Open Sesame
Hinges and handles make Peerless an open and shut case
With all the distractions of summer holidays and customer car deadlines now behind me, I’ve been able to resume work on the Peerless. While consolidating storage of the considerable bits and pieces amassed over the years, I came across a box of Superpro bushes I’d forgotten about.
The driver’s side front suspension was completely overhauled with new top pivot arm, bushes and Avo adjustable dampers a few years back. Following the previous loss of storage, the passenger side was never actually refurbished. I’ve spared you most of the photos from the wheelarch, as I had a single opportunity to carry out the work and grabbed it over two half days. I was glad I did, as the work revealed other items such as steering tie rods and bump-stop brackets languishing merrily in storage. At this point I’ll openly admit to a schoolboy error – I forgot the setting I’d given the fitted Avo damper. There were 18 increments of adjustment on the unfitted unit, so I set it halfway and will just have to wait and see. I might have made a note of the setting somewhere, but I wasn’t going to waste time looking.
Six weeks prior to this work I’d also stripped the front suspension of a customer’s Peerless, so had my home-made spring compressor to hand. I fabricated it from threaded bar, an old Land Rover diff flange and suitable bearings – and it worked a treat. This time round, I was glad I’d taken the time to make it, because the whole process was much easier than previous efforts. The new tie rods meant the steering geometry was set according to my approximations, so that will need checking and adjustments made using the correct gauges at the earliest opportunity.
No longer unhinged
After some time off, I got stuck in again and by now had in my possession a pair of brand new bonnet hinges. These were supplied by David Manners and fitted perfectly. Also supplied were sections of rubber strip from which the new hinge gaskets were made using a hole-punch kit and craft knife. Peerless/warwick cars use the early Big Healey bootlid hinges that are also the same as the Daimler SP250 Dart. One of the tricks owners have devised down the years is to
‘I found a box of Superpro bushes I’d forgotten’
strengthen the mounting holes in the front nose by fitting a backing plate. My backing plate was made in an offcut of stainless steel sheet, cut to shape with a jigsaw and drilled accordingly. The plate reduces stressing and flexing of the GRP, so it’s worth the additional effort.
With shiny new hinges came the need for the bonnet stay to be resurrected, too. I’d blasted this of paint and rust previously, so it was painted with an anti- corrosion paint in a light, silvery grey. Once dry, it was fitted to the bonnet prior to the bonnet being fitted. Try as I might, I can’t recall ever having seen the clip or bracket that retains the stay when folded. For now, I have a piece of plastic-coated wire acting as the retainer until I can source or make something more in keeping.
Another bit of important progress included final fitting of the two remaining inner wheelarch covers with non-setting butyl strip sealant. One covers the passenger filler neck access hole, while the other deals with the brake servo access hole in the driver’s side front wheelarch. In theory, all four corners are now weatherproof.
A Beaulieu bombshell
I’ve been a regular attendee of both the Beaulieu Autojumble and Spring Autojumble for many years now and can count on just one hand the Peerlessspecific items that I have found previously on the stalls there. Well, this year I was in for a surprise. Having arrived on the Sunday nice and early, I began browsing in Red Field. Third stall in, and I found a window winder handle, for £8!
Although I have two, one is damaged so this rarest of finds is very welcome. While handing over money, a conversation was had regarding its fitment and another attendee told me they were also fitted to Austin Sheerline hearses, in addition to the Austin Atlantic A90, which I did know about.
I also bought a centre console from a Sunbeam dealer who had the same Alpine console for sale last year. This time a deal was done and my trial fit suggests it’s ideal due to its narrow proportions. And finally, on pretty much the last stall I looked at in the big white marquee, I found what might be a suitable rear hub puller for the Peerless. Marked ‘Britool 1066’, neither I nor seller John knew what it fits. A search online before buying suggested it was for a pre-sixties Vauxhall. It doesn’t fit my hubs, but can be adapted with a little machining and jiggery pokery, so watch this space.
strettonclassics@gmail.com