145 has a new home....sort of....a new owner anyway....in California....whereas 145 the car is still in Ohio....2000 miles away?...perhaps the first of many challenges involving distance, time and money...?
Given that 145 was previously a California car at some point before heading to NY and then back to Ohio, it strikes me as a little funny that it's racking up material transcontinental miles without having been in good running order in what may be decades.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting 145 back on the road, and I have to say that the existence of this forum and the great dedication of the members were key contributors to mustering sufficient confidence to pull the trigger sight unseen. So thank you collectively for making this resource available. It's really remarkable and I'm looking forward to getting to know the community as 145's story continues.....
Now, who should I talk to about body parts, chassis replacement, door handles, badges, interior trim and lesser miscellaneous bits?
Although I've had chassis 86 for considerably longer than you've had 145, like you, I am in the process of collecting parts for the rebuild. So far, I've purchased the following:-
New body - From Ian & Celia (delivery due this week)
Front and rear heated screens - From Autoglass
Rear light units - From Holden
New loom - From Autosparks
New door handles - From Standard 8/10 spares.
Plus many, many more from the usual suppliers such as Rimmer Bros, Moss & TR Shop.
You'll find supplier details for all of the above on this site but you may have to do a bit of digging to find them.
Although we are relativly few in number, the advice and support you will receive from fellow members is second to none and I'm sure, once you get the car home, you will have many more questions.
I'm intrigued by your car as it is right hand drive. A bit unusual in your part of the world. Do you know anything of its history? It looks like it might be the kind of thing a US serviceman bought in the UK and then decided to take home with him.
Thanks Dave and Mike for the kind replies. Very much appreciated. Great starting point for some key parts. As far as history goes for 145, I have very little to go on. A prior title seems to indicate the car was previously in California, but there is very little detail. The owner prior to me, John Frieman, who I believe posted on this forum from time to time, seemed to have little or no historical documentation with the car. I have tried contacting the last California owner as indicated on the copy of an older title that I do have, but no luck so far. I will continue to dig into it and hopefully there's some info out there somewhere.
Thanks for the info, Dave. From the few photos of 145 that I've seen, I believe it is an actual car only in my imagination at this point, so its good to know there are some live reference points pretty close by. I'm down in Santa Monica pretty regularly for work if you're up for a showing some time....
Welcome to the insanity. Great to have another Peerless on the West Coast!!
We are close by and I can't wait to see your car. I am indeed in Thousand Oaks with both a Peerless Ph1 (undergoing the slowest restoration possible) and an original Warwick GT which I drive on a semi regular basis.
I am going to send you my cell number off line so we can chat about a time to get together. Perhaps Dave, Art, you and I can meet up at my house (or bar) nearby.
Thanks for your post, Dean. Much appreciated. I had seen a few posts of your progress on vintage motoring before I pulled the trigger on 145. Your posts somehow make it look easy to (re)build a Peerless from the ground up....... Seriously, though, I'm excited to be starting on on such an interesting car. Really looking forward to getting it to CA and having a good look through it- including through the floor, through the rockers and through where the left front fender is supposed to be at least.....
I would be very interested to get together with you and/or other CA owners for a general chat and a beer. Sounds great. Let's see what we can pull together In the near term. Also I'd love to see your Warwick in motion. That would be a first for me and I'm kind of curious about how it sounds.
Peerless 145 has returned to California! Just got it unloaded from the transport truck this morning. Passport Transport did a great job getting it here from Ohio and quickly unloaded despite it being inoperable and comprised of many separate and unwieldy pieces..... It is in rough shape, but just the body, frame, interior, trim and mechanicals - the glass seems almost perfect! In any case, it is in my possession and now I can start the cheerful administrative challenge of transferring title at my friendly local California Department of Motor Vehicles office...
Dean, if you still want to use my rear bumpers to makes molds, Please just let me know. I don't think I will be needing them for a good while....
Very exciting. Happy to have another one near by. I probably should take you up on the rear bumper mold offer. Dave volunteered also, but his would have to be removed, and I would hate to put him through that process. Besides that will give me an excuse to swing by and take a look at your project:)
Thanks, Dean, works for me. The rear bumpers appear to be in pretty good overall shape, and we won't have too many worries about the niceties of the removal process..
Just let me know if you're headed up to Santa Barbara and we can take a look at the car and this time I'll but lunch.