Frazer Nash built around 350 chain-driven cars before WWII of which 85 were ‘TT Replicas’ named after the three cars that competed in the 1931 Tourist Trophy Race at the Ards circuit in Northen Ireland. The TT Replica is now regarded as one of the most important Frazer Nash models.

 

The TT Replica could be specified with three different types of engine, a four-cylinder 1,500cc unit from either Meadows or (latterly) Gough and from 1933 a sophisticated 1,660cc six-cylinder twin-cam engine by Blackburne. The Blackburne engine was not only aesthetically pleasing but also offered a considerable increase in power over the Meadows engine and was delivered in a smooth and refined fashion.

 

The TT Replica featured twin electric windscreen wipers and a proper fly-off handbrake. Electrical equipment was by either Lucas or Bosch, the latter being superior equipment. In 1934 the chassis was modified with a one-piece section which swept down at the rear to support the fuel tank.

 

Chassis 2119 is a ‘down-swept chassis,’ Blackburne engine example recorded in the AFN archive as being first registered on the 1st May 1934 in Glamorgan, Wales. The car was delivered to first owner, a Dr. D.C .Williams of Penarth, on 1st June 1934 and was specified with a black exterior, dark red upholstery, silver wheels and small instruments to the dashboard.

 

A 1984 letter on file from the legendary Denis Jenkinson (Jenks) states the car was equipped with Rotax dynamo starter and cut-out, Bosch coil, distributor and lamps, SU petrol pump feed, chain oiling, quick action fuel filler cap and 12-inch brakes all round.

 

In April 1939 then owner Robert (Bob) Chase of Imperial Motors of Aldershot wrote to W.H. Aldington (secretary of the VSCC meeting and brother of H. J. Aldington) to enter the car in three races at the VSCC Stanley Cup Competition at Crystal Palace, but the car was either not ready or Chase didn’t get a competition licence in time for the event. Jenks believed this to be the same Bob Chase who bought Mike Hawthorn his Cooper-Bristol. The event entry form stated the car as being black and the previous owner as Bridge Motors of Staines.

 

Latterly the Nash was acquired by a Scottish doctor named J. A. Montgomery. By this time the car had been repainted grey but the red upholstery remained.

 

The car was then purchased by AFN in January 1949 and sold as ‘The Montgomery Nash’ to J. N. Smith of Birkenhead. A letter on file from Mr. Smith to later owner Michael Bowler describes his ownership. The car was by then pale grey with dark red leather upholstery and he drove between 30,000 and 40,000 miles in the car but never in competition.

 

By that time the Nash was equipped with an SU electric pump but still had the original hand-pump/pressure tank system fitted and Hartford Telecontrols were present on the rear suspension. During his tenure, Smith had the engine rebuilt by Senars Ltd of Birkenhead and had the body repainted in British Racing Green.

 

The car was then sold to Chiltern Cars, who in June 1952 sold it to future Bugatti Owners Club president A.W. (Tony) Rippon for £340 via Hatfields of Salisbury. The T.T. Rep was Tony’s first car and he enjoyed it on numerous occasions including a driving tour of France. In 1953 Tony stripped and rebuilt the Nash and there are many photographs on file of Tony with the car and of the rebuild from this period. Tony refinished the car in white with blue wheels and retrimmed the interior in blue vinyl. The engine was rebuilt for Tony by Laystall Engineering in 1956.

 

In 1958 the Nash was acquired by Lt. Cdr. Allison of the Halfway Garage of Reading who in turn sold it to Bugatti collector and Pebble Beach winner Dr. Milton Roth, a dentist residing in Long Beach, California.

 

In 1973 the car was repatriated by London dealer Dan Marguiles who sold it to Felix Day of Montgomeryshire. In 1984 classic car journalist, author and founder editor of Classic & Thoroughbred Cars magazine Michael Bowler was looking for a Frazer Nash and wrote to Felix Day to ask if the car could be for sale. A deal was done and Bowler went on to enjoy the car for nearly thirty years and 5,000 miles, taking part in numerous driving tests, classic tours and events including several trips to Le Mans. In 1993 Jenks arranged for the car to be placed on display at Brooklands museum for several months.

 

The current owner purchased the Nash from Bowler in 2013 and in 2014 embarked on a full restoration, the aim being to return it to as close as possible to how it left the Isleworth factory in 1934. The rolling chassis was shotblasted and restored by Simon Blakeney Edwards of Edwards Motorsport who also crack-tested the stub axles and steering arms. The shock absorbers were stripped and rebuilt by VCSA.

 

The engine was rebuilt by Hinton Historic Engineering and included a new crankshaft and conrods by Arrow Precision. The block, crankcase, cylinder heads and sump were all chemically stripped and cleaned. New pistons, liners and cams from Kent Cams were installed and the cylinder heads were stripped, ported, polished and rebuilt by Brett Sims Motorsport. The scuttle tank and chain oiler pump were replaced and the Lucas starter motor and Rotax dynamo were both stripped and overhauled. New Alfin brake drums were manufactured and fitted.

 

The interior was retrimmed with four Claret Vaumol hides supplied by Connolly Brothers. When the Vynide covered seats were stripped the original burgundy-coloured carpeted seatbacks were discovered still in situ and matched the new hides beautifully.

 

The wooden body frame, dashboard and body panels were all carefully repaired as necessary and the body finished in the original black colour scheme. A new wiring harness was made and installed by Winston Teague and Dave Aston and new wheels were supplied by Richards Brothers of Cardiff.

 

The restoration was completed in 2020 and the car has since taken part in various sprints, hillclimbs, races and tours including a trip around the West Coast of Scotland.

 

In contrast to many Frazer Nash cars with racing careers, TG 7495 is remarkably original and possesses an enviable continuous history.

 

This fine example retains its original engine and remains in great order after its 2020 restoration. The car comes with a tailored tonneau cover and a large history file containing many period correspondences, photographs and invoices along with recent documents that detail the car’s extensive restoration.​