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.
"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.
3 comments:
One is in Ferntree gully Vic, a mate of mine has it.
I purchased this Ferntree Gully car today. Actually I purchased it in many years ago and sold it to the guy I bought it from today. It was purchased from Peter Pellandini in 1973 by Bart Pridmore the guy I originally purchased it from. It has never been fully sorted so I am hoping that in my second time as custodian I can get it back on the road.
Hi there, I've just bought the prototype Pellandini (the one with fixed headlights) in Adelaide and keen to hear more about these cars. Feel free to comment here or email me at seanalexander99 at gmail.com
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