1959 Peerless Restoration

[HealeyBN7]

Made a little more progress on fitting trim items. I think the door hinge plates are finally done. The outer plate will be painted body color and the inner plate will be covered in leather/vinyl and piping like the original interior photos. The vent windows now work and are mounted to the inner kevlar reinforcements.

The rain cap for the front of the door is a little fancier than stock, but the one part I had to copy looked like home depot weather stripping. Unfortunately the Warwick offered no clues as the doors were completely redesigned. It will need screw pockets and final sanding/polishing and a small rubber angle seal.

Peerless used an XK120 rear light, but instead of bolting it to the boot, they split the housing and put half in the trunk and the other half outside. It is a challenge to install. The screws provided are too short to bridge the fiberglass filler that was never envisioned. Also, the wires needed to be re-routed to exit in a direction other than straight out the back. I think I have this sorted.

I also started to fit the rear hatch lock. Yep. That's all you get. A key lock and no handle. I suppose you could lift the boot by the rear license plate lamp, the key or hope the gaskets pops the boot out far enough to grab it with your fingers. I need to work on the inside catch before calling that complete.

The tail lights are just resting in their openings. It looks like some additional body work will be needed to ensure a smooth transition.

At some point I hope to get the rear glass fitted and start on fitting the bumpers. I am glad I am doing this before painting. I can't tell you how many times I bumped a tool or piece of trim against the body work...

Dean

[nigel c]

you could have given yourself more room to work and had a tidy round before posting

Great stuff Dean, few pics for me to put in the next P&WOR Report?

[HealeyBN7]

Nigel, Please do rip off the photos and post to P&WOR!

Here is a little more progress. It looks like the new rear glass will fit, so that was a relief. At this point four pieces of glass installed or resting in the right location the most this car has had under my ownership.

The rear bumpers are now secured to the body. It will take a few carefully placed rubber shims when it comes to the final assembly, but I think it is good enough for paint.

I found the original sun visors but the mounting hardware is rusty. I could re-chrome... They are unusual in that they mount from the center of the visor to a steel plate glassed in the roof. If I can find out exactly what they are from maybe new ones are available? If I am going to use a close alternative, I will have to make new provisions for mountings...

Hmm. Next, turn the car around and sort out the front bumpers, headlights and grill.

Dean

[nigel c]

yeas I think the visor brackets are early Morris Minor. if you find a source please let me know as I need some too!

On mine they screwed into a block of wood resin'd into the roof.

[VWNate1]

Wow, I can't wait to see this car on the open road ! .

I don't see why you don't re chrome the original sun visor hardware, it looks O.K. and there are good chrome shops in L.A. .

I use a guy who does lots of vintage bicycle chroming , he's good with the little & fiddly stuff .

[Larry Kluss]

It's great to see all the shiny bits being added.

[tannyo]

Looks like a 1959 Morris Mini sun visor bracket.

https://www.7ent.com/products/sun-visor ... v2004.html

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Update: May have come from a MGA Coupe

[HealeyBN7]

Tannyo - Thank you. I am going to order four and a few new visors!

Dean

PS I found them here for a more reasonable price. Part number SV2004, used on early Minis & Minors

https://bullmotifminispares.com/4666/br ... al_1959-61

[HealeyBN7]

A little progress on the front end. Headlights needed standoff brackets installed so the finished lamp glass was level with the trim surround. The little aluminum angle pieces were pop riveted to the buckets. Of course the left side is different from the right...

Bumpers fit pretty well. A little detail sanding is needed before paint. Like Larry says, it is nice to see some bright work and nice to know it fits. Unfortunately I can't throw away any boxes as it all has to go back into hiding during the paint cycle...

It is starting to look like a car. Next, drill some more holes and mount the P-emblem.

Dean

[nigel c]

oooah the stable is looking well!
Must have missed the last couple of comments but see that the sun visor brackets were mini/minor. Should be able to source over here too.
In all the UK cars I've seen (that actually have visors) they are smoked acrylic, usually blue not fabric covered with a mirror.

[DaveC]

My US car also has the blue acrylic visors.

[HealeyBN7]

My US car also has the blue acrylic visors.

Dave. Nice to hear from you. Any chance you can shoot me a photo of the visor. Thought my visors were 100% original to the car, but...like everything else...

Dean

[DaveC]

Hi Dean. Your car looks beautiful, something that will come as no surprise to anyone given the wonderful workmanship you do.

Here is a hastily taken pic. The acrylic is approx 1/8" thick.

dave

[tannyo]

I believe they have them in different colors.

https://www.gbcarparts.com/proddetail.a ... sorperspex

[whitebuffalo]

Do the visors work well enough? Might do the same on one of my cars.

[HealeyBN7]

Just incase anyone was hanging on to this thread for an update. It runs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPrCoRf9Jxg

Yeah

Dean

[VWNate1]

Are you kidding ? .

We've been waiting for this .

Good work man ! .

[HealeyBN7]

Official first drive pictures...

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[Steve Simmons]

Bellisimo! Or should I say, well done old chap! That's probably the nicest Peerless GT in the world.

[whitebuffalo]

I say ding dong! Looks fantastic.

[Larry Kluss]

Dean, it really does look spectacular! Dave Wellwood would be pleased.

[Steve Simmons]

I think he was even more pleased the day he sold it.