Paris, France (26 August 2026), Gooding Christie's, the official auction house of foremost European automotive event Rétromobile, is delighted to announce TMX 545, the 1949 Frazer Nash High Speed Competition sports racing two-seater, as an early consignment for its Paris Auction, set to take place in February 2027. This historic offering will be available for viewing and inspection at the Gooding Christie’s display during the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, 4-6 September 2026. The auction house continues to invite consignments to its flagship French sale for early next year. This significant competition car, chassis no. 421/100/008, achieved its zenith in 1949 where it garnered an outstanding 3rd Place Overall at the venerable 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was the result that enabled Frazer Nash to name all subsequent High Speed models the ‘ Le Mans Replica,’ a name that has become synonymous with British racing excellence among collectors and connoisseurs. TMX 545 claims impeccable provenance from new, with just two family owners in nearly eight decades. It is being offered from its current family, who have maintained the car since 1959, an incredible 67 years. *Photo courtesy of The Klementaski Collection. Chassis 008 was acquired new by talented motorcycle racer Norman Culpan in 1949 and became a veteran of both the 1949 and 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans. It would subsequently race at international classed events such as the BRDC Silverstone, Isle of Man Manx Cup, and the Tourist Trophy at Dundrod, Northern Ireland. Culpan would then retire 008 in the early 1950s before it was acquired several years later, in 1959, by fellow Yorkshireman E. C. ‘ Cec’ Booth. Mr. Booth and TMX 545 would accumulate prolific success over the following 14 seasons, and upon Mr. Booth’s passing in 2000, the Frazer Nash was inherited by his children. James Knight, Gooding Christie’s Senior Specialist, commented: “Rarely does such an historic British Sports Racing car come to market that can boast credentials as 3rd place Le Mans, two owners from new, impeccable provenance and the added cachet of being the car that gave the Le Mans Replica its name. TMX comes to market publicly for the first time ever and, in my opinion, is the most historically important Frazer Nash extant.” Rétromobile Paris Dates: 3-7 February 2026 Location: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles Auction Details: https://www.goodingco.com/auction/retromobile-paris-auction-2027
(Press Release)
