Did I really never post one word about the Pellandini? No I didn't. So it's about time. Hang on, I've got some good pictures of it, too. I believe the car you see here to be the first (of 7) Pellandini coupes built by Peter Pellandine in Cherry Gardens, Australia. That must have been in 1971. Pellandine later said it was Ferrari’s infamous Dino which had inspired him for the Mini based sports car and the Italian sounding name certainly helped that sporty image, too. Most cars used an 1100 engine while all of them came with monocoque fibreglass chassis-body structure with steel sheets bonded in to strengthen the suspension points. Mini-uprights were used at the front, while the rear was fitted with special aluminium ones. Both front and rear were fitted with wishbones, coil springs and telescopic dampers. I'm sure it must be a great thing to drive - when you get in, at least...
You'll have to believe me when I say this really a Mini based car. It is!
Picture Jeroen Booij archive
Ferrari's Dino gave Peter Pellandine the inspiration for his Pellandini
Picture Jeroen Booij archive
how is the drive train laid out it appears to be rear wheel drive with an inline mounted (a series ?) which would be sprite midget minor (delete as apropriate) so if it only used mini front suspension its only slightly mini based ?
ReplyDeleteNope, the Mini engine really is mounted transversally behind the seats. Send me an email at jeroen@jeroenbooij.com if you want to see pics or the sales leaflet.
DeleteI bought the third pellandini built in about 1971 into NSW It had push up headlight gull wing doors and Perspex windscreen. It had mini front uprights and specially designed aluminium rear upright held by unequal length wishbone suspension , The front rollcentre was 1 inch lower than the rear( to use 10" rims on the front axle and 12" rims on the rear. The has coil over shocks suspension . It used mini standard rack and pinion steering . The racing car mainly hill climb special it was like was the terrapin. Peter told me he once worked at lotus cars and copied the all fibreglass lotus elan It think and had a similar frontal profile of the lotus 23 sportscar. The engine it mounted as in a mini was with the engine only just forward of the rear axle. It was light weight I could lift the front by myself and the rear without the engine installed. I built the engine and put it in. It was half race /half road setup with race tyres In was quick in car club especially hillclimb and track. .I had it painted before delivery in holden Lime green colour. I can show details of letters and photos when I had it. Anymore details I am only too happy to oblige. Benie
ReplyDeleteI have just come across one of these vehicle & have started the process of retorting it any has info /pictures / workshop manual please send
ReplyDeleteThanks
Gavin
hello Jorja Harris I have some pictures and info in letters written from Peter Pellandine when I bought one in early 70s. What colour and which one do you think it is . Last person who had My one was owned by a Bill Norman . What area do you live in as I might be able to help restore it . Bernie I live in sans souci Sydney . my email is bermarty@hotmail.com . Regards Bernie.
DeleteHello Gavin my Hotmail account doesn't work now. My other email is bernie53@tpg.com.au. . Bernie
DeleteHello Gavin again I have scanned my photos of the pellandini you have but I cant remember your email address. How is the restoration going ? Bernie.
ReplyDeletePellandinis everywhere. I still have mine built 1978. I made most of the rest to 1989 Pelland models. email pellandine@gmail.com Paul Pellandine
ReplyDeleteTom schwert in SA still has the first original car. He is "doing it up" but his build quality is .... questionable. I think i have pics somewhere.
ReplyDeletebrett_huxtable@hotmail.com
Thanks Brett! Message sent. Best, Jeroen
DeleteMy car is finally rebuilt with new everything and disc brakes replacing the 1958 vw drums. Going for club rego this time. The fibreglass is still strong and straight.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear of you Paul!
DeleteI have just purchased a Pellandini (for the second time). The car was delivered in 1973 to Bart Pridmore in Mentone (Melbourne). He did not do much to the car and it never made it onto the road. I purchased it from him around 1993/4. It was rolling on its wheels but the engine/gearbox was not fitted to the car. In a fit of folly since I could not fit in the car I decided to make it resemble the only roadster that was made..........so I cut off the roof and removed the windscreen. This was a bad mistake but hey, it seemed like a good idea at the time. It failed to progress in my ownership so I sold it to a friend Grant Powell. He attempted to progress the car without success. So, last week I bought it back from him but without the engine which had been sold. I am hopeful that this time I will be able to get the car onto the road under its own power for the first time since 1973.a time lapse of just 47 years.
DeleteOops, I thought my name and email would be published with my post above regarding my Pellandini. My name is David Mottram, dhmottram@gmail.com and I live in Melbourne Australia
ReplyDeleteHi all, I've just bought the no 1 Pellandini in Adelaide. It's in pretty poor shape and I'd love to see any original photos or any other information about them. In particular, does anyone know where the moulds are? Most of the car is usable but I need to mould one of the door windows from perspex.
ReplyDeleteHi All, I've just acquired #4 (I believe). The original owner was Bernie Martyn of Sans Souci in NSW. I've contacted Bernie and he has generously provided my with some of his original purchase correspondence. The car is in fair condition for its age and I have a Cooper 1275 to go in once I get it progressed. Todays work was the construction of a trolley to get the car up in the air so I can get started in earnest. Working at 800mm from the ground is so much easier.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear from other owners and ask a few questions - one is "where does the fuel filler reside (once complete)? I have a "sort of" bullet shaped tank which seems to be destined to live in the near-side "rail" but this doesn't have a filler cap and I can't see how it is the original tank.
The body needs a small amount of attention, more of that in the engine bay and in the front compartment. Does anyone know if there is an OEM radiator that fits? I have a mini one but I can see that fitting easily. I can get a custom aluminium rad built for it but that won't be easy.
I'm also curious about badges for the car however I should be able to visit the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, SA over easter and hopefully see som badging on the Pellandini steam car over there.
My email address is tglynn@hotmail.com
Cheers
Tony
The first pellandini had a round page with a large P over a cross section of the car.. later cars had the rectangular badge with the name in chrome on a black enamel base.
DeletePaul Pellandine