mk1_4dr Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Who was it that had/has a Peerless? I remember seeing pictures on here of a silver one that was being recomissioned or restored. I ask because I spent yesterday out drinking with the son of the Chairman of the owners club, who is well into old cars himself, we had a good natter about old tat and, being the registrar, he was very interested to hear that 1) I'd heard of Peerless and 2) I suspected that I 'knew of' one that perhaps Isn't on the register. His Dads car. Also, he introduced me to Warwick, a slightly restyled Peerless with fins and IIRC the 3.5 Rover V8 in GT350 form and a company called Britannia/Britannica (I was pretty drunk by this point) - Which at a quick glance about I can't find any real info about. Warwick -- Note the fins.
ashmicro Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I think garethj has/had a Peerless. If it helps, I had a "Matchless" motorcycle, like this, except mine was a bit shit: And I traded it for money and a Kawasaki KZ400:
garethj Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 It was me, although thanks to the bastard-ness of job security, it had to go. A boring old TR3 is worth loads of money, the Peerless isn't, despite having TR3 engine, overdrive 'box, front suspension and a proper de-Dion rear suspension. And I think it looks fantastic. The car that probably started my love for old GRP bargains
mk1_4dr Posted January 25, 2011 Author Posted January 25, 2011 Bah! I didn't realise you'd had to flog up. Your right, they do look fantastic, far prettier than a TR3. He said it took his Dad 10ish years to restore theirs. I know he'll ask me so I'll ask you now, do you know where it went/who it went to? Or do you have any info about it so he can stick it on the Register?
garethj Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 It was known to the register, the numberplate is quite close to a few other Peerless cars. Sadly it went to a new life in Australia. It was a very early Phase 1 car, chassis number 37. The Phase 2 cars were better built but I don’t think they looked as good. Trivia fact, the factory that made the bodyshells also built the Darleks for Dr Who
mk1_4dr Posted January 25, 2011 Author Posted January 25, 2011 Ah, in that case I'll let him know.Im sure he'll be happy knowing where its ended up.
retrogeezer Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I think they look great....but hasn't the white one got fins at the back as well??
garethj Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I think they look great....but hasn't the white one got fins at the back as well??They've all got fins on the rear wings, I thought the Warwicks had squared off edges on the back of the roof?
dollywobbler Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I think only three Warwick 350s were made, but I've a feeling they actually used the Buick engine before it was fully Rover's baby. The first Morgan Plus 8 used a Buick engine too as Rover weren't keen on supplying (until they tried one!)
mk1_4dr Posted January 25, 2011 Author Posted January 25, 2011 Yeah, looking at the pics again, it looks like they all had fins of some description.I was fairly drunk when we were chatting, but I do remember him being quite particular about it being the Buick 3.5 in the GT350 and it being all aliuminium (the engine).
lovejoy Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 There was one of these (a Warwick, I believe) featuring in a recent movie I saw, called " An Education" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1174732/) not sure if it's shown in UK, but was a very good story, and set in 1960's England, so always an enjoyable break from the usual yank movie fodder, I battled to recognise the playboy's car, then lo & behold ...Autoshite provides the answer !!!
Tayne Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I saw this at a show last year. Peerless by Tayne, on Flickr I suspect it'll be on the register but if they don't recognise the plate I can get some more details from the program. And it was a Bristol in the movie, An Education.
garethj Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I saw this at a show last year. Peerless by Tayne, on Flickr I suspect it'll be on the registerIt is on the register, I've spoken to the owner a few times. Although it's only 7 later than my car on the registration, it's much later in the production build.
barrett Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 and a company called Britannia/Britannica (I was pretty drunk by this point) - Which at a quick glance about I can't find any real info about. That'll be Britannia - John Tojeiro-designed, Raymond Mays-tuned Zephyr 6 engine, GRP body... handsome old carriage, and they make the Peerless look mass-produced. You all know how much I love these things so I won't bleat on about them here, but suffice to say I approve of this thread!
Tayne Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I searched on flickr and found this lot. Peerless GT by smenzel, on Flickr Peerless by Sherlock77 (James), on Flickr Classic Cars on the London to Brighton Route by clicks_1000, on Flickr Peerless GT meets it's previous owner after nearly 40 years apart by Richard C 1991, on Flickr DSC00765.JPG by pocket.calculator, on Flickr And this chap who doesn't know what this is. Peerless ? by Major_Clanger, on Flickr Barrett?
barrett Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Triumph Italia! (actually I think that's the 'replica' built up by a TR specialist using an original body)
Tayne Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Go tell him then. I'm sure he'd be glad to know.
trigger Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 I'll bore you with a little bit of mine. 1958 Peerless GT by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr 1958 Peerless GT by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr 1958 Peerless GT by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr 1960 Peerless 2.0 GT by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr 1960 Peerless 2.0 GT by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr peerlessGT001 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr peerlessGT002 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr peerlessGT003 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr
barrett Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Go tell him then. I'm sure he'd be glad to know. Done! For anyone else that cares, the full story behind that car is here. I don't like it much myself but fortunately I don't think there are many people stupid/rich enough to buy any more!
Tayne Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 The Bristol 405 in An Education is visible in the trailer. http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3922002457/ 24 seconds in and then further on.
seth Posted January 25, 2011 Posted January 25, 2011 Triumph Italia! Another from Classics on the Common last year. I think this one was in C&SC or somewhere last year too? I could FAP Peugeot fluid over a Peerless all day.
barrett Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 'Plate on that one looks familiar, probably the C&SC feature car yep. Very close to being perfect that one, but it needs to lose the oversized wires. I too would happily FAP over a Peerless, but here's the six million dollar shite question, Peerless or Italia? Both have a similar survival rate, both have the same running gear and 'what's that?' appeal, but would you prefer the hand-built British grand tourer or the bespoke Italian carrozeria speciale?
garycox Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 I'd rather have the Peerless... There's something about the proportions on the Italia that make it look a little bit 'wrong' in my opinion, I can't put my finger on what it is though...
Gompo Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 I saw a Peerless last year at the Thoresby Classic show, I should've put a pic up here but not sure if I got around to it. They're great looking cars and was really pleased to see on in the 'glass.
Tayne Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 Peerless or Italia? Either would do, or perhaps a Swallow Doretti (I missed out on one about 25 years ago and will probably never have the chance again) Did they make them as coupes? 1955 Swallow Doretti by Tayne, on Flickr
barrett Posted January 27, 2011 Posted January 27, 2011 Peter Kirwan-Taylor, designer of the Lotus Elite (nomnomnomnom) designed the Doretti coupe, which was built by Williams & Pritchard (as all good British aluminium specials were!) and used it as his personal car for a while. I've been following the saga of this car for a few years, it's currently owned by two people, one owns the unique rear section and another owns the front and chassis... they've been 'planning' a total restoration for a number of years... the earliest mention I've found was around 1986... so don't hold your breath waiting to see this at a show anytime soon! Totally, utterly gorgeous though, and I'm not really a fan of open (Mk1) Dorettis They did build a tiny handful of coupes at the works, based around the much nicer Mk2 shape, which was called the Sabre. Gotta give props to Autopuzzles.com for seemingly being the only place on the web that has pictures of that particular car. I'm going to be digitising a lot of rare photos from old magazines in the next couple of weeks including a couple of the Sabre, and one of the Warick GT350, and somewhere I have a great one of the standard TR engined Warick. I'll post them when I'm done.In the meanwhile, have this great Peerless ad
seth Posted January 27, 2011 Posted January 27, 2011 'would you prefer the hand-built British grand tourer or the bespoke Italian carrozeria speciale? I'd definitely have the Peerless. I love the shape, especially the low roof line. I feel like you could be less precious with it than a coachbuilt Italian and not too many people would shout if you threw the tractor engine away and put something else in.
messerschmitt owner Posted January 27, 2011 Posted January 27, 2011 I once went to look at a Trojan in Portobello and the guy owned both a Peerless and a Warwick.
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