After a look at the pictures I can't see why anyone should take this car on. There are so many essential bits missing, and they are just not available as spares, anywhere. As it has wheels, I assume it has a de-dion, maybe it has a diff. It's missing the the dash, window frames, glass, bumpers. No one of these on their own would worry a committed restorer, but with so many missing you'd pobably need another Peerless to provide the bits.
And the peices that are there, a compromised chassis and a less than wonderful body are not really worth saving on their own, or not without substantial refurbishment.
And without a title?
Maybe someone will love it, and I'll take my hat off to them!
Still I have started with worse myself and it is (Reputedly) an early car. Although there have been two cars already put into this pile so it would be a shame to see a third dissolve into this resto as well.
As I have told the vendor its the earliest one in the states (and probably in the UK) but I have little to back it up.
Looking closely at the car (an I have a lot of picskindlysupplied) I can see no differences in any fittings/bracketry/fabrications/ etc that I would expect to see ( and have in the past) in a very early production car and so I cannot verify its authenticity.
I can see no differences in any fittings/bracketry/fabrications/ etc that I would expect to see ( and have in the past) in a very early production car and so I cannot verify its authenticity.
What looks odd to me is the radiator shroud. I don't have a full funnel from the nose of the car to the front of the radiator. The other odd item is the back of the fiberglass dash. On my car the back is molded into the overall "removable" dash structure. It looks like #003 has been cut open or maybe made with a removable back piece. It kind of makes sense to have something other than plastic to protect you from a flame out. If it was sheet steel that would finish off the top of the firewall.
Also, I noticed that the seller posted a link to a Road and Track article. This was an early test/review. The article states that the inside panels are made of steel. That is either a very unique characteristic of early cars or R&T got it wrong.
It's a big project.... I did ask the seller if he would part with the bumpers, but he replied that would "kill the deal". If I want the bumpers, guess I would have to buy the rest of the car.
the radiator cowl is a very useful item, if you ain't got one, make one its worth its wait in gold! if you need info on how to make one get in touch as I've got pics etc.
over the year I have seen lots of cars without this item. I guess they get taken out and left out. and I did own one car that didn't have any holes around the "mouth" of the body where they were fixed in. so I guess that one never had one fitted from the factory.
I suspect that towards the end just getting them out the door was an achivement. so this is a plus for the this car...it needs it!
as for the dash cut out. I think that has been done by someone as part of the strip down. the same as cutting large holes in the front wings to access the hinges!
still price is steadily rising, hope it doesn't get to silly
