I race in historics and my later fathers Peerless (YLM3) has been stored in a garage for over forty years. I think this would be an ideal race project for me and very nostalgic for my wife and son to see their Grandfathers car running again. Its not a project for my regular company so I would very much appreciate suggestions on where to start and who to talk to
There's a wealth of knowledge on here and available from fellow members on how to go about the various tasks you'll encounter, usually learned the hard way.
If it were me, my first task would be to assess the condition of the chassis to see if it needs any support prior to moving the car. If it's been dry stored (as it looks like) hopefully this won't be an issue.
Once you get it to a workshop or garage, you can then set about looking deeper into what needs done.
The main thing is, don't be afraid to ask questions.
Over the years in restoring #86, I've probably asked more than anyone else and I've always received helpful replies, even from Nigel occasionally (joke, Nigel).
As for prep as a race car, I'm not that sure but I'm equally certain someone will be.
I have found a file on the car following the death of my mother in law.
The buff log book shows the car as a Phase 1 first registered in January 1960 and purchased by my Jan Niekrasz a year later
. It also shows an engine change
Hi Kim, I see from the records you drop a line to Jon about 20 years ago, good to see you back
Yes there are lot of members that can help you on here plus a couple of restorers around the country. Gary has just finished a full resto for a client so good to talk to him.
The racing section on the website will give you some information on works cars, some privateers up to the present day and the cars have a long history of racing.
Mike makes a good point for once (Joke Mike) it would be best to support the chassis, they're very fragile at this age; trust me it will need a lot of work or replacement.
good luck and please keep in touch, pm/email me if you need help.
It's interesting to see that between my car (86) being first registered on 5/12/1958 and Kims car (238) being registered on 2/1/1960, Peerless only managed to produce 152 cars.
I know this is going way off subject but I had a rather frustrating conversation with DVLA yesterday who were insisting on a date of manufacture for my car to be re-registered as a historic vehicle. Needless to say, I can't provide one. I have the date (from the buff Log Book) of first registration but not manufacture.
I mentioned this to the guy thats just done my interior. He was in charge of the trim department at TVR in the years prior to it's closure. He suggested that Peerless may have been like TVR in it's latter days in that cars were built to fulfill orders that had already been placed and the likelihood was that my car was built in the months just before it's registration in December 1958.
I know about 87 and will pm you details when I have confirmation from the owner that I can share (privately) with you as to many details put on here is not wise/safe/leagal.
I have to say, IMHO, Peerless's did not stand around waiting to be registered at this point in production, from what I have gathered from people who worked there on the shop floor they went straight out as they needed the money.
If they went to a dealership first then yes, they could be stood awaiting an appreciative nose pressed against the showroom window to come in and test drive but again, these dealer would want to shift their stock (but they may well have a demonstrator which may show up on the buff log books)
Have you read the racing page on the web site. Loads of info for past and present racing.
Not sure what you want to know. Let me know what would like to know and I see if I can help.
Celia & Ian would be a good starting point as they have raced a Peerless and a Warwick over the years however, IMHO your car looks to be complete and has family history; it would be a shame to modify it for racing. But then it your field of expertise I believe?