Description
Frazer Nash BMW 319/ 55
Frazer Nash cars were made from the mid-1920’s, being chain-drive sports cars, with proprietary engines, enjoying remarkable sporting success, including winning the prestigious Coupe des Alpes. However, by the mid-1930’s, their design, with beam axles and a channel-section chassis, was limiting their performance.
‘A Frazer Nash Enterprise’
In 1934, the Frazer Nash team were beaten in the Coupe des Alpes, by team of three BMW 315 sports 2-seaters. The Frazer Nash company owner/ manager-cum-works driver, H. J. Aldington, drove straight to the BMW factory in Munich, and negotiated the importing to the UK of right-hand drive versions of their cars with imperial instruments, and badged as Frazer Nash BMW. Early in December the news of the AFN/ BMW tie-up was released to the press and The Autocar carried a feature entitled ‘A Frazer Nash Enterprise’, giving the details of the agreement, the cars and their prices.
GMD 174
First registered in July 1937 to a Mr T. W Dargue (London N21).
Only 42 319/ 55’s were imported by AFN and fitted with Right Hand Drive, it’s thought only 24 of the 42 still exist. Fitted BMW’s 1911cc 6 cylinder engine originally producing 55BHP.
Over the last 20 years this example has been thoroughly restored by a Mr Sandy Burnett, starting the project around 2000 after the collection of parts that had been standing idle for years. The restoration began from a bare chassis. The original chassis was in such a poor state it could unfortunately not be saved, so a chassis was acquired from a 1937 Frazer Nash BMW 319 Tourer. The original registration book and brief history of the chassis are present in the history file. The donation of the chassis from the Tourer type F. N BMW meant this 319/ 55 had a new lease of life, and reaching completion in 2013-14 GMD 174 was now back on the road! Sadly Mr Burnett passed away.
Fast forwarding to 2020, GMD 174 entered Spencer Lane-Jones LTD where a very considerable amount of work has been carried out. Firstly a thorough inspection was carried out to outline and areas needing attention. Shortly afterwards the engine and gearbox were rebuilt to modern standards along with various corrections throughout the car to bring to the state it is in today. Over £55, 000 has been spent in the past two years.
Mr Tom Dargue First Owner
By 1932 Tom Dargue was competing in trials in an open Riley Nine. Driving this car his first recorded success is noted, a premier (Gold) award in the Exeter trial of December 1932. He followed this in 1933 with the Premier award in both the Lands End and Edinburgh trials thus winning a triple award at his first attempt. Many more trials awards are recorded in this car until 1935 when in search of a more modern car Tom purchased another Riley Nine. This brought moderate success but not the improvement that Tom was seeking. It is opportune that this realisation should have occurred at the time that H. J Aldington was starting to import BMW sports cars following the success of the marque in continent trials. Tom recognised that this was the vehicle of the future and placed an order for a F. N BMW type 319/ 55 open two seater sports car. In July 1936 Tom Dargue became the proud owner of GMD 174 little knowing that he would keep the car for some twelve years.
1937
Exeter Trail – Premier Award
SUNBAC Colmore Trial – No Award
Lands End Trail – Premier Award (Auto Car described this event as the ‘toughest for years!’)
Edinburgh Trial – Premier Award
MCC Sporting Trial in Buxton – Premier Award
1938
More Premier awards were gained when Tom won yet another Premier in the Exeter Trial on the 7/ 8th of January, this together with his 1937 Edinburgh and Lands End a second triple award this time a plaque with a silver map of England Scotland and Wales, with the trial routes engraved in Red.
Lands End Trial – Premier
Edinburgh Trial – Premier
MCC Sporting Trial Buxton – Premier
Colmore Trial – Third Place Award
Bristol MC & LCC Roy Feddon Trial – Won the Clubs Cup for the best un-supercharged car. The “Motor” reports that on Nailsworth “ The Frazer Nash BMW’s showing astonishing wheel grip and reserves of power.
1939
Exeter Trial – Premier along with the Simms Hill Award
Lands End – Bronze award
Edinburgh Trial – Premier Award
To recap from January 1937 to June 1939 Tom Dargue and GMD 174 had won at least 10 Gold/ Premier awards 1 Bronze and 1 First Class award in 13 First Class trials, a substantial achievement for a private owner.
During these pre war years Tom Dargue also competed in events such as hill climbs and flat sprints using the BMW.
In June 1939 Tom Dargue curtailed competition career to marry Margaret Flintoft Wood of Manchester. Their Honeymoon started as passengers on the maiden voyage of the SS Mauritania from Liverpool to New York. The curtailment was to last until 1946 when competition motoring restarted after WW2. Tom continued to participate in GMD 174 until 1948 still winning trials.
For further details and to arrange viewings
Contact SLJ Hackett
Mobile Telephone: the details below
Office: the details below
E-mail: using the button below
