Pellandini Cars
Encyclopedia
Pellandini Cars was a manufacturer of kit car
s during the early 1970s that was located in South Australia.
founded Pellandini Cars Ltd in 1970 at Cherry Gardens
, South Australia
. He first produced a curvy, gull-wing coupe that used a mid-mounted BMC Mini
drivetrain of 1100 or 1275cc capacity. Alloy wheels were 10-inch at the front and 12-inch to the rear. The body was made of GRP
with an integral GRPchassis
. The suspension points were individually mounted directly to the GRP chassis as were the engine mounts. The seats were part of the chassis and not adjustable: instead the pedals moved. Even the steering rack bolted to the GRP bulkhead. The car weighed 480kg and did 0 to 100 km in 5 secs. It had a one-piece nose section that hinged at the front which concealed the radiator and spare wheel.
Pellandine also offered a roadster version in 1974 but these proved less popular. In all, seven coupés were sold. Some of these cars still remain, however most have been destroyed in motor racing accidents.
Pellandine also embarked on a project to build a practical steam car
with a contract from the South Australian Government. It used a double-acting two-cylinder 40hp engine mounted in the rear of a two-seater, with the condenser mounted on the rear deck like a racing wing. This steam car is now at the National Motor Museum at Birdwood South Australia.
Pellandini Cars was wound up in 1978 before Pellandine returned to England where he produced two further models both using a fibreglass monocoque chassis and mid-mounted engines.
Kit car
A kit car, also known as a "component car", is an automobile that is available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then either assembles into a car themselves, or retains a third party to do part or all of the work on their behalf...
s during the early 1970s that was located in South Australia.
History
Englishman Peter PellandinePeter Pellandine
Peter Pellandine was an influential car designer and manufacturer in the field of specials/kit cars and steam-powered vehicles in both the UK and Australia.-Biography:Worked for the prestigious British coachbuilders H. J...
founded Pellandini Cars Ltd in 1970 at Cherry Gardens
Cherry Gardens, South Australia
Cherry Gardens is a semi-rural suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It lies within the City of Onkaparinga and has postcode 5157.-History:Cherry Gardens Post Office first opened on 10 July 1850 and finally closed in 1976.-References:...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He first produced a curvy, gull-wing coupe that used a mid-mounted BMC Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
drivetrain of 1100 or 1275cc capacity. Alloy wheels were 10-inch at the front and 12-inch to the rear. The body was made of GRP
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
with an integral GRPchassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
. The suspension points were individually mounted directly to the GRP chassis as were the engine mounts. The seats were part of the chassis and not adjustable: instead the pedals moved. Even the steering rack bolted to the GRP bulkhead. The car weighed 480kg and did 0 to 100 km in 5 secs. It had a one-piece nose section that hinged at the front which concealed the radiator and spare wheel.
Pellandine also offered a roadster version in 1974 but these proved less popular. In all, seven coupés were sold. Some of these cars still remain, however most have been destroyed in motor racing accidents.
Pellandine also embarked on a project to build a practical steam car
Steam car
A steam car is a light car powered by a steam engine.Steam locomotives, steam engines capable of propelling themselves along either road or rails, developed around one hundred years earlier than internal combustion engine cars although their weight restricted them to agricultural and heavy haulage...
with a contract from the South Australian Government. It used a double-acting two-cylinder 40hp engine mounted in the rear of a two-seater, with the condenser mounted on the rear deck like a racing wing. This steam car is now at the National Motor Museum at Birdwood South Australia.
Pellandini Cars was wound up in 1978 before Pellandine returned to England where he produced two further models both using a fibreglass monocoque chassis and mid-mounted engines.
See also
- Pelland EngineeringPelland EngineeringPelland Engineering was a British engineering company that produced kit cars and made an attempt on the world land-speed record for steam cars.-The Pelland Sports:...
– the successor company, in the UK