Description
Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire Viewing: Tues 13th October from 12pm Auction 14th October, 2026 12:00 Location: Pavilion Gardens St John's Rd, Buxton SK17 6BE Registration No: 905 JPPChassis No: GT2 00276MOT: Exempt Barn-find project with interesting history Paperwork includes V5 Registration document and charming notebook An exciting and potentially rewarding project A racing mechanic with considerable experience of spaceframe construction, Bernie Rodger was approached by John Gordon (later of Gordon-Keeble fame) and James ‘Jimmy’ Byrnes to built the prototype of a new 2+2 sports saloon: the Warwick. Byrnes and Rodger had decided that money could be made in the low volume production of a readily available, low-cost sports GT. For Jimmy Byrnes, it had been a natural choice to consider using Triumph TR mechanical components, as more or less the entire management board of Standard-Triumph were regular customers at his new restaurant. Noteworthy features of this very pretty Italianate GT included leaf-sprung De Dion rear suspension and the Triumph TR3 2-litre engine, overdrive gearbox, and front suspension, including its disc brakes. By the time production began in 1958 the car had been renamed ‘Peerless’ with the name deriving from the Slough premises at which it was originally manufactured and where redundant World War 1 American army lorries were once prepared for re-sale. Bodies were now of glassfibre construction instead of the prototype’s aluminium panelling. A very capable car, the Peerless had room for a family and its luggage, while being good for a top speed of more than 110mph (177km/ h) and cost a relatively affordable £1, 500. Unfortunately for Peerless, this was approximately the price of a Jaguar 2. 4-litre saloon. In 1958 a solitary Peerless started the Le Mans 24 Hour Race; the only four-seater in the field, it finished in a highly creditable 16th place overall. Despite a favourable reception and the valuable publicity gained from its Le Mans exploits, Peerless was soon in financial difficulty and production ceased in 1960 after an estimated 325 cars had been made. Bernie Rodger then revived the design in improved form as the Warwick, but by the end of 1961, this too had gone. However, that was not quite the end of the Peerless saga; John Gordon and Jim Keeble then took the concept a stage further, fitting a Chevrolet V8 engine into a Peerless-type chassis to create the Bertone-styled Gordon-Keeble of 1964. This Buckinghamshire registered barn find project comes with an interesting history and has remained in current ownership since 1981 having been in long-term previous ownership. Thought to be complete but needing full restoration, accompanying paperwork includes a V5 registration document and charming notebook complied by the previous owner, **** Hardman, recording his purchase in Liverpool in 1968 with a mileage of 69, 876. He maintained the notebook right through to 1977 (134, 022m,) recording service work and modifications during this period. Current mileage indicated is 134, 040. As can be seen in photos, the rear of the car has been modified allowing two spare wheels to be stored in the boot (however, the bodywork under the modification appears to be largely retained. Mr Hardman was known to be involved in motorsport activities in his native North Lincolnshire and the listing also shows a photo of him leaving a local hill climb in his Lotus. An exciting restoration and potentially rewarding project with an interesting provenance and of course the opportunity for further research offered with aforementioned Swansea V5 dated 1981 and Mr Hardman’s RAC ‘Blue Book’ for 1971. ** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply** Entry by catalogue and can be purchased for £20 (admits 2...
