The Le Mans Replica "replicas"
There isn't much written about the series of cars known as the Le Mans Replica "replicas". Geoffrey Bewley wrote an article, "Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica Replica", for the March/April 1990 Vintage Motorsport magazine. Geoff Dowdle, Andrew Blow, David Starling and other published sources have provided a bit more data on these cars.
Some of these "replicas" have been regarded as "almost proper" by a few observers, probably meaning their accuracy of copying an original Le Mans Replica. Many other automotive historians ignore the existence of all "replicas", whatever their source, or note these cars are not truly "Frazer Nash" or AFN, Ltd. in origin. However, there is not any good published documentation or complete identification of these cars and it seems very important to at least present the facts, insofar as such become known.
Crosthwaite & Gardiner
According to these sources, Crosthwaite & Gardiner built up a number of "replicas", probably starting when this firm restored a LeMans Replica from a frame salvaged from a racing accident. This was probably in the 1960's or 1970's, much after AFN's production of the post-war cars had ceased.
Mr. Bewley wrote about Dick Crosthwaite's work:
"He produced a small batch of duplicate tubular chassis, and collected engine and running gear from scrapped Bristols. A set of cars were finished with copies of the Le Mans Replica body featuring correct instruments and generally correct trim. These were definitely small 'r' replicas."
C & G are reported to have made about 6 - 9 chassis, bodies or complete "replicas" in the 70's:
| Registration | Serial Number | History |
| KYR482 | 400/1/566, Engine 85A/1374 (identity from Bristol 400?) | Ian Mac Nee, Castlemaine, Australia |
| XME 253 | 421/100/168, engine 3044 (This is the AFN serial number of the author's Mille Miglia - I can only speculate on the reasons for this choice!) | Owned by David Starling UK. Sold in 1984 to Japan; later returned to UK. Advertised by Coys 1/12/94. For sale at Dragone Classic Motorcars, 2005-2006 as a "1952 Frazer-Nash Lemans Racer". |
| RCD305 (formerly XMG 6). Currently identified as "CG2" | Original engine 100B2; FNS 11 engine, originally fitted to XMX 4, now installed. | Dick Crosthwaite, Chris Drake Collectors Cars, Ltd., sold by J. Bradburn, (Classic & Sports Car, 10/96, p. 262) to Graham Chittenden, sold to Ken Hawes, 12/99. For Sale October, 2001. See 7/2002 note below. |
| MNU??? | Owned by Robert Yung, Hawaii. Being restored by Mike DiCola (1999), Massachusetts (R. Yung was the original owner of 421/100/124) | |
| STB333 | For sale, T&CC, 9/86, Alan Dunkerley | |
| YH7559 (formerly YRO 405) | FNS engine 1051 | David Starling (Waikanae Beach, NZ), who sent a detailed history of this car. This car is for sale at Auto Classics near Wellington, New Zealand (August, 2007) |
It's not certain all above are C & G "replicas" and there may be more. Note that one replica used registration XMG6. This was formerly on Le Mans Replica Mk 2, S/N 421/200/176. This car was destroyed in a 1955 racing accident.
Jonathan
Bradburn sent a note in July 2002 about RCD 305: "I currently own the Crossthwaite and Gardner car
registered RCD 305 which I bought from Ken Hawes. It is a car that I
have owned before. I have carried out a full overhaul of the brakes and
have replaced all wheel bearings and fitted a close ratio gearbox. Also
rebuilt water pump and presently am having a new cam bearing fitted.
Engine is FNS 11. The car was fitted with a works de Dion axle by Dick
Crossthwaite and FN hubs with heavy duty FN wheels. As my other Le Mans
rep is nearing the end of a long rebuild, I will sell the car. Asking
price is £75,000. Werner Oswald Replicas Note: Neville Webb’s car has WOBS 01
stamped in chassis. Geoff's has WO BS 11. WOK 6, April, 2008. Click here for more photos. FNA 436, sold in 1999
by Andrew Blow Differences? One observer has identified the main
differences between the C&G replicas and original LeMans Replica as: The same observer noted: "Replicas" turn up outside the
UK. Geoff Dowdle reported that the history of post-war Frazer Nash
cars in Australia probably began with a Targa Florio 421/200/198, which
was in a museum in Adelaide. He missed the opportunity to buy it
when it was advertised in Road & Track, as it was quickly sold to the
USA. In the 1980's, when prices of all classic cars went up sharply, this
put a genuine FN out of his reach. Geoff considered building his own
"replica" LeMans Replica, but could not get access to an
original for measurements. When Werner Oswald advertised wheels for
the 328 BMW and the Frazer Nash in England, Geoff called him and learned
Mr. Oswald was building a batch of "replicas". Because
Geoff had numerous Bristol engines, gearboxes and other spares, he ordered
an Oswald kit. Eventually he obtained a chassis, body (but not
fitted), and grille. Geoff built it up slowly over the past 8
years and eventually got it club registered in 1999. He has since
traveled only 600 miles with this car and plans to sort it out
mechanically before painting and trimming it properly. WOK 11 In 1997, Geoff visited New Zealand and
met Bruce Clark, who then owned Mille Miglia 421/100/161 (XHX193, the
"sister car" to my Mille Miglia). He concluded it was the
most fantastic car he'd ever seen and stated: "It certainly is one of the best
looking post-war sports cars ever - if I had my time over again I would
have preferred a Replica Mille Miglia. Bruce let me drive his father
Bill's LeMans Replica (421/100/112) which really spurred me on to
finishing my replica." Some years ago, Geoff nearly bought the
last alloy body from XMG6, then being sold by Julius Thurgood. The
ultimate purchaser of that body is now reported to be building up XMG6
around this body. Dennis Jenkinson wrote Geoff at the time to advise that
if he did the same, it would only be a "replica". There have also been reported to be other
Replica "replicas" made, possibly assuming the identity of
crashed and written-off cars. It could be very difficult in the
future to firmly distinguish an "original" Le Mans Replica from
a "replica". Denis Jenkinson was reported to have all the
"facts" on this, but there isn't a serious known, current
attempt to classify and identify all Le Mans Replicas. If you have any information to share on
the Replica "replicas", please send it to me. Thanks! (Originally posted August 1999)
Over the years I have owned many other Nashes, ACs, Tojeiros, Listers,
Lotus 10s and the like. I rebuilt the Reardon Smith Targa Florio after
the previous owner (a Mr. Forbes Procter, I believe) rolled the car. Our
family business was motor trade - my grandfather built his first car in
1904 - and, amongst other dealerships that we had, we were Bristol
dealers up until 1964."
Another series of replicas was started in
about 1990. Werner Oswald, with a few associates (including Tim
Frost), laid down parts for 10 "replicas", possibly copied from
a Le Mans Replica Mk 1 owned by Frank Sytner. Mike Robinson has been also
identified as associated with the "Werner Oswald Kits" (WOKs),
as they came to be known, which were never sold in built-up form. He
is reported to also have a WOK, not yet fully completed.
About the same time, one of the partners in the project found that a
business name, Frazer-Nash Cars Ltd, had not been registered for a few
years and bought it from Companies House, all properly legal. This
implied that cars produced by Mr. Oswald could be advertised as made by
"Frazer-Nash Cars, Ltd", somewhat reducing a threat of
litigation on the issue of "identity".
These cars reportedly still do not easily get a "proper
registration" in the UK, and various methods were used to avoid
"kit car" registration (which usually includes a "Q"
in the registration number).
The Le Mans Replica "replica" sold in 1999 by Andrew Blow had a
"Frazer-Nash BMW" identity, indicating it to have been made in
1938! This could also imply that it can quite legitimately belong to
its FNA 436 registration number, again helping to make it look
"proper". Because the true identity of this car is well
known, there is little chance in the UK that anyone would seriously
identify it as a "true" Le Mans Replica. However, if
someone imported it into the USA, the paperwork could look
"proper" up to a point.
Serial
Number
Registration
History
WOK 1
625 PPO
Oswald Prototype,
Peter Mann
WOK 2
991 EPC
B. Heath to Mick Walsh
to Guy Janssen
WOK 3
MKR 103
John Teague
WOK 4
B. Linnhoff to Brian
Flegg (New Zealand)
WOK 5
Brian May sold in 1996
to ????
WOK 6
141 JLB
For sale April 2008 by
Andrew
Blow. Photo below. Also on offer and sold long ago by B.
Williamson & D. Martin
WOK 7
FNA 436
Stephen Hall, sold by
A. Blow
WOK 8 ???
Neville Webb
(Australia)
WOK 9
Mike Robinson
WOK 10
Tim Frost
WOK 11
005
Geoff Dowdle
(Australia)
