PEERLESS MOTORS

PEERLESS MOTORS

Bernard (Bernie), Roger (Bernard "Bernie" Rodger) in the early 50s. was a mechanic in the racing teams. With experience, he was invited in 1956 by former drivers, John Gordon (John Gordon), and James Byrnes (James Byrnes) to create a company for the production of racing cars. The first was born Peerless GT, objective evidence of how worthwhile, but it really worked through the idea turns into a complete failure from a commercial point of view.
The prototype was created by Roger, was a two-door car with a capacity of 2 +2. She was named Warwick ("Warwick") in honor of the ancient city with rich history. The frame for the fashion consisted of tubular elements. The contribution of John Grdona to the cause lay in the fact that he belonged to a company of Peerless Motors Slovakia - the leading seller of cars Jaguar ("Jaguar") in Buckinghamshire. It was there in 1958 began production of the model, due to which she received the proud name of Peerless (in translation - "unparalleled").


Option "GT" and continued to produce after a vat of Peerless Company ceased to exist. He was named Warwick. The photo is a sample of 1961
The first copy had a steel body. Even when assembling the machine, it became clear that in this form it is very labor intensive. It was decided to order a sample batch of metal-acoustic fiberglass body from the firm James Wilson ("James Wilson").
In a purely promotional vehicle of a Peerless was set to start 24-hour race at Le Mans. In the course of her showed a good idea. However, demand for the car remained low, and last but not least on price. Enterprise-newbie was hard to resist such a well-known manufacturers of sports cars, like, say, Jaguar.
The main problem of the firm, however, was a severe shortage of capital. Therefore, the future of Peerless brand depended primarily on its ability to sell the all the machines before they are built. Otherwise, the funds for their construction was to take anywhere. This severely limited the possibility of entering firms in international markets. The money eventually run out by March 1960
After a short time, the project revived under the name Bernard Rodger Developments ("Bernard Roger Developments"). An improved version of the car Peerless, which returned to its original name of Warwick, began producing in Horton, near London's Heathrow Airport. The new Warwick was more advanced and better elaborated. But it cost more, so the company was reborn time to build and sell a few cars, before finally closing its doors.
Peerless GT ("Peerless GT")
Company Peerless offered a relatively inexpensive model of a class of "Grand Touring" with a good performance, using a chassis components commercially available vehicle. Trying to attack the "head" on the sports tracks representatives of the British "Big Five" was unreasonable, and Bernie, Roger decided to offer customers something different.
He created a car with a coupé with a capacity of 2 +2 with a tubular frame and rear suspension, de Dion ("De Dion"). Tried and discarded a number of other structures, to be even more costly, he opted for tubes of rectangular cross section for the frame and fiberglass for the body.
The engine, gearbox and front suspension taken from the Triumph TR3A ("Triumph"), which was considered at that time one of the most successful British sports cars. With a compact and lightweight body of a top speed exceeding 160 km / h
Early copies were suffering from poor build quality and a high level of internal noise. Nevertheless, the cars were bought up, albeit slowly. Manufacturers put a copy of the 24-hour race in 1958 at Le Mans. Racers Joppa, Peter (Peter Jopp) Crab and Percy (Percy Crabb) have shown very good result, finishing in 16th place with an average speed of 135.6 km / h, fully confirming the stability and performance, has shown the usual options for this vehicle.
Even before the Le Mans was taken 43 orders for the car. Immediately after the race the company said that by the end of the year is going to produce 20 cars a week. Glimmer prospects of the U.S. market and to achieve annual production of 2,000 cars. But these plans rested on a chronic lack of funds.
Project Peerless kept afloat for about two years. Few people in Britain was ready to put 1493 GBP a rugged machine as on the move, and in execution. Triumph TR3A hard top worth GBP 1102 if, as Jaguar XK150 coupe offered for 1764 GBP In two years, released a 328 car Peerless. Have survived a few instances.


Peerless GT Coupe with a capacity of 2 +2. Vy fiberglass body mounted on a tubular frame

Characteristics (GT, 1958)
Engine: P4, the overhead
Bore and Stroke: 83x92 mm
Displacement: 1991 cm3
Maximum power: 90 hp
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Chassis: tubular steel frame on the
Suspension: Independent front and on triangular wishbone coil springs, de Dion rear semi-elliptic leaf springs at the
Brakes: disc / drum
Body: 166 km / h
Maximum speed:
Variants of the car Peerless GT Warwick
Enhanced and improved version of Peerless issued in 1960-61. now Bernard Rodger Developments. In contrast to earlier cars, the cars had a one-piece Warwick hood, fold-up forward, and a number of stylistic changes.
Warwick Buick
At one time supposed to be installed on the machine Warwick aluminum V8 engine of the American firm Buick ("Buick"), who later went to the company Rover. Built a single instance.