Piper P2
Piper was the product of the George Henrotte, who in 1966, became the owner of Campbells Garage in Kent. The logo of that garage showed a Scottish pipe player, and the name was born. For technical design work he was joined by Bob Gayler, who had worked for the Weslake company before.
Enter Brian Sherwood who started to take a vivid interest in the company and became one of the main financiers. The company started on designing 2 seater race-cars, and after a number of years the GT that had been constructed as a racing vehicle was to be further developed as as a road going sportscar. Unfortunately Sherwood was killed in a road accident in 1969 and the company did not survive and folded.
Two company employees had formed their own company and after a while restarted activities, and the GT was fully reworked although the basic shape remained the same. The Piper P2 was offered in 1971. Engine options were a 1600 or a 2000 version of the Ford Cross flow engine. Most owners choose the 1600 cc version. Some changes were also made during early production, including the legally mandatory changes to make the headlights pop-up units.
In spite of its qualities, sales started to dwindle in 1973, certainly not helped by the 1973 economic crisis. The last chassis, nr.92 left the factory in early 1974.
Shown here is a P2 at the Zolder Historics in 2003
More info and pics to be found here.
http://www.thepiperclub.org.uk