14 replies to this topic

[Graham Clayton]

The 1992 Lotus 107 had a logo featuring a reference to defunct UK manufacturer Frazer-Nash on the nosecone. How did this logo come about? Was there a stillborn attempt to revive Frazer-Nash in the early 1990's?

 

Edited by Graham Clayton, 26 March 2019 - 01:53.

[2F-001]

There is/was a Frazer Nash engineering consultancy that evolved/grew/formed/whatever from the same Group as the FN we are more familiar with; It could be they that are represented there?

[Tim Murray]

They claim their heritage goes back to Archie, although the current organisation hyphenates Frazer-Nash. The hyphen was never used on the cars:

https://www.fnc.co.u...r-heritage.aspx

[TennisUK]

I have a fuzzy memory that the logo was related to the active suspension system they ran that year - the one they ran in 1987 was supplied by Group Lotus but the one they ran in '92/'93 was a totally different system and I think provided by the engineering company then known as FN.

[TennisUK]

And also - what a lovely car that was!

[D-Type]

Tim Murray, on 26 Mar 2019 - 05:41, said:

They claim their heritage goes back to Archie, although the current organisation hyphenates Frazer-Nash. The hyphen was never used on the cars:

https://www.fnc.co.u...r-heritage.aspx

I think the Frazer-Nash gun turret had a hyphen as it was independent of the car company.

[Alan Cox]

I seem to recall at the time that David Thirlby, the author of a number of books on Frazer Nash car history and an expert on Archie Frazer-Nash, told me it was something to do with a virtual-reality headset system that they were developing, and with which the company still appears to be involved

 

Archie's surname was hyphenated, but the car company's name wasn't

[D-Type]

is it simply a case that the car company and the consultancy are separate companies - one with a hyphen and one without.

[absinthedude]

AS I recall it was a link with "Frazer-Nash Technology". At the time fans were told it would lead to a HUD in the drivers' helmets which would mean no looking down at the dashboard or steering wheel and other gizmos. 

 

In the end I think all it meant was a logo on the car. Beautiful car though, for 90s F1. 

[Alan Cox]

D-Type, on 27 Mar 2019 - 19:56, said:

is it simply a case that the car company and the consultancy are separate companies - one with a hyphen and one without.

Sadly, the car company doesn't exist any more

[king_crud]

Alan Cox, on 27 Mar 2019 - 13:43, said:

I seem to recall at the time that David Thirlby, the author of a number of books on Frazer Nash car history and an expert on Archie Frazer-Nash, told me it was something to do with a virtual-reality headset system that they were developing, and with which the company still appears to be involved

Archie's surname was hyphenated, but the car company's name wasn't

I remember seeing an story about that heads up instrument system at the time, I'm surprised it's never been developed by this time

[TennisUK]

absinthedude, on 28 Mar 2019 - 08:12, said:

AS I recall it was a link with "Frazer-Nash Technology". At the time fans were told it would lead to a HUD in the drivers' helmets which would mean no looking down at the dashboard or steering wheel and other gizmos. 

 

In the end I think all it meant was a logo on the car. Beautiful car though, for 90s F1. 

Ah yes i think you're right. If was a HUD inside the helmet - I remember seeing it on Tomorrow's World.

[neilwhitedesign]

While researching the book I'm writing on Team Lotus covering the 1983-1994 period, it would seem that as well as the development of the head-up display, Fraser Nash Technology also invested into Team Lotus in 1992, as well as providing a financial guarantee against the team's Cosworth engine supply for the year.

 

I seem to remember a photo of the head-up display in the 'Williams Renault Formula 1 Motor Racing Book' from 1993, which I had as a kid.

 

https://www.amazon.c...aps,129&sr=1-19

[Louis Mr. F1]

that's right, I also remembered the same and had checked this out on the book mentioned above last night before bed time and found this.  Just got a chance to scan this page now for your reference.  Notice the Frazer-Nash logo on the helmet.  It appears to be Johnny Herbert's (Lotus driver at the time) helmet but worn by someone else.

 

Edited by Louis Mr. F1, 28 March 2019 - 21:01.

[MCS]

2F-001, on 26 Mar 2019 - 04:54, said:

There is/was a Frazer Nash engineering consultancy that evolved/grew/formed/whatever from the same Group as the FN we are more familiar with; It could be they that are represented there?

 

Yes, I remember them.  Even went to see them (IT-related) and sad that the car company is no more as per Alan's post.