64 September 2019 http://www.completekitcar.co.ukREADER’S CAR | PJR SPORTSGetting the PJR on the road wasn’t
without its issues, and as the build progressed
so did the regulations, and the decades
that followed the PJR’s inception saw the
introduction of compulsory inspection
testing. In fact, by crunch time in 2002 the
SVA test had been revised several times, and
this required diluting the PJR’s vintage style
somewhat. The exposed riveting had to go,
as did the eared centre-caps and so did the
original windscreen before the car would go
on to pass on its second attempt.
In the years that followed both Peter
and Liz enjoyed the PJR Sports whenever
they could but lack of any substantial
weather gear, beyond the tonneau cover,
was something that he always wanted to
address. But, sadly following a battle with
terminal cancer in 2011, it wasn’t going to
be. That same year the PJR was consigned
back to the garage, where it was to spend
many more years, as Liz couldn’t bear to see
the car go on to become under-appreciated
with a new owner. Also, as the market and
sentimental values could never align, it was
no trouble keeping the Sports around for
the time being.
But languishing in the garage meant that
it wasn’t fully appreciated at home either,
and it was a shame to see the fruit of many
years work slowly become an immovable
object once again. Step in Peter’s youngerbrother Tim, who eventually convinced Liz
to let him take on the car and, crucially, get
it back on the road. Once agreed a trailer
was booked and the PJR was towed from
its Gloucestershire birthplace to Tim’s base
in Derbyshire for recommissioning which,
as it turned out, wasn’t as much work as he
first feared. As soon as the flat battery was
replaced the PJR was mobile again and,
only a few weeks later, it was taxed, tested
and on the road as well.
Tim remembers seeing the car through its
various stages of build and while he always
knew that his brother was a perfectionist,
even he was surprised at the quality and
forward sightedness of the PJR’s final
construction. He explains that there are
inspection panels and grommets all over
the car, even down to bend in the steering
rack, which shows that Peter had intended
for the mechanicals to last just as long as
his aluminium panelwork. That’s useful
as while he never saw the PJR moving on
under such unfortunate circumstances, the
thoughtfulness of his design has meant not
having him around to guide brother Tim
through its intricacies, or lack of them, hasn’t
been an issue. In fact, the only thing to let
the side down recently is the B’s gearbox,
which Tim intends to replace when he gets
the chance. For the most part, however, it’s
been trouble-free fun motoring.PJR
SPORTSENGINE: 1.8-litre BMC
B-series.
GEARBOX: 4-speed.
SUSPENSION: Front- MGB derived double
wishbones.
Rear – MGB derived leaf
sprung live axle.
BRAKES: Front – Discs.
Rear – Drums.
WHEELS: 14in wire
wheels.
INTERIOR: Custom
wooden dashboard,
custom trimmed leather
seats and doorcards.
EXTERIOR: One-
off hand-brushed
aluminium body.
The PJR gets plenty of looks, and thumbs
up, when out on the road and with its Riley
special-esque style many do believe that
it’s a genuine early post-war classic. In
many ways I suppose it fits the bill with its
ash-frame, hand brushed aluminium panels,
piano hinging bonnet, and that winged PJR
emblem could so easily belong to one of
the many forgotten ‘what could have been’
motoring marques of the early 20th century.
Its post millennium completion date is just a
mere technicality.
Everyone in the family is rightfully fond
of the car, and keeping it on the road is a
great way of keeping the memory of the
motoring enthusiast that designed and built
it all those years ago alive. When the day
finally arrives for the PJR to move onto a
new owner, it will remain a part of the family
under the stewardship of Tim’s son Phillip,
meaning that once again it will share its
initials with that of its keeper.Initials act as an artists water mark.060 PJR.indd 64 01/08/2019 12:45 pm