Following three years of post-war racing with several international successes including overall victory in the 1952 Sebring 12 Hours, Frazer Nash introduced the Targa Florio incorporating many new design features including the lightweight ‘200’ series chassis.
The Targa Florio was designed to appeal to those who were looking for a fast touring car that still offered competition potential and featured weather equipment, a comfortable interior and a boot with ample luggage space. The competition derived ‘parallel tube’ chassis was the lightest offered by Frazer Nash and was originally penned as a basis for Formula 2 racing. Other mechanicals had been used and proven in previous cars by Frazer Nash.
KYN 9 is unique and one of the most famous Frazer Nash cars because it was built with a 2.6 litre Austin engine. The company was keen to impress the chairman of BMC who were looking for a partner to go into sports car production. KYN 9 was the prototype and first shown to the public at the 1952 London Motorshow. Unfortunately for team from Isleworth, Donald Healey produced his “Healey Hundred” that used a plethora of Austin parts in the chassis and running gear and won the contract and the start of the long running Austin Healey association.
KYN 9 was sold to BMC Distributors in California and in June 1954 Louis Keller competed with it in the Golden Gate Park Race in San Francisco. The car was enjoyed by a number of American owners before being discovered by the well-known British actor, John Rhys-Davies. He brought it back to the UK in 1986 between filming “The Living Daylights” and “King Solomon’s Mines”.
KYN 9 then benefitted from a complete rebuild at TT Workshops and was fitted with a 2 litre Bristol engine. Rhys-Davies kept the car for 13 years until 1999 when it was sold to Jeremy Broad. During his ownership it appeared in a 5 page feature in Octane magazine. The records show that the car appeared for sale with the notorious London dealers, Hall & Bradfield in 2006. It was sold back to the USA but this was a short stay and by 2008 it was back in the UK. The new owner was the likable enthusiast Anthony Galliers-Pratt. He commissioned marque experts, Blakeney Motorsport to re-restore the car and prepare it for racing with the original specification tuned 2.6 Litre engine. He then successfully campaigned it from 2011 to 2016.
The next owner was Leicestershire based racer, John Briggs who continued to use the car both on road and track. He kept the car for five years until 2021 when it was bought by the current owner. Once again the talented team at Blakeney Motorsport were instructed to prepare the car for further competition use. The car had fresh FIA HTP certification and was fitted with a new set of black painted Borrani wheels. Race shop manager, Mike Grant-Peterkin describes the car as race ready having just been fitted with a new clutch and a service to both brakes and overdrive.
Currently presented in beautiful condition, painted in a dark shade of British Racing Green with a contrasting Oxblood leather interior and sitting on those black Borrani wheels. KYN 9 is one of the finest post-war Nashes to come to market in recent years. Its continuous provenance, interesting international history and its rarity make it highly eligible for all the top historic events. KYN 9 is the ideal early 50’s Sports and Racing and great fun as a fast tourer for road and rally use.
