Grindlay Peerless

In 1910, following his departure from Riley Cycle Company, Alfred Robert Grindlay and his brother, William John Grindlay (a member of the highly exclusive Coventry and Country Club) took over Coventry Motor & Sundries Co. from William Edward Mann. The company was remodelled into Grindlay Sidecars, which originally began manufacturing body kits and sidecars in the early 1910s, and quickly became known for its "extremely high quality" machines.

During WWI, Grindlay and Thomas Edward Musson (b. 1875) combined their efforts to form the specialist sidecar manufacturer, Musson & Grindlay, operating out of Melbourne Works on Shakleton Road in Spon End, Coventry. In 1923, following the dissolution of his partnership with Musson, Grindlay and Edward Peerless (b. 1878), who had trained as an engine fitter in Gillingham, Kent, formed Grindlay Peerless.

The newly formed Grindlay Peerless also now operating out of Melbourne Works, entered into the wider motorcycle market in 1923, and began making high-powered machines using JAP (succeeded by Villiers), Barr & Stroud, and later Rudge-Whitworth engines. Like the sidecars before them, the motorcycles not only had an exceptional standard of finish, including pressed monograms, elegantly shaped fuel tanks brightly plated with nickel and cadmium, and luxury leather covered saddles, but were also recognised for their innovative design features.

While active Grindlay Peerless produced a large number of highly regarded motorcycles, including the record breaking 498cc model, but by the mid-1930s the Great Depression caused production to reduce significantly and the company dissolved in 1939.

Timeline

1923 – Alfred Robert Grindlay and Edward Peerless form Grindlay Peerless

1923 – Grindlay Peerless 1000cc V-twin flagship model (Barr & Stroud engine) released

1924 – Grindlay Peerless 488cc single OHV model (JAP engine) released

1925 – Grindlay Peerless 344cc, 346cc, 348cc (JAP engines) and 499cc sleeve-value models (Barr & Stroud engine) released

Motorcycles

Over the course of its 16-year history, Grindlay Peerless produced a number of different models, many of which allowed for a degree of customisation. The range included variants of the 175cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, 680cc, 750cc, and 999cc models, with options for different valves, ports, engines, and finishes.

The 'Hundred' Model

Following Bill Lacey's record beating ride in 1928, Grindlay Peerless created a small number of replica motorcycles for sale to the public, namely the 1929 Grindlay Peerless JAP 500cc 'Hundred' Model or 'Lacey Replica'. The 500cc 'Hundred' model had JAP speedway engines and Webb forks as opposed to Lacey's personally tuned, twin-port engine and Brompton forks, however each motorcycle was individually tuned by Lacey's own mechanic, Walter Hartley 'Wal' Phillips, and sold with a certificate guaranteeing Lacey had personally lapped the machine at Brooklands at 100 mph.

Of the 6 replicas produced only 1 or 2 are known to have survived, one of which, specifically the model belonging to the prominent Vintage Motor Cycle Club member, the late Edmond Joseph 'Boy' Tubb, who won his Brooklands Gold Star aboard the Grindlay, sold at Bonhams auction house for GBP £67,580 (USD $108,165) in 2012, and as of 2014 remains one of the most expensive motorcycles sold at auction.

Technological Advances

Grindlay Peerless adopted the use of sleeve-valve motors, a type of four-stroke engine more frequently used to power early aircraft, rather than the traditional side-valve engine, meaning that pushrods, valve springs, rockers and cams were no longer required. This valve system allowed for the spark plug to be repositioned for maximum efficiency, and required far less maintenance than a side-valve engine.