A new custodian for PH3682
Over 70 years in the Thirlby family also owned by John Bolster.
The car that started it all for dad.
Led to the registry , the books , the 1969 Raid to Bolzano.
Early FN gazette editor and then VSCC bulletin editor for 15 years.
https://www.frazernash.co.uk/index.php?idPage=41
I got into conversation with Clifford England at the 1953 Christmas party at Tewkesbury and told him how much I admired him in his position as Registrar. After he found out I was serious he asked me if I wanted to undertake it and I said yes. Later that evening he said in the AGM that I had been helping him for some time, and I was elected that same evening as the Honorary Registrar.
A few weeks after being in position, at a Committe meeting I proposed that, for a short time, I could edit a magazine. Bill Boddy suggested the name of the "Chain Gang Gazette" and the Section allocated me £5 a year to be the editor. When the magazine started the £5 covered the postage. Dick Bickerton provided the paper, ex RAF, and the envelopes free of charge.
I knew what I had to do and that was to interview all the pre-war heroes; in the mid Fifties I started off with Ron Godfrey and Archie Frazer-Nash. I also searched through libraries and private collections and started to skim magazines from the Thirties. Initially, Archie said he would only meet me for six one hour visits, but I met him some 20-30 times because he enjoyed talking to me.
Vaughan Skirrow and Nigel Arnold-Forster were my allies on the Committee. I suggested there was a lot of advantages in the 2-3-4 year maximum period of an officer being in position; Doc Harris had then been Captain for 15 years and he accepted the proposal immediately.
The one person I tried to get on the Committee was John Teague – but he rejected this, although he became Registrar for a short time after I resigned in a huff! The other top player who was never on the Committee was Lionel Stretton.
The next thing was to get the Section actively involved and so we got things started with a weekend in Boulogne in 1965, and then to the Nurburgring. And, greatly daring, I did all the preparatory work for a Raid to the Alps in 1969, without telling anyone. I have never been a committee man; I had to be in business, people in Dunlop did not take kindly to one man doing his own thing. Dragging the rest along was the way I preferred it, as in organising the 1969 Raid.
Having bought PH3682 in 1952 or 1953, having fun over the years getting the Parker GN and Archie’s Plus Power to run, after 50 years as Registrar and having written many articles and five books, I decided to put my feet up. Daughter Dorinda took over the Anzani.
From the registry in The chain-Drive Frazer Nash, David Thirlby
Date: 23rd august 1927
Model: Super Sports Chassis Number : 1132
Engine number S.S.4881
Registration number: PH3682
Special features: three-seater. Side screens and tonneau cover
Built at the Kingston works
First owner: D.S.Redman
Subsequent Owners &History:
John V. Bolster. 1930-34, who turned the car over when cornering too briskly on the bank at the side of a road. Car rebodied to Boulogne I specification by the works in 1934. The body was modernised and running boards removed at the Isleworth factory. The car later fitted with H.E. Anzani.
(DAT is not sure who owned the car in the war/ before the war)
Post-war owned by J.Wilson then Thomas Richardson Ashover nr, Chesterfield 1934-53.
Since 14th September 1953 owned by D.A Thirlby
see Letters from Mr Richardson
Advertised £175 in motorsport Vintage autos in Balham. Jack Bond was the car dealer DAT part exchanged his £25 ‘rough’ 1933 Morris Minor and paid £105 in cash. DAT says TT reps at the time we’re selling for £200.
Engines
Head
Current ‘low compression’ head (fitted 1989 prior to RAID) was bought from Mark Joseland for £160.
There is a spare Ricardo high compressions head high compressions bought at Beaulieu in 2000 from Matthew Blake for £250 as a spare.
Engine
The current engine was a section block- first one they ever tested it had test holes drilled into it then sat on Robin Parkers garage floor for years. DAT bought for £48. A Mr Sosbie in Leicester filled up the bored holes for £65. he left the valve seats low so that that the valve seat inserts could be put in. In Anzani the valve seats are near together so each one is locked in together, one at a time (machine in an ellipse to fit). You freeze the valve seats, then drop one in and the expand when warm.
Allen crankshaft and rods- by the time they were fitted £2500 had been spent on the block and crank and rods. See letter
In the Winter of 1988/ 1989 (date in letters) Ian Lock put the engine that is currently in the car (same time as the plus power ? 1988). It “weighs the Earth” much heavier with the new cylinder, new block. The sump the crank case and front timing chest are original. It had a roller chain conversion in the 1960’s rather than an inverted tooth chain (they are now making inverted tooth chain so whether this should be changed if necessary- but the gears are still difficult to get)
The old HE block (which was on the car in the 50’s) was sold to Matthew Blake (his dad) in 1965/6 crank grind, main bearings, big ends, new pistons (Austin 12/4 cut down pistons) AC Anzani engine and original HE block)
DAT bought bits of an Anzani from an AC (Anzani). He kept the block and head, gave the rest to Matthew Blake. Bought form Elliot pile in exchange for a supercharger (roughly worth £1000 at that time)
A spare Anzani was sold (?where he bought it from) with plus power to Ruth big crank good rods- xray /crack tested 20 years ago, it needed modified HE camshaft fitting. £385 for new camshaft in 1957 (timing of engine) (Conrods were from Nigel Arnold Foster)
Original engine
The original Anzani engine SS 4881 came up for sale by Mike Hipkins in Australia in 2019 long standing Frazer Nash owner who had the engine in his car PF2567. “The main components plus almost enough other bits to restore this engine, but without accessories.” Originally from PH 3682, then in PF 2567 for many years
Mike said that the engine was rebuilt in the 1960s. He had reused as much bolts and parts as could be reused. The engine went very well for several hillclimbs and in circuit events for several years, until in the 1980s on a long climb at 4500 rpm bang.
The engine cost £3000 plus the £500 shipping and was back in the garage with PH3682 in 2020 – I’m assuming after being some 70 years apart.
Radiator original shell, new core (same size header tank) £350 spent in 1998 north Lancashire Alvis radiator man “beautiful shouldn’t have waited so long” maybe have speeded the car up “notable difference between 1989 and 1999 raid”. Fan put on before 1989 raid.
Petrol pump
SU petrol pump (changed in 2004 SU 12V mini sprite 7 gallons per hour 12V ‘015.065’ £64.92 from Holdens
Copper petrol pipe fitted before the 1989. The VSCC made SU pumps non standard in the 80’s so a gravity pump and copper pipe work fitted. Gravity pump now removed.
Solex carburettor (25 to the gallon barrel solex)
Front axle
DAT says crashed so many times. The current axle is the same width . It is not crab tracked (back less width then the front) so more or less parallel. Employed someone to make it for him ? who.
Back axle/transmission/ Bevel box
Same back axle from when Dad bought the car until the 70s. This one was straightened three times.
DAT remembers on one occasion when he got two gears at once London 1956/7,(going to work living in Hale and working at Woodford in the week got 1st or 2nd and reverse?). The axle that time was straightened at Napiers(DAT was taking to someone about where to buy one and they suggested he visit “Mr Scott in the spares department at the top of the building” ,he asked what year is yours? So he asked him are you HR Scott- and said he’s been looking for him for years. He had lots of information on British Anzani/ horse power. He sent the back axle off to Austin, who had lots of skill in repairing axles. Got a phone call from Mr Scott saying look out of the window and there was huge lorry with only the axle sitting on it with some cardboard around it. He was never charged for this repair.
In 1979 after Raid the car was fitted a section back axle ‘Freddie Giles’ DAT says something was funny with it turned out to the that the taper was different (no drilled split pin at either end) put cost ?£70. did have trial sprockets (bottom gear was too tight ) so got some new ones from John Malyan- still in the garage.
New back axle April 2008 form section spares…………..Now removed by James Baxter in the 2008 overhaul!
Spacers made on 1999 raid from scaffolding pole fitted to back axle
Replacement bevel box countershaft in 1966 (broke driving back from Silverstone day England beet Germany in 1966 cup- fantastic journey as roads empty driving though Broadway “terrible transmission vibration” Got towed home by Dick Smith in land drover. Bevel nose piece has not been replaced. Crown wheel and pinion original (or since 1953) had one bit of tooth missing since DAT acquired the car. 2008 two pieces of teeth missing(one had 25% missing and the other has a kind of scoop missing/cavity) so plan to replace by section spare June 2008. Countershaft was bent by 0.023"
Chain tension sorted by radius arm (originals marked 1926) overhauled James Baxter 2008
Clutch
DAT had lots of problems with clutch for a period of time ... (it think this is beyond 25 years ago) he realised that the chassis had 'dropped' so the propshaft engine clutch were no longer in a straight line- so there are ‘two lumps’ of metal under the back of the engine which now means it is in a straight line.
Clutch exploded 60’s/7early70’s –‘Frank Hendry was driving and at top revs changed from 2nd into 1st rather than 3rd’. Chassis has a dent.... there is still a piece of metal in a stone wall in Stourbridge from when the clutch exploded.
Clutch bearing in the flywheel was replaced relatively recently in 2000 (1000 miles). Dad says something about the double bearings not being available anymore - i think we could only get a single one in France at the time.
Big clutch work disintegrating clutch - jan 2017 – new toggles hockey sticks , plate
Flywheel
Flywheel is Left hand thread
Body work
Resprayed in 1968 for 1969 Bolzano trip. Work done in Kidderminster- respray, toneau, seats are ICI AMBLA synthetic material made for the motor industry (tear resistant).
‘Play’ in the body work so Body work removed and repaired - frank in lake district 1982- new ash inserted into some aprts of the frame
New toneau in 80s? I remember someone in Middlewich making one?
Paintwork is Ford blue ’Norfolk’
Wheels
“So many wheels changed and swapped”. 1997 Macclesfield shot blasted, respoked. February 2008 x2 new ‘Nash’ (FN wheels have 70 spokes compared to the usual 60) wheels from Tim Pryke £250 each
DAT front wheel brakes- Lada brake drums -two plates held together with M6 nuts/bolts /spot welded the bolt tips so they can’t come undone. (LHS car more likely to come undone)
Inner tubes are 400-19
Tyre pressure 28/30 PSI
Wheels off RHS car (left hand thread-normal thread tighten clockwise) LHS to tighten turn anticlockwise)
Last battery
August 2003 12v (Halfords 39.99 9vaseline on terminals so don’t fizz)… cant be true
New headlights
August 2003 bought at Beaulieu CAV £90 Bob Upston (£90) then £31 for fittings from Winston. Headlights fitted with 7” Lucas reflector unit with detachable 12v bulb (same as Mini/Morris minor/triumph British Leyland 60’s etc (£36.91 x2), new whire put don headlamp post.
Oil/filter change
Last changed August 2003 (oil filter is ‘Unipart 166’ (Champion C103)
1966 England final dad
2000 1000miles replaced spigot bearing
2005
? two gears
2008
Bevel box out JB
Crown wheel and pinion and bearing replaced as 2 damaged teeth
Countershaft replaced
Back axle replaced
New first gear sprocket 40 teeth
Rear shocks rebuilt
Speedofixed briefly
Rev counter cap bottom of engine missing
2009
New temperature gauge / radiator thermometer 9elctric)
Exhaust repair and extended to back of the car
Front brakeshoes replaced (no spares avialble – some from PBE, others welded and all re shooed – 2 spare in Garage)
Removed front springs and replaced u bolts
Back of the CAV resouldered
New HT leads
Battery changed
Bolzano spigot end warn
2010 propshaft out – repaired by SBE – slightly shorter
Ne crossshafts
Rebushed original chassis brackets JB (spares didn’t fit right)
Bearing carrier lengthened
‘tight fit at bearing and push fit on the prop ‘
Clutch pedal adapted for clearance (winstons local engineer)
2012
Exhaust manifold repaired
Petrol tank removed – emved the tap at the base as leaking (mark Roper Pinchcliffe engineering -welded in bottom
Plate under tank
Extra bits
tyre pressure 28/30 psi
Blue antifreeze
Unipart 166 oil filter / also champion 103
Bevel box gear oil SA250/300 fill to top of the bottom teeth
Spigot bearing RHP/SRO/STEYR 1202/ SNR 15 BS02 &NTN/SKF/NACHI/KOYO 1202 Bore 15 od 35 width 11 (Not 2202 that’s a sealed bearing)
Isolator swith LUCAS SSB103
2015
Dave and Jeremy cooper at the Grundys
Windscreen repaired – windscrren wiper repaied
distributor Dr cap rebuild and calibration
Distributor body replaced shaft and cam
DK 400034
Carburettor hospital rebuild carburettor
Snapped throttle post replaced
New fog lights led reverse lights , rewired front bulbs
Wings repainted repaired
Timing gears sliding forward ¼” spacer made
Bevel box out to sort reverse
Replace the two even 16theeth sprockets 5/8th chain pitch
New rag joint
Jan 2016
JG rewired car/ new loom
New reverse RHS bearing housing
New spacers on gear selectors
New dynamo charger and spare belt on prop
Anzani ignition timings
Low compression head: 35 degrees or 3 & ½” at flywheel rim
(Ricardo 20degrees or 2”)
Firing order 1342
Windscreen repair
2016 clutch disintegration
(off road 2016-2019
New plate
New posts
New hocky sticks
New headlamp clamp brackets
? 1000 miles …
2017/2018
Dave and Jeremy cooper at the Grundys no 2
Electrical failure…
Tappets ok
Carb resoldered/redrilled
New jets
|
cylinder |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
psi |
120 |
120 |
119 |
118 |
Jeremy Brewster may 2019
Lamda sensor
Idle jet 0.020
Keep advance and retard in middle
2019
Steering wheel repaired.
ARP ltd
2022
Radius arms replaced
Back axle taken apart / new sleaves and bearings
Bearing carrier cracked so braised as 1of the original 5
New radius arms /pillar bolts / silent bloc/ barrel nuts
10” original Anzani rear brake drums (cone not replacement spares lada drums)
Undertray repaired
Oil change / new filter
New rear brake shoes
Spacers on back axle
Brewster Mudie February 2024
Fix Remove back axle. Remove pillar bolts. Clean & degrease. Mfr new barrel nuts & full nuts to broken bendix drive on starter motor. match the thread on the new components. Fix loose front mudguard bar. Fix earth on wiring. Clean & degrease chassis inside and out. Drill barrel nuts for podger adjustment holes. Clean spark plugs. Mfr 4 new bolts for new rose joint. Install the new parts, lubricate as required. Re-fit back axle. Clean and paint axle parts. Fit exhaust pipe, undertray. Machine nuts. Fit & adj shock absorbers. Fit wheels, jack up car. Remove loose metric bolt from steering wheel; fit new bolt. Grease new pillar bolts & barrel nuts. Adjust all 4 chains for length, fit and check tension. Apply lockwire to barrel nuts. Check bevel box oil & crown wheel tightness. Adj hand brake cable. Tighten steering box clamp. Re-fit floor, carpets, fire extinguishers, etc. Fix exhaust leak. Tighten front shock absorbers. Re-attach advance and retard control to wooden frame, old screws stripped. Oil clutch and brake shafts. Fit new bolt to F/N/S brake lever. Prep for road test. Test drive for 6 miles. Inspect chains again and secondary nut and bolt check. Front shocks tightened. Second test drive, fit lambda sensor so that the fuel mixture can be measured. Fuel mixture was good. Final check over and clean up.
.
DAT ? Silverstone 1966
DAT Oulton / Silverstone ?57
Lots of pics from the 50s
DAT 1969 Bolzano Raid (raid organiser)
DAT /DJT 1973 Boulogne ? raid
DAT 1977 Nürburgring ??
DAT 1979 bolzano raid
1982…high speed trial silvestone
Oulton aprk
Lee Cowie raced Oulton
DJT 1989 Bolzano raid (DAT on plus power)
DJT 1999 Bolzano / Merano Raid
DJT ?JG 2000 in 2000 100 miles in a team with Roger Richmond on PK
DJT 2009 Bolzano
September 2009 FN Stanley cup , the Elan valley LLandridnodd Wells
DJT June 2013 slovenia
July 2015 1000 miles failure south of France – carburettor failure and electrical fire … DAT house wiring
2016 Chilcott’s UB 90th birthday Silverstone
2017 1927 car party in Lincoln / drive around Cadwell park
DJT 2019 Bolzano
2021 ? Oulton auto solo
August 2022 Stanley cup
May 2023 Pyrenees
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