From Chain Drive to Turbocharger The AFN Story

The AFN story is a long and fascinating one of triumphs, intrigues and disasters which will make absorbing reading for anyone interested in sports cars, the motor trade or the inner workings of the motor industry. Above all, though, it is a story of people and in particular of the three Aldington brothers and their friends, from their enjoyment of racing and rallies to the serious business of manufacturing the Frazer Nash car. From the early 'chain-gang' days, Denis Jenkinson or 'Jenks' as he was known to many, traces the fame and fortunes of AFN Ltd to their position as a major Porsche Centre, still at the Falcon Works in Isleworth to which the firm first moved in 1930. AFN Ltd spawned Porsche Cars Great Britain Ltd which is itself a daughter company of Dr. Ing. H.c.F. Porsche AG of Stuttgart. The story is interspersed with many anecdotes about the people working for the company, the customers and their racing activities, and the company's association with such drivers as Stirling Moss, Dick Seaman, Prince Bira, 'Fane', Mike Hawthorn and others as well as 'Aldy' (H.J. Aldington) himself and his brother Don. The book relates the pre war associations with BMW, the wartime activities at the Falcon Works and the aftermath of war when AFN was not only directly involved in the resurrection of BMW but also in the start of the Bristol Aeroplane Company as an important motor manufacturer. From their early association with the German industry stemmed the close links with the rising Porsche firm which culminated in the current partnership. The book contains 'profiles' on some of the colourful AFN personalities and of significant individual cars, and includes valuable appendices listing factory records on both Chain Gang and Bristol Engined Frazer Nash car production, details on Frazer Nash BMW imported: 315/40, 319/55, 327/55, 327/80 and 328, along with a selection of delivery records for Porsche 356, 356 Carrera, 904 Carrera Coupe and 906 Carrera cars. It is also illustrated with a superb collection of unpublished photographs from AFN's own archives.