A FRISKY PRINCE SEEKS COMPANION
No, not that sort of prince. Rare microcar will be auctioned later this month
Barons will offer one of two Frisky Princes ever made at its annual Christmas Sandown Park auction next Tuesday (12 December).
This particular example was shown at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1960 – the only other one in existence lives in the USA.
Frisky was formed when British businessman and racing driver, Captain Raymond Flower, had the idea for a small car while working as managing director of the Nuffield distributors in Egypt. He eventually struck a deal with British engine manufacturer, Henry Meadows Limited.
Amazingly, the car made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show as a Vignale-built, Michelotti-designed creation with gullwing doors.
This was deemed too expensive for production, but a version with rear-hinged ‘suicide’ doors began production in 1958.
Financial difficulties led to various changes in ownership and premises but a MkII version of the three-wheeled version of the car, the Family Three, appeared in 1959. The Prince was a rebodied version of this with front-hinged doors.
The car failed to compete with rivals such as the Mini so few were built. Production ended in 1961.
The vendor’s father bought the car new in 1961, but laid it up two years later after acquiring a Trojan bubblecar. When his father died three years ago, his family decided to try to get it back on the road, which they managed with some help from the Frisky register.
The Prince has a full MoT and comes with its original handbook and some paperwork.
Barons spokesman, Tim Gascoigne, says: ‘As far as is known, a Frisky Prince has never come on to the market before, so this is a great opportunity to own an extremely rare car – indeed a one family-owned car.’
‘A Frisky prince has never come to market before, it’s a great opportunity’ TIM GASCOIGNE, BARONS