[Prabal]

Originally Posted by travancore

An interesting snippet from the web regarding Fraser Nash BMW's and India: (source:BMW Roadster . com)

461 328's were built from 1936 - 1940. 42 Sold in Britian. 1 Went to India as well as 1 going to the U.S.A. (both delivered by Frazer Nash-BMW). 7 Were in chassis form exported to the UK."_

The net is a great source for research, but not for believing everything. A few observations of mine that I've been holding back for few days, if I may, now.

Firstly Frazer Nash were BMW importers, assemblers and distributors for the UK market; since there was growing resentment against German products at that time, so the British guise helped! All Frazer Nash-BMW 328s were thus right hand drive. There was no other difference with the BMW 328 other than the badging, which only had Frazer Nash added to the blue-n-white propellor BMW oval on the radiator cowl and the wheel spinners. I seem to recollect reading somewhere that a few of the panels were sourced separately by FN, so that may be a difference too. Also that the German 328 body was all Aluminium, not so the British. There were certainly more than two coachbuildres involved even in Germany (the cabriolet and roadster being apportioned between them), but I can't remember much here.

Few of the Frazer Nash-BMWs were exported to the right hand drive markets - so if the steering wheel were visible in Speedy's photo (it can't be seen even in the second photo posted by Karl/Harit - what's the story with the wheel?) one could have deduced without first-hand info that it was likely to be a FNBeemer. Harit of course cleared that. A Frazer Nash-BMW 328 being exported to the US is possible, because a few RHD cars (of other makes) did turn up in America, but quite unlikely too. And I wonder why they wouldn't get one from Germany in LHD? The German BMW 328 was also cheaper. I don't know if BMW 328s were produced in RHD in Germany, nowhere in my records it's mentioned that they did though.

The general consensus is that 462 (not 461) BMW 328s (including the Frazer Nash-BMW 328s) were built. Apparently the last nine rolling chassis of the BMW 328 in 1939 could not be completed due to the war and were infact built afterwards in 1945. So technically there were nine 1945 BMW 328s also! Only I'm not sure if these were in the German factory or sent as the rolling chassis for assembly by Frazer Nash in the U.K. Would be interesting if someone can come up with the lid on that, an important footnote in the speedsters history can be nailed.

Although the introduction of the 328 in the general market happened in 1937, the first production models rolled out in 1936. Similarly, the last production (including the incomplete nine rolling chassis that languished until the war finished) was in 1939, but possibly the last ones were being sold till 1940 so that's attributed as the last year. Though 1936-39 is considered to be the years by most.

Originally Posted by travancore

An added India connection for Fraser Nash: " Captain Archie Frazer-Nash. he was a son of the Raj, born in India in 1889, _

After the war in fact, Frazer Nash Engineering and Frazer Nash cars went separate ways, the latter was now called AFN (after Capt. Archiebald-F-N) and importing/distributing Porsche cars while also building BMW clones/spawns with Bristol engines and gearboxes, but now called only Frazer Nashes. Bristol itself was also blatantly milking the BMW designs (engines and body design) almost like a right due to war-time repatriations and building upon it's already sizeable reputation!

How cyclical has the story been - Austin 7-BMW Dixie, BMW-Frazer Nash-Bristol, Rolls Royce-BMW (not to mention Bentley-VW)

Originally Posted by travancore

Archie's mother was one of the first women to qualify as a doctor. She had practised in India.."_

Aah...so some of our grand-mothers got the Frazer Nash treatment!

[DKG]

That was very enlightening Prabal. Thanks a ton

[Prabal]

Originally Posted by Prabal

The general consensus is that 462 (not 461) BMW 328s (including the Frazer Nash-BMW 328s) were built.

Though 1936-39 is considered to be the years by most.

Here's an update, and an admission of my mistake in the previous post; my apologies! I have been checking the records with BMW and have learnt that a total of 464 units of the 328 were built. And the production period on record is 1936-40.

[speedy]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Some observations from Harit on the BMW.

Just got my hands on the The AutoMobiles Of The Maharajas co written by Manvendra uncle. On Page 313 There is a mention and a picture of the 328 and he does call it the BMW and not Fraser Nash BMW. So either he has made a mistake or Mr. Sanghi has.
Here is a scan copy of the page.

[karlosdeville]

A rare Kaiser Frazer Manhatten with the Gonal family.

Unusual Royal Family Vintage Car Collection - India Travel Forum Photo Gallery

[veesixteen]

Hello again,

Just to let you know we are back from Europe and I found time to put up your pics of the 1:25 scale Cadillac boattail speedster once owned by the Maharajah of Orccha. If you want to add or change anything, please let me know.

Toys, 02-31
________________________________________

Originally Posted by travancore

The Orchha Cadillac V-16 by Pininfarina.....

[karlosdeville]

Some more lovely pictures courtesy Kishore Gidwani.

Lancia DiLambda, now being restored. Dholpur if Im not mistaken.





Kishore's Buick.




Early Buick of Wankaner.



Delage of Gondal. If Im right, this car is now restored.





I have no details on this though. Appears American.

[veesixteen]

Totally off topic, if I may. Last night Gita and I dined at an Indian restaurant here, in South Carolina. A music video (DVD) was playing on a wide-screen TV, for the enjoyment of the patrons. It was "Love Songs" by Tere Yihe, from "Rash Raj Home Entertainment". Gita noticed that some of the video scenes appeared to have been shot in Switzerland, including on the premises of the International School that she attanded, near Geneva. Who might know the camera crews, to confirm the location(s) and dates when the DVD was filmed. Where could she buy a copy of that DVD? You may Email me privately: yannsaunders@yahoo.com

Originally Posted by veesixteen

Hello again,

Just to let you know we are back from Europe and I found time to put up your pics of the 1:25 scale Cadillac boattail speedster once owned by the Maharajah of Orccha. If you want to add or change anything, please let me know.

Toys, 02-31
________________________________________

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by veesixteen

Totally off topic, if I may. Last night Gita and I dined at an Indian restaurant here, in South Carolina. A music video (DVD) was playing on a wide-screen TV, for the enjoyment of the patrons. It was "Love Songs" by Tere Yihe, from "Rash Raj Home Entertainment". Gita noticed that some of the video scenes appeared to have been shot in Switzerland, including on the premises of the International School that she attanded, near Geneva. Who might know the camera crews, to confirm the location(s) and dates when the DVD was filmed. Where could she buy a copy of that DVD?

Well we would need more details, as many movies have been shot in picturesque Switzerland. Firstly, it was probably Tere Liye, which translates to "for you", and Yash Raj, not Rash Raj, a big name in the film industry. Your best bet would be to ask the restaurant itself Id think.

[karlosdeville]

This months Auto India magazine has a lovely article with some great pictures on the Kapurthala Talbot Lago with Figoni Falaschi coachwork. Dont miss it, also some pieces on the Nethercutt collection and Jay Leno.

[karlosdeville]

This month's Auto India (Feb 09) too has been a treat for classic car lovers with extensive coverage of the Lowmann collection featuring the Hyderabad Prime Minister's Phantom 1 and Idar's Brooke Swan car. It carries an early photo of what must have been the original owner, an Englishman, with his car.

On closer inspection, portion of the regn number visible may be the current NABHA 200, so the person in the picture is still unidentified, as Nabha bought the car from the Calcutta Englishman.

[wasif]

The first owner of the Swan Car who is pictured with the car was a gentleman named Robert Nicholl "Scotty"Mathewson.

He later sold the car to the Royal Family of Nabha.

The car would at a pull of a lever drop mounds of chalk on the road to stimulate a swans dropping. Most unusual along with the steam shooting out of its nostrels.

[karlosdeville]

A friend of mine took this picture from a Bentley book, showing a large Mk 6 Bentley for Mysore. Is the car accounted for today?

[travancore]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A friend of mine took this picture from a Bentley book, showing a large Mk 6 Bentley for Mysore. Is the car accounted for today?

I have a feeling this is the Poonawalla Car (Chassis # B294EY); Registration MRJ-3371

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by travancore

I have a feeling this is the Poonawalla Car (Chassis # B294EY); Registration MRJ-3371

Hmm, you must be right, they do appear identical.