Peerless, Tx
PEERLESS, TEXAS. Peerless, also known as Gay's Mills, Hilldale, and Fairyland (Fairy Land), was a farming community on Farm Road 71 eleven miles northwest of Sulphur Springs in northwestern Hopkins County. Eli Lindley moved to the area in 1842. In the 1850s a small settlement developed there; it was called Gay's Mills for a water-powered flour mill operated by John D. Gay. In the 1870s the community was known as Hilldale, but its post office, established in 1880 with J. A. Leeman as postmaster, was called Fairyland (or Fairy Land). The latter name is said to have derived from the idea that the young girls at local dances looked like fairies, and that the local hilly terrain made the community seem like a fairyland. In 1885 the town had several steam gristmills and cotton gins, a broom factory, a church, a district school, and an estimated population of 400. Around 1891 the town name was changed to Peerless. This name is said to have been adopted after a family named Cotton planted a brand of potatoes called Peerless. Heavy rains prevented the harvest, and the overripe potatoes began to rot, giving off a pungent odor that wafted through the community, prompting the new name. By 1900 Peerless had two churches, two gristmills and cotton gins, and a population of 250. In 1905 the town school, still called Fairy Land, had two teachers and an enrollment of forty-six. The post office closed sometime after 1900, and during the 1920s the population dropped to 150. In the mid-1930s Peerless had two churches, a school, a cemetery, three businesses, and a number of scattered houses. Its population remained at a constant level until after World War II;qv in 1948 the town still had a population of about 150. After that time no further population estimates were available. In the late 1980s Peerless still had two churches, a cemetery, and two businesses.
Peerless was the name not one but two different auto campanies.
Peerless Motor Vehicle Company
Related Entries
* Automobiles
* Bicycles
* Cleveland
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The Peerless Motor Vehicle Company was located in Cleveland , Ohio. The Peerless Company originally built clothes wringers and bicycles but, in 1900 began producing its first automobiles. In its early years, Peerless was known for its innovation in automobile design. It was the first American automobile manufacturer to mount the engine in the front, using it to power the rear wheels through a solid drive shaft. This design dominated the American automobile industry throughout most of the twentieth century.
To promote the company and its products, the company hired a famous race car driver, Barry Oldfield, to drive one of its cars. The car soon earned the nickname the "Green Dragon." Oldfield set a number of speed records in the Green Dragon, making Peerless a respected name in automobile manufacturing. Over time, a number of "Green Dragons" were built to advertise the company.
Soon, Peerless began to promote its automobiles as luxury cars. The companys slogan became "All that the name implies." Advertising for the car described "an interior resembling a cozy and luxuriously furnished drawing room." The focus on luxury meant that only wealthy Americans could afford to own a Peerless. Unfortunately, although Peerless had been known for its technical innovations in automotive design in the early years, it began to stagnate by the 1910s and 1920s. Eventually, Peerless no longer focused on the luxury market and began to manufacture automobiles for mainstream markets. The company changed its slogan to "Now Theres a Peerless for Everyone."
Like many American automobile manufacturers, the Great Depression proved to be too much of a challenge to the Peerless Motor Vehicle Company. The company built its last cars in June 1931, although some of these cars were sold as new models in 1932.
The Peerless was based on the TR3 components, The bodywork ; first in aluminium (1957) later in polyester (1958 - 1960) Engine of the TRIUMPH TR3 - with a 4 speed overdrive. The car was never a success , the factory went bankrupt back in 1960.
Produktion : from 1957 to 1960
PEERLESS and WARWICK GT's : What is a Peerless?
In 1957, race car designer Bernie Rodger, along with John Gordon designed the prototypes for a new sports GT car. The production car became a 4 seat coupe, somewhat resembling a cross between an Aston Martin and a Bristol. They have a space frame made from square tubing, glass fibre body and are based on Triumph TR3 running gear; engine, transmission, guages, suspension/steering. But they have a DeDion rear, with a Salisbury differential, and sliding half-shafts. Two of the of the first production cars, with their engines furnished by Triumph's competition department, were prepared for the 1958 LeMans. One car ran, and finished 16th- that car is still in daily use in England.
Peerless cars were (mostly) built in 1958-59. There were 249 Phase 1's, and about 44 face-lifted Phase 2's. After Peerless parent company went under due to finiancal troubles, Gordon went on to develop the Chysler engined Gordon-Keeble, while Rodger resumed production under the name Warwick GT in 1960-62, with a tilt-up front end, and other styling changes. In a marketing effort similar to the Sunbeam Tiger, and AC Cobra, and predating the Triumph TR8 by more than 15 years, at least 2 Warwicks had their Triumph engine replaced by the aluminium Buick 215ci V8. These cars were shown to American investors, but failed to stir up enough interest, and soon Warwick ground to a halt as well, after producing only 39 cars.Some additional Phase 2's were later made by individuals from leftover Peerless components sold at auction.
More than 70 Peerless and Warwick GT's are known to have been imported into North America, both by dealers, and several individual owners. Many are still around today,several are being restored, and a few are being vintage raced. The only known remaining Warwick V8 is currently completing restoration in the US.
Mark