher than the other and, although he
didn't know, they'd pop riveted thin aluminium sheet over the rust and
coated it all with a very thick under seal so it wasn't discovered
till I decided a total rebuild was necessary.

Oxley writes about LMF which was low moral fibre in BCL at the time.
They didn't do a very good job at all, although we were able to
resurrect the leather and the Moquette (just) and make new carpets and
fit proper headlining rather than the cheap Melton BCL had used. It is
very good now although I've still lots to do before I'll be happy.

Does anyone know if there are problems in fitting a 406 front cross
member complete to a 400 with Coopercraft calipers? For instance; is
the spring a different rating? Friend Paul Lacey is rebuilding Hugh
Porter's old car, which is tired and this would make life easier. Also
does anyone know how to get the spring out of the cross member on a 406.

Ashley

[Kevin H]

Ash and Gavin - which Oxley book are you talking about ? ("A Quiet Survivor" or "An Illustrated History" ?)

As for the new Palawan book, I don't see how it can be compared with the Jenks book "From Chaindrive to Turbocharger", given that none of us has actually seen the Palawan book yet!

Nevertheless, one difference that is immediately obvious just from Palawan's description is the number of photos each book contains. The Jenks book contains around 225 black and white photos whereas the Palawan book contains 350, including rare colour photos from the 1950s. I have no doubt the format of the books will also differ greatly.

As for the price, £250 pales into insignificance when compared with what many people spend maintaining or restoring their cars, much of which is not noticeable and will never be recovered. Whereas a high quality book will last your lifetime and in years to come may be worth more than you paid for it.

[legavroche]

My copy is ''The Quiet Survivor'' - I do not own a copy of ''An Illustrated History''

Gavin