More on Pellandini via Maximum Mini.

Reader delves into Pellandini history

Some time ago I was sent a lovely photograph of a Pellandini at an Adelaide drag strip in the mid-1970s (see it here). Not much more of that particular picture was known to me at the time. But that has now been cleared up by Rob Spurling who got in touch and sent over an abundancy of Pellandini pictures and informations. Rob wrote:

"I am sending you my history of Mini Based Pellandini Cars as I know it from what I have been told by people here in South Australia. When I saw that a guy on your blog had owned what he said was number 3 and that he ordered it in lime green I was very intrigued. I was always told that Dennis Cross had car #3 featured in the first Sports Car World article. You will see that its colour was lime green. My youngest brother Chris, bought it from Dennis, then sold it to me and our middle brother, Andrew. Later on we sold it to Max Kinsmore. This car was destroyed later on in an earthmover yard incident after Max had rebuilt it and painted it red. As my 'history' says, Max also converted a coupe into an open top car for Angela Lines before it went out of South Australia. He then tracked down and bought two more and rebuilt them. These were the ones that were for sale recently."

"Also on your blog there was a picture of me driving in Street Drags at Adelaide International Raceway in the Dennis Cross car. It was so quick off the line that the official photographer told me he had trouble catching it on camera. I only got two runs: a practice and the real thing where I was way out in front of some giant Chevy that thundered past me when I broke the gear lever off in second! Cheers, Rob."

Thank you very much for getting in touch and sharing all your stuff Rob. Below is just a small selection of the car that Rob owned at one time. There is more to follow.

Rob at the wheel of the Pellandini 'RXV-797' in 1976. Almost too quick for the official photographer!

Picture Sharp Photography via Rob Spurling

At the 'Hot Bricks' display of the Modified Minis Car Club in Adelaide somewhere in the 1970s

Picture Rob Spurling

Initially owned by Dennis Cross, Rob's brother Chris became the next owner before Rob and his other brother Andrew had it

Picture Rob Spurling

Rob wrote "The off-line remote linkage gear-change brought around the left side of the engine into the central tunnel was a constant niggle to get right but worked well with minimal movement when it was operational"

Picture Rob Spurling

This car was Cooper 'S' powered with 45 DCOE Weber carburettor and was tested by Barry Cartwright of Sports Car World magazine when it was new in 1973

Picture Rob Spurling

The size of the Pellandini is only visualized well when it is parked next to another car such as a Nissan Cherry, not a big car to modern standards... Picture taken 22 december 1984

Picture Rob Spurling

Seen for sale here. RXV-797 eventually survived a fire and was rebuilt but was later accidentally destroyed when crushed in an earthmoving business work-yard

Picture Rob Spurling

I hope Allison sees this. Here is a post from Wednesday, July26, 2017.

Allison is trying to track down her dad, Dennis's, old Pellandini, the green one, and placed an ad on Gumtree.

As there were only 7 of them, I think we would have a good chance of tracking it down. 5 of them are in SA, one is in a wrecking yard in Sydney and one went to Brisbane. I'm pretty sure there was only one green one, in fact, they were all different colours. I'll chase up all the leads I have but if anyone has any information please let me know.

Ahead of his time.

Pete Garvin's April 1st design of a mid-engined Nagari, many years ago was a prediction to things to come?

No worries about accommodation.

I'll just stretch out in the back of me ute.

Not impossible.

But it does appear that someone has a job in front of him.

It does mean that yet another Buchanan will eventually join the ranks. I wish the builder well. It would be nice to follow its progress.

A nice roll-up of Mk.8s.

At the Sandown historic meeting this year. A few more than before. Something to do with the 50th Anniversary?

Still at Binalong.

Roger W. visited the Binalong Motor Museum on the weekend and found Sean B's Nagari coupe still there after all these years. It originally went there along with his other Nagari, the ex-Kevin Cociani sports while he lived and worked overseas. He's been back quite a while now and has taken the Sports home. Bur with that car as well as a Pantera and a Ferrari it's no wonder he hasn't got garage space for everything.

Not too sure about the 790 kg though.

Tony Gaze

Found this on a New Zealand site.

F A O GAZE
The passing of a hero
Tony Gaze — F.A.O. Gaze was an Australian who raced cars often in NZ in the fifties.
A little easy research shows that he was here in NZ, doing the full circuit, in 1954, 55 and 56. I think I stood in an empty coal wagon and watched him win the 1956 Dunedin Road Race in his Ferrari.
But there was much, much more than that to Squadron Leader F. A. O. Gaze DFC with double bar with 11 confirmed kills to his credit as a Spitfire pilot during WW2.
He was shot down over enemy territory, but with the help of the French resistance made his way to Spain and then back to Britain where he got back into the cockpit and continued shooting down the Nazi enemy.
He is credited with being the first to shoot down a German jet powered Me 262 and late in the war switched from Spitfires to the jet Gloster Meteor.
Although an Aussie, he stayed on in Britain for a while after the war and he suggested to the Duke of Gordon that the Goodwood racing track could host motor racing to replace Brooklands.
In 1952 he became the first Australian to compete in a Formula One race when he took part in the Belgian GP in an HWM.
He raced extensively in Britain, Europe, Australia and New Zealand - he also competed in the 1950 Monte Carlo Rally — in a Walrus Holden!
After his wife died, he married Diana Davison — widow of Lex Davison who had died in a motor racing accident at Sandown Park. Thus he was the step-grandfather to the third generation of racing Davisons — Alex, Will and James.
F.A.O. Gaze was 93 years of age when he died in 2013.

Before its time.

Big day for Ramon.

Now, back to the Nagari.

Not your ordinary Mini - No.11

One for Alan.

More envy.

When the tide comes in at 7-mile Beach.

Talking of Eurekas.

Which do you prefer?

Weekend wrap-up.

The Eureka nat-meet in Wauchope, NSW. 11 cars, good effort.

In Victoria, the Mt. Tarrengower hillclimb. If I was in Victoria, Mt. Tarrengower would be a must see. Picnic atmosphere, LOTS of historic race cars, including the odd Bolwell plus the inevitable Elgaram and plenty of action.

Meanwhile, in SA, the Bentley Boys and Girls invaded Horrocks Winery in Coonawarra.

Mk.4B on Car Sales.

Running MkIV Bolwell very responsive Datsun 1200cc motor , Datsun gearbox, Escort rear-end Holden Gemini front end . Can Be used straight away as hillclimb car or with a bit of work could be on club plates. Comes with new wiring harness, headlight buckets and lenses, parts to build your own wishbones new catch tank and a single and double screen. Some rust on rear shocks. Please note vin no. and odometer reading placed just for ad. Selling as i've run out of room in garage $14,500.00.

Lots more details on the Car Sales site.

Just when you thought you'd seen everything.

Along comes an MGA  shooting brake.

The business end.