Number of Peerless GT's in USA?

I've been surfing the web trying to locate and identify the number of Peerless GT sports cars in the USA. I found 24 listings, 14 with the chasis number in the reference. Only a few are RHD. Most that came up were for sale, being raced or at a car show. No telling how many are privately being enjoyed or are stored away. Is there a Peerless GT registry for cars here in the USA? I wonder what sort of multiplier I could use with what I've found to estimate the total here in the USA? X2? X3?

My interest is through the British Transportation Museum's 1960 Peerless GT #220 which I helped detail and display this past year.

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Permalink Reply by Pete Stroble on December 27, 2011 at 5:02pm

Permalink Reply by Pete Stroble on December 27, 2011 at 5:06pm

The British Transportation Museum's 1960 Peerless GT #220; green, LHD, wire wheels, just missing the front bumpers. Anyone have a spare set?

Permalink Reply by Phillip Scott Avis on December 28, 2011 at 2:25pm

Hi Pete,

My friend and I just picked up what is supposedly a '59 Peerless GT here in Montreal, Canada. It is a MK2 with recessed headlights and hidden door / boot / bonnet hinges, etc. I don't have the car number yet as the body plate is missing. The car needs a complete restoration and has a number of parts missing, most notably the seats and the windshield. The frame is also rusted out around the rear axle / body area. It's obviously seen winter action here in Canada!

What is interesting to see is that your BTM car is a '60, but seems to be a MK1, which leads me to wonder when the MK2's were introduced and what year ours is. About 50 MK2's were built according to what I have been told.

As I understand it there are 3 known Peerless GT's in Canada, 2 are in Quebec ( including ours ) and one was seen in Toronto. It appeared on the excellent bringatrailer.com, along with a number of other Peerless GT's found in the USA.

I wonder if it would be worth considering expanding the list of cars to include all of North America.

The BTM's example is beautiful!

Cheers,

Phillip Avis

Permalink Reply by Pete Stroble on December 28, 2011 at 5:35pm

Phillip,

Yes, I believe the Museum's Peerless is a "phase 1". The GT2, I believe, stood for the 2 ltr. motor. 1960 was the year it was first titled in the USA which throws a wrench in to trying to track them down and figure what they are.

There is a "phase 2" car racing in California as a 1959 with chasis # 230. It has the internal bonnet hinges and single bump as well as slightly recessed headlights. It has me confused. I had also read that there were 250 "phase 1" and 50 "phase 2".

Early cars had "frenched" in headlights and the "P" grill. I don't know at what chasis # this changed. I've read that 70 LHD cars were imported to the USA. Did this include Canada or was there a seperate importer?

The windshield glass is available in England but is expensive. Macy's Garage, here in Ohio, ordered 2 sets for Peerless #18 in order to lessen the shipping costs. they might still have the second one.

Please let me know what chasis # is on yours when you find out. I would also like to track the Canadian Owners. I have the Sherbrooke one (#198) on my list.

Thanks,

Pete Stroble

Permalink Reply by Nigel Cluley on April 13, 2012 at 2:48pm

Hi Guys,

well you need to read up a little more on our famous website! www.peerless-gt.co.uk. all the history is there and very usefull forum.

soooo are you sitting down. lesson 1. there were 250 phase 1 cars built between early 58 and july 59. at number 250 they changed the body condstruction (mainly hidden) and called it Phase 2. these ran from 250 to 300. although there are cars running with higher number but these were built after the Peerless Motors ceasted trading in 1960 (due to bankruptcy sales etc).

phase 2 cars have quarter light windows in the doors, recessed headlamps, hidden hinges. they also have superior door hinges (if you own a phase 1 dont look you'll be envious!) and a body construction that enables you to lift the shell in-one.

anyway good luck and please press on with trying to find all the cars over there, sorry but I have no offical count of what was sent where.

regards

Nigel Cluley

Peerless & Warwick Owners Registrar

Permalink Reply by Pete Stroble on April 13, 2012 at 3:40pm

Nigel,

Thanks for the info. Yes I had read what was posted on the Peerless website but still do not understand some of the discrepancies.

Early Phase 1 cars had "frenched in" headlights (recessed all around) and the "P" grill. When did that style change to a bulged headlight and a variety of grill designs as the later Phase 1 cars?

At car # 250 they got the Phase 2 treatment but you can find on the internet car # 230 (racing #24) with the bottom of the headlight recessed and internal bonnet hinges. Did this car just get customized at some point? It is lacking the door quarter light windows but being a race car maybe they got sacrificed for weight savings?