The Pelland Sports Story

Posted by John Mellberg September 21, 2020

The Pelland Sports Story

The Pelland Sports, designed by Peter Pellandine.

The Pelland Sports was one of a number of kit cars designed by the late Peter Pellandine, an influential designer of specialty cars and steam-powerd vehicles. Pellandine began his career in the automotive industry at the prestigious coachbuilder, H.J. Mulliner & Co.

In 1955, however, he left their employ to form Ashley Laminates in partnership with Keith Waddington. Ashley produced a number of famous kits and specials that were notable in their own right. After an amicable parting of ways in 1957, Pellandine founded Falcon Shells in the UK, but moved to New Zealand shortly thereafter and set up a branch of the company there as well.

The Pellandine Steam Cat, which was the basis of the Pelland Sports.

After returning to the UK and selling off both arms of Falcon Shells, he took an interest in steam-powered cars and moved to Australia to pursue their development with the help of a government grant. He had some success and even developed a steam-powered land speed record car.

In 1977 he returned to the UK. By '78 he was back at it, founding Pelland Engineering and introducing the Pelland Sport. The two-seater was based on the VW Beetle, which, however, was converted to a mid-engine configuration in the hope of improving the dynamic properties of the car. The monocoque bodywork was made of GRP. The front axle with stabilizer was from the VW but the rear axle hung on a bespoke transverse leaf spring designed by Pellandine, himself. The car was generally designed as a roadster, but there was an optional hardtop with partial gullwing doors.

The Ryder Rembrandt, based on the Pelland Sports.

The Project was sold in 1980 to Ryder Cars in Coventry. They reintroduced the car as the "Rembrandt" and explored whether it was possible to replace the VW boxer engine with a mid-rear mounted Ford Kent engine, using a crossflow cylinder head. Later this company was sold to Graham cars in Tyneside. Both mentioned companies built very few copies, and after some time the design was sold to Listair.

The Listair, based on the Pelland Sports.

Listair revised the design of the late 1980s and called it the Dash. An Alfasud powered version of the car was also developed.

In 1990, Dash Sports Cars was formed in Chester Wood and continued development of the car. In the years 1996/1997 Dash sold the design to Richard Bell, who moved to California. Bell still possesses three copies of the car and continues the research on the history of the model.

It is believed that roughly 20 examples of the Pelland Sports were built, with a handful surviving today in working order.

Peter Pellandine with one of his steam powered cars.

Pellandine moved back to Australia in the 1990s, where he continued to develop the Steamer, the final version being the Mark IV. Sadly, Pelladine died in Tasmania in December 2012. He leaves an impressive legacy of beloved designs behind.

Photo Credits:
Richard Bell / https://www.facebook.com/Pelland-Sports-Cars-312128399544513