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FRY Roger NEW

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Researched and compiled by Gordon Freegard using information gathered from Roger & Christine Fry and many other sources including articles written by Ian Berg, Bruce Lindsay and others. September 2026

Born in 1943 Englishman Roger Fry and his wife Christine migrated to Western Australia in 1967 with a view of farming in the vast wheatbelt area near Mukinbudin. In 1970 he moved from the country to Perth after a couple of years farming and suffering a drought. Roger then resumed his trade of carpentry and joinery. During a trip back to the United Kingdom in 1973 he purchased a derelict 1937 Rolls Royce 25/30 chassis GRP79 James Young Limousine from UK scrapyard. This was his first venture into a total rebuild. While retaining the original body, he rebuilt the car over a period of 5 1/2 years.
A return to the UK in 1980 for family reasons and the subsequent experience of working in a restoration shop for a year, gave Roger an introduction to the car restoration business. Once again coming back to Western Australia in 1981, when he started his restoration business.

ROGER FRY #1

RESTORATION OF THE 1937 ROLLS ROYCE 25-30

The car made its first public appearance in 1979, only a few days after leaving the workshop, at the Western Australian Concours d'Elegance where it won best car in its class. A few weeks later followed the Federal Rolls Royce rally, which attracted entrants from all over Australia to Perth's Kings Park, and the car scooped the pool from the best cars in the country, being now recognised as the best Rolls Royce in Australia. Roger was offered $45,000 for the car at the rally, but was also advised by another owner not to accept anything less than $85,000 for it. But it's not bad for a car which he bought cheap and spent a total of $15,000 on. At that stage Roger was still running the motor in, and the spacious rear compartment of the car was decked out with all the trophies it had won in just a month of shows.
This car won every concours event for which the car had entered including the coveted Rolls Royce Owners Club "Vidler Shield". Against the competition regularly fielded at concours events around Australia, that record is creditable in itself. But since the car had been purchased from a scrapyard in England, complete, yet derelict to the extent of a broken conrod, the achievements are nothing short of remarkable.

THE FINISHED 1937 ROLLS ROYCE 25-30 RESTORED BY ROGER FRY

R. FRY & SONS NAMEPLATE #2

His restoration of GRP79 impressed fellow R-R enthusiasts and by 1978 he was spending much of his time as a restorer and repairer. He then spent a year back in the UK working with a traditional coachbuilder in Oxfordshire to gain vital experience and skills. At the Federal Concourse of the RROC in Western Australia in 1979, the car so impressed by Perth collector and entrepreneur Peter Briggs that he commissioned Roger in 1980 restore a Bentley for him. And so began the restoration business with the first project building the new Franay styled roadster body on the 1937 4¼ litre Bentley B126 JD, inspired by the "Bullion Bentley"

Working from photographs only, Roger fashioned a body which duplicates the grace and the lines of the original so that, from any angle, the replica is as balanced and as appealing as the car on which it was patterned. Methods used in such construction closely parallel those which would have been used in the car's heyday. Roger is responsible for the overall design, using full-length steel rods from which to gauge sweeping wing lines. He then passes over the frame to his bodybuilder, a man schooled in the finest of coachbuilding traditions and who worked with Elite Metals, an English firm which sub-contracted for Hooper and Park Ward. Panels are hand-beaten in 16-guage aluminium over the timber jigs, and are metal-finished without resorting to plastic filling compounds to achieve a finish free of blemishes.
Body hardware such as hinges, handles, window frames and brightwork are fabricated whenever appropriate stocks cannot be obtained. Chrome mouldings, hood iron, windscreen frames, bumpers and their associated supports and brackets are among pieces which have been made up from samples by Roger and his staff of five.+

THE TALE ABOUT THE "BULLION BENTLEY"
There is an enduring legend about a particular Bentley, the 'Bullion' Bentley, the car that supposedly saved France's platinum reserves from the invading Germans in 1940. The Bentley in question was a 3.5-litre Derby Bentley with the chassis number B38EF and was the personal car of a director of the Banque de France. When the Germans invaded the Low Countries and France in June 1940, it soon became apparent that they would encircle Paris. The bank directors sought a way to save their assets - especially the refined ingots of platinum - from the invading army. Legend says they decided to strap the ingots inside the chassis rails of the Bentley, feeling that a lone car might escape attention and could possibly slip through the enemy lines into neutral Spain and on to Portugal.The roads were clogged with refugees as the Bentley headed for Spain, despite being attacked by Stuka dive-bombers. Somehow, the Bentley always escaped damage in these air-raids. It was claimed that a French sympathiser had alerted the Germans, and that orders were issued that the Bentley was to be stopped but not damaged. The Bentley reached the Spanish border at Hendaye but there was a queue of vehicles several miles long waiting to cross over. The Bentley took to the narrow mountain roads and drove high into the Pyrenees until it could go no further. Finally, its driver stopped at a tiny mountain inn.The innkeeper supplemented his income by smuggling, and sensing that the driver of the Bentley had something to hide, offered to take him across the mountains into Spain in return for a large reward.The crossing was made at night without headlights which could have given them away. At one stage, a wooden bridge collapsed under the weight of the car just as it passed over; at other times, the narrow track threatened to collapse, but the Bentley made it into Spain, and drove on to Portugal, where the driver made his way to the British embassy. At first, embassy staff found the driver's story hard to believe, until they saw the ingots strapped to the Bentley's chassis. It was arranged for the driver and the bullion to be flown to Britain in an RAF flying boat. They made their escape just in time, for the story is that German agents found the car and dismantled it in a search for the platinum.There the story ends. The bullion was sold to America and the money used to finance Charles de Gaulle's Free French army. The Bentley was taken over by a British agent in Portugal, who kept it for 11 years before selling it to a one-legged Portuguese . . .True or false? At this remove, we'll probably never know. What is certain is that B38EF exists, having being brought to England in 1974 before being sold to American Ralph Lauren, and finally returning to the care of a collector in southern England.

ROGER FRY"S WORKSHOP #3

From a workshop at home, he expanded to commercial premises at 31 Lawrence Road Walliston, and then in 2000 moved into new purpose built premises in a rural setting in Roleystone, in the hills southeast of Perth
This workshop provides a complete restoration service. A typical project consists of a total chassis restoration and rebody with everything, apart from the paintwork, handled in house. Over the years Roger has employed several craftsmen including a former Park Ward coachbuilder and a Rolls-Royce trained mechanic. However, the business now is strictly a family affair. Roger and
Christine’s son, Jason, completed an apprenticeship in panel beating and spray painting and worked in the business for 25 years before his untimely passing. Son Aaron is now responsible for metal work with Roger on mechanical, body design and framing. Daughter Lisa completes all the upholstery and tops for the cars and was the first female apprentice in the field in Western Australia.

Since then, Roger has been responsible for the complete rebuild of some 55 Rolls Royce and Bentley motorcars and eight other makes including a second Franay styled car for a New Zealand buyer. Many of the cars have been sourced as projects by Roger himself through contacts in the UK and USA before being offered to Australian customers and subsequently restored to their required specifications

AMERICAN LA FRANCE 14 LITRE

Most of the restorations involve a rebody, and Roger is very particular about understanding the customer’s requirements in terms of the body style, sizing of seating arrangement and fittings before the project is finally committed to. Usually this will involve extensive research into design styles and review of original coachbuilder’s drawings. How long the whole restoration takes depends on many things including the condition of the car and the body style sought. A straight-forward restoration could be completed in a year if the entire team were dedicated to the project.

HISPANO_SUIZA H6B 19 LITRE V8 AERO EENGINE

However, to ensure work consistency, several projects are on the go at the same time. At present (written in 2022) a 1912 Silver Ghost, chassis 1853E, is being completed, as is a replica C-Type Jaguar, Roger’s own 3½ litre Bentley, and on hand is also a Rolls-Royce Phantom I and a Phantom III. Rolls-Royce has been the predominant marque through the workshop and the list includes 16 Silver Ghosts, three Phantom I’s, six Phantom IIs, two Phantom IIIs, two 20hp models and two 25/30s, a number that surely must be a record in Australia. Other cars that have been restored include five WO Bentleys, eight Derby Bentleys, three post-war Rolls-Royce and Bentleys, two Hispano Suizas, a Bean, an Alvis, and a veteran Renault. Roger has also restored a Ford Model T ambulance for the St John’s Ambulance Service as a promotional vehicle for their 50th anniversary.

ST JOHN'S AMBULANCE MODEL "T" FORD

A particularly challenging rebuild was the 1912 Silver Ghost chassis 2145. The car was originally fitted with Barker cabriolet coachwork, long gone, and a reproduction of the original body was sought. Roger visited the UK and Ireland to study similar cars and the splendid body, framed in Tasmanian Oak and clad in aluminium was subsequently constructed.
Countless hours were spent ensuring it truly replicated the original. Such skill and patience takes enormous hours man-hours - and an enormous budjet. But on a Silver Ghost such time and money is never wasted. Being able to copy a body is fine but on a cabriolet most of the hard work is hidden. Roger still had to nut out the folding mechanism to ensure it would work properly. Getting the mechanism to fold is one thing, but it must have adequate clearances so that rubbing of paint and trim does not occur.

1912 SILVER GHOST CHASSIS 2145 FULLY RESTORED

1912 SILVER GHOST CHASSIS 2145 UNDER RESTORATION

In many cases Roger had to make a rough pattern first, try it out and then produce the finished item effectively doubling the time taken.
Several top awards won since its completion are testament to its authenticity and the workmanship involved - it beat all-comers of all ages at the 47th annual Federal Rally of the Rolls Royce Owners Club in Canberra taking an outright win and the "Age and Authenticity" trophy as well. It subsequently took out similar awards at the NSW clubs annual concours.
Some months later it was judged "Best of the Show" at the Combined Car Clubs' annual display day at Eastern Creek against an impressive field and around the same time was voted "Most Unique Car" at the annual MotorEx show at Sydney Showgrounds.
The car has long left our shores and is now owned by 20-Ghost Club members Albert and Monique Eberhard from Portugal.

1912 SILVER GHOST CHASSIS 2145 RESTORED ENGINE

1912 SILVER GHOST CHASSIS 2145 RESTORED UPHOLSTERY

Another notable car that passed through the workshop was the late John Auld’s 14 litre aircraft engined Hispano-Suiza from 1915 which on the road proved to be exceptionally powerful and fast. It is now in the Jay Leno collection

A well-known car in Australian Rolls-Royce circles which is currently nearing completion (written in 2022) is the 1912 Silver Ghost chassis 1853E (see the last two photographs).This car was originally owned by Sol Green in Melbourne and was restored in the 1960s by Eric Rainsford who built a Roi des Belges body. Peter has commissioned a D-fronted limousine body, as well as a touring body for summer use based on a Barker design, which will complete an exhaustive restoration conducted over many years. This car is spectacular, with an extraordinary amount of attention being applied to every detail.

Roger is also completing his own 3½ litre Bentley chassis B119FC at present and has in his personal stable a Phantom II Continental chassis 94PY, a car we have seen on several 20-Ghost tours, and a very original PII Windover’s limousine which we are yet to see, as well as an Alvis Speed 20. Originally, Rolls-Royce only provided the chassis, drive train, bonnet and radiator. The coachbuilder then completed the car to the customer’s requirements. We are very fortunate to have in Australia a coachbuilder like Roger Fry and his family who can practice this craft to the same high standard as the best of the coachbuilders from the past. The accompanying selection of photos shows the wide variety of styles and projects that have been undertaken by "R Fry & Sons".

1913 Silver Ghost Chassis 2315

This particular 1957 Bentley owned by Jim and Hilda Keogh was originally a four door standard saloon and was converted by Roger to a stylish drophead two door coupe much as H. J. Mullner & Co did in the late 1950's and early 1960's.

1957 BENTLEY FOUR DOOR STANDARD SALOON MODIFIED TO A DROPHEAD TWO DOOR COUPE BY ROGER FRY

1912 SILVER GHOST CHASSIS 1853E

HAND PAINTED CANEWARE ON 1912 SILVER GHOST
DONE BY ROGER'S SON AARON FRY

1912 SILVER GHOST CHASSIS 1853E

AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF WORK DONE ON ONE RESTORATION

The unrestored Chassis 58TM was purchased by Russell Kumar who commenced restoration work which continued when the car was purchased on 1 March 1990 by the present owner Mr John Smith of Ferny Creek, Victoria.

The restoration continued over the next nine years with the majority of the work being done at Roger Fry's Specialist Restoration Workshops in Perth Western Australia.

The car was transported to Melbourne and then driven by Roger Fry and John Smith to Canberra for the Rolls Royce Owners Club 1999 Federal Concours where it was judged the winner of the Silver Ghost Category.

Since then it has won awards wherever it has been entered.

In 2001 the car was awarded the 20/Ghost Clubs "Best Restoration" prize.

During the restoration the car gained many unique features and/ or Accessories:.

A magnificent/Hard-Wood Cocktail Cabinet complete with Crystal Sherry Set.

An Alpine Stereo which has been discretely built into the Cocktail Cabinet.

The normal Bench Seat in front is actually two individual seats with multiple adjustments and electronic Lumbar supports.

12 Volt Power Points are installed front and back.

A lockable Cabinet is set into the rear floor.

Storage for Sidescreens has been made at back of rear seats.

A variety of Hood Covers and Tonneau covers have been made and are stored in Silk Lined Suitcases in "Brooks" Trunk.

A folding Rear Windscreen has been fitted for the comfort of rear passengers.

A "Brooks type Trunk was made to house three custom made suitcases, this trunk also houses the wheel tools.

Full length tool Storage Cabinets were incorporated into the running boards.

Power Steering was fitted in recent years to assist with parking as the Balloon Tyres provide a better ride. All components to return steering to manual are retained.

Battery Storage is out of sight.

All metalwork is Gold Plated, Radiator Shell is made from Marine Grade Brass.

Barker Headlight Dipping System.

Air scoops to the side and top of the scuttle.

Gold plated Anaconda Horn.

Picnic tables to rear seats.

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:                 Article:       Gordon Freegard
                                                  Roger Fry
                                                  Ian Breg
                                                  Bruce Lindsay
                                                 Unique Cars February-March 2006

                               Images:       Roger Fry
                                                  Ian Berg
                                                  Unique Cars February-March 2006

ROGER FRY & GORDON FREEGARD WITH THE 40 YEAR OLD ALBUM 2026

THE LOCAL HISTORY CONNECTION

In August 2026 Gordon Freegard was introduced to Roger and Christine Fry over a coffee at Dome Kalamunda by Tony Vincenti. It was in the discussion that followed that the story about the restoration of Archie Anderson's Fowler Steam Traction Engine emerged. Roger then showed me his 40 year old photo album that recorded this amazing feat. It contained dozens of images of this five year project that we have never seen before. From the wrecked machine in the bush behind Archie's house to the fully restored working machine that is now in pride of place at Whitman Park.

THE STORY BEHIND THE IMAGES

In 1921, the Western Australian Government purchased six new Fowler Big Lion "B6" stump pulling steam traction engines, that was mainly for use in Group Settlement Scheme properties in the south-west. Each machine weighed 16,326kg, had a top speed of 14km/hour and had an 18hp engine and cost about $8.000 in 1921. It was capable of pulling more than 100 tonnes..
Archie Anderson of Carmel paid 400 pounds ($800) to purchased one of these Fowler Traction Steam Engine in 1943/44 to use as a tree puller. It was one of two that had been unloaded in pieces, in Fremantle in 1921. The wave of post-World War 1 migration made it necessary to use the 18 horsepower monster to clear land in the Manjimup and Mount Helena Group Settlement Scheme areas. In 1925, it was in the Goldfields, clearing a swath for the Eastern Goldfields Railway. It was also used extensively clearing the Perth Mandurah Road.
For many years it worked clearing land in the Carmel, Pickering Brook and Karragullen area. During the war it was used to cut timber for the military at Barton's Mill Sawmill.

ARCHIE ANDERSON #1

Archie worked in the hills area during the late 1940's and the early 1950's clearing land and stump pulling with his steam traction engine but eventually the bulldozers appeared and took over that role. He retired the last Big Lion in 1953 when it broke a suspension and was left idle for 27 years.

This all changed in 1982 when Roger Fry was driving though the hills of Carmel when his Rover car overheated. He pulled into Archie Anderson property on Carmel Road to get some water to put in the radiator. Alongaside the driveway was Archie's steam powered road roller which caught Rogers eye. In the discussion about it Archie mentioned he had the wreck of a bigger one in the bush up the back.

After pushing through the vegetation and bush the old derelict abandoned machine was found. It was in a very bad condition with a broken suspension and bits and pieces laying around. One rear wheel had seperated and was leaning against the front of the machine. The machine was tilted sideways because the wooden blocks that supported it had been eaten by white ants. Roger was both fascinated and intrigued by this monster. As a restorer of vintage cars Roger could not resist the challenge to bring it back to life.

ARCHIE ANDERSON & IAN LAIDLOW WITH THE STEAM ROAD ROLLER #2

THE WRECK OF ARCHIE ANDERSON'S STEAM TRACTION ENGINE #3

THE WRECK OF ARCHIE ANDERSON'S STEAM TRACTION ENGINE #4

THE WRECK OF ARCHIE ANDERSON'S STEAM TRACTION ENGINE #5

THE WRECK OF ARCHIE ANDERSON'S STEAM TRACTION ENGINE #6

STEAM TRACTION ENGINE BEING PUSHED READY FOR TRANSPORTING #7

STEAM TRACTION ENGINE BEING LOADED FOR TRANSPORT TO KALAMUNDA #8

STEAM TRACTION ENGINE BEING LOADED FOR TRANSPORT TO KALAMUNDA #9

STEAM TRACTION ENGINE BEING TRANSPORTED TO KALAMUNDA #10

After being abandoned for 25 years Roger Fry of Kalamunda and his mate Richard Harvey of Mount Lawley commenced the six year process of restoring the machine.
It was moved to Roger's back yard at 35 Traylon Road Kalamunda where the restoration took place. He said they always thought they would get the engine running again right thoughout the time they've worked on it. The hardest part was all the heavy lifting involved with the parts. Everything was so heavy and could only be manhandled.
New tubes for the boiler had to be imported from Britian and the front suspension completely rebuilt. Roger said he covered the outside of the boiler with timber planks which were held in place by brass straps. This was then encased in the original steel cover and it had the effect of holding the heat much better.

STEAM TRACTION ENGINE BEING RESTORED TO KALAMUNDA #11

STEAM TRACTION ENGINE BEING RESTORED TO KALAMUNDA #12

There was great excitement when it was finally steamed
up for the first time. With steam hissing from the boiler, pungent smoke from the chimney and a piecing whistle
which brought back old memories of the trains that came
up the Zig Zag railway to Kalamunda.

STEAM TRACTION ENGINE BEING RESTORED TO KALAMUNDA #13

ROGER FRY & RICHARD HARVEY WORKING ON THE MACHINE #14

STEAM TRACTION ENGINE BEING RESTORED TO KALAMUNDA #15

The original steam traction engine that had been fully restored in 1984 and attracted a lot of interested when it was displayed at the 1984 Perth Royal Show in the AMP "Old & New" Machinery Display featuring the Vintage Tractor Exhibition..

LETTER FROM PERTH ROYAL SHOW #16

"ARCHIE" ANDERSON WITH HIS
FULLY RESTORED TRACTION ENGINE
ON DISPLAY AT 1984 PERTH ROYAL SHOW
FEATURED IN THE "AMP OLD & NEW MACHINERY DISPLAY" #17

The original steam traction engine that had been fully restored and in November 1984 PBL Productions, the company producing the television series "A Fortunate Life" requested use of the traction engine on the film set at Brigadoon. It was hired for 8 hours. The film was from the book at Albert Facey.

LETTER TO HIRE MACHINE FOR FILMING #18

ON SET AT "A FORTUNATE LIFE" #19

ON SET AT "A FORTUNATE LIFE" #20

In 1986 the original steam traction engine formed part of a huge Display at the Royal Show exhibited by Bunnings Timber Merchants. Archie was on hand to stoke it up and demonstrate its ability. Also displayed was a scale model of the big machine which Archie had handmade himself over many years.

LETTER TO HIRE MACHINE FOR DISPLAY AT 1986 PERTH ROYAL SHOW #21

TRANSPORTING TO DISPLAY #22

TRANSPORTING TO DISPLAY #23

"ARCHIE" ANDERSON WITH HIS FULLY RESTORED TRACTION ENGINE ON DISPLAY AT 1986 PERTH ROYAL SHOW #24
ARCHIE TALKING TO CHRISTINE FRY AND HER SON

"ARCHIE" ANDERSON WITH HIS FULLY RESTORED TRACTION ENGINE ON DISPLAY AT 1986 PERTH ROYAL SHOW #25
ARCHIE TALKING TO CHRISTINE FRY AND HER SON

LETTER FROM W. A. MUSEUM REGARDING PURCHASE OF TRACTION ENGINE #26

The original restored machine was sold in 1990 to the West Australian Museum for 40,000 pounds ($80,000). It was the first purchase from the Museum's Markham Fund, set up from the sale of vintage cars from the Markham Collection by the W. A. Museum
Owing to lack of space at the W. A. Museum, it was later moved to Whiteman Park where it is still on display.

ARCHIE'S RESTORED STEAM TRACTION ENGINE AT W.A. MUSEUM #27

TED GARLAND'S FOWLER STEAM TRACTION ENGINE BEING TOWED INTO POSITION AT WHITEMAN PARK BY ARCHIE ANDERSON'S RESTORED MACHINE #28

References:                 Article:       Gordon Freegard
                                                   Various Newspaper Articles

                               Images:       1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27      Roger Fry
                                                  2, 28    Gordon Freegard