Displacement About GN
The GN was a British cyclecar made in Hendon, North London, between 1910 and 1920, then moving to Wandsworth, London. It got its name from its founders, H.R. Godfrey (1887-1968) and Archibald Frazer Nash (1889-1965). Production ceased in 1923 but the company kept trading until 1925.
After making several cars for their own use, the two founders launched the GN car in 1910 building then in the stables at the Frazer Nash family home. The car was powered by a V twin engine by JAP or Peugeot with belt drive to the rear wheels. By 1911 production had moved to Hendon and GN's own 1100 cc engine using some Peugeot parts was being fitted. The engine was mounted in the chassis with the crankshaft parallel to the front axle driving through a two speed transmission by chain and dog clutch then by belt to the rear wheels. The two seat car was very light weighing only about 180 kg so in spite of the low power available 60 mph (100 km/h) was achievable, very respectable performance for the time.
The engine was turned through 90 degrees in 1913 with its cylinder heads protruding through the bonnet sides and a team was entered into the French Cyclecar Grand Prix resulting in sports models being added to the range. Some 200 cars had been made when production stopped with the outbreak of World War I.
Production restarted in 1919 and shortly afterwards the company was bought by British Grégoire Ltd and moved to East Hill, Wandsworth in south west London. The chassis changed from wood to steel but the chain type transmission now with four speeds retained. At the peak 500 staff were employed making 55 cars a month. A licence to make the cars was agreed with the French maker Salmson who made about 1600 cars.
