He had the 326 recommissioned but in August 1948 sold the still not 10-year-old saloon to a publisher of technical books called Bernard Babani of Shepherd’s Bush.
The archive service notes indicate that a piston had seized, but Babani was evidently enthusiastic enough about the car to commission Anthony Crook Motors to fit a Bristol 85B engine, complete with gearbox, propshaft and rear axle.
By late September CBT 600 was in the Frazer Nash workshops, where it was found that its new engine was running ‘very badly’, with oil in the radiator. It was also suffering from a severe case of pre-ignition.
Even after a decoke, a tune-up and a set of new valve springs it still wasn’t right, so Tony Crook had the sick car sent down to the Bristol factory at Filton.
There it was fitted with the lower-powered but less troublesome 85A engine it still has to this day.
For full details about CBT 600 please contact its current owner, Matthew Davis, but also see the February 2022 Classic and Sports Car article written by Martin Buckley. The car is currently located in the Odiam area of Hampshire.
https://www.classicandsportscar.com/features/raising-saloon-bar-frazer-nash-bmw-326
