Letters from Readers, February 1950
"Sunbeams Between The Wars" Sir, I have read with great interest the article by Messrs. Coombes and Wyer on "Sunbeams Between The Wars" in the December issue. As at one…
FACTS MIL TIVIINIFING 19E4DIDI_U
In his article, “This Speed Business,” Mr. H. S. Linfield says :
” The Real Factors in a Fast Journey.
“The things which really count are acceleration, giving the ability to overtake other vehicles with certainty and minimum loss of time ; first class brakes—the better the brakes obviously the faster the car becomes from point to point; and real stability on the road, coupled with accurate steering, so that where vision ahead is open corners can be taken fast, yet safely.
“There is real charm in a car which will cruise at 55 to 60 m.p.h.—and by cruise I mean more than some people attach to that rather flexible term. The engine must be absolutely happy, not at or near the limit of comfortable revs., and the car itself must feel rock steady, on straight or curve, as well as answer to an inch to the steering. Gear ratios are often unduly low for ease of running at the higher speeds, and car weights too high for really brisk acceleration. “Cannot makers concentrate on giving us this kind of car ? ” ” The Autocar,” March 23, 1934
The opinions of the writer of this article (wellknown in the motoring world) are worth the serious consideration of the enthusiast interested in the ownership of a pukka sports car. There is a striking similarity between his ideas as to what should be looked for in the high-average-speed sports car, and the official road-test of the Frazer Nash published in ” The Autocar ” nearly a year previously. The Frazer Nash has always possessed an outstanding all-round performance combined with absolute safety under any conditions—it is built to last and its high gears spell reliability and long life, in direct contrast to the average so-called sports car with its low gears and high-revving engine, of superficial appeal but strictly limited useful life.
Models available from 0E17.5. fully equipped.
IFILAZIEIP CAUS • Isurwou-rut AluciLusux • 11-1ou%suow Wi X. 0012
Extracts from The Autocarroad-test of a Frazer Nash„luiv 28th, 1933.
“A car that is definitely different, and a joy to the enthusiast to handle. al
. the acceleration due to the ratio of power to weight and the direct drive on all gears is terrific.
. . . the car is rock steady on the road, and has steering which is unusually high geared . . . enables a most accurate control to be exercised.
” . . . there is a vast charm about a car that is able to pull as high a top gear ratio as 3.8, so that a cruising speed of 60 to 70 m.p.h. is maintained for miles at a stretch where feasible, with no suggestion at all of the engine being busy, the revs naturally being low, as they are, thinking comparatively, even at the maximum speed. Actually, regarding third gear of the Frazer Nash as equivalent of many sports car top gears, this machine has a good top gear’ performance, a minimum speed of 6 or 7 m.p.h. being feasible. Limit readings of 42 on first, up to 70 on second, and up to 88 on third can be reached…. Apart altogether from the maximum speed, the 44
Frazer Nash is one of the fastest cars sold for ordinary road work without necessarily exceeding a maximum of 70. This is because of the remarkable acceleration, and quite as much due to the extraordinary ” one-piece ” stability in cornering. Actually, when the road is clear appreciable curves and corners can be rounded at what seem to be impossible speeds, if one is not accustomed to the car, or has not driven one for some time • . the driver is absolutely at one with the machine, and able to do just what he likes with it, which is most fascinating. . . . the feeling of safety on wet surfaces is a 44
decidedly valuable thing.
“The brake power is exactly what is needed for a car of this description, and it seems natural to use the powerful outside hand lever principally, this being of racing type.”
point of view as a private owner, the International Alpine Trial is your finest guide if you are interested in the ownership of a genuine sports car, and worth more in this respect than all the records and successes gained by special racing cars ?
It is the 11105t strenuous event in the motoring sport calendar, and tests as does no other competition the chassis, engine, body and equipment, while a successful car must be absolutely reliable, and possess acceleration, speed and hill.climbing capabilities beyond the ordinary.
A 14-litre Fiazer Nash was the’ONL Y non-supercharged car to climb the Pordoi, Stelvio and Gabbier p4S:z,e7 at the scheduled Speed and to complete the Trim without losing a single mark —in fact, only two other cam (out of the total entry of 132 nuglish, Continental and American cars) equalled this outstanding achievement, a supercharged 2,300 c.c. Bugatti and a. 1,750 c.c. supercharged Alfa-Romeo.