Description

1980 Pilgrim Family Tourer

Funky and rare to see Ford powered model requiring some recommissioning after time in storage; new hood and frame included

The British kit and component car scene was well into its stride by the 1970s and reached its heyday in the 1980s.

Although many of these fledgling companies were little more than one-man-bands and soon faded into obscurity, a few made the grade and grew into the solid specialist car sector that makes the British car scene so vibrant and interesting today. One of those that lasted was Pilgrim Cars of Henfield, Sussex, which celebrated its 36th anniversary this year.

Dating from 1980, this Family Tourer was a component car that evokes the MG T Series and Morgan sports cars of the early 1950s. The body looks to be moulded from GRP with a simple but effective steel box section chassis and reliable running gear often from the proven Ford Cortina. The V5C shows the engine size to be 1,593cc, but notes on file suggest this may have been swapped out to the larger 1,793cc engine from a 1988 Sierra which is referenced on notes within the file.

The vendor bought the Pilgrim after it emerged from 18 years in storage - having last been in the road, taxed in 1993. The old style V5C shows just one previous owner to the last since 1987. The history file also reveals a host of documentation relating to its insurance policy history, notes and correspondence between owner and DVLA/Insurance and booklet relating to classic car retrimming.

The vendor has had the car running in the last few weeks with a separate fuel tank/feed and he reported it ‘ran as it should’ although the brakes were inoperable – no surprise after sitting for so long. The car will evidently require a thorough re-commissioning but does have a new battery fitted along with new points, distributor, condenser, plugs and hoses with supporting receipt for c£500. In addition, the car comes with a new, boxed but unfitted hood and frame which is a bonus for the new owner.

For more information contact - will.daniels@brightwells.com