'A nickname as evocative as the "chain gang" is guaranteed to raise the eyebrows of and fast-car enthusiast not too conversant with the intimacies of the pre-war Frazer Nash.' – Bruce Hudson, British Light Cars 1930-1939 .

The Frazer Nash was the direct descendant of the GN cycle car, a twin-cylinder, chain driven vehicle produced until 1922 by the partnership of Captain Archie Frazer-Nash and H R Godfrey.

Archie Frazer-Nash then formed a new company and in 1924 the first Frazer Nash appeared.

The new car used the GN-type transmission, which consisted of a separate chain for each speed, the drive sprockets being engaged by dog clutches.

Three forward speeds were offered at first, with a fourth added later, power being transmitted via a countershaft to the rear axle.

Reverse had its own chain.

In many ways this system represented the sporting motorist's ideal; it was lighter and absorbed less power than a conventional gearbox, while the sprockets could be changed quickly to suit d...