I acquired PZ on the 25th July 2011 after it had been pulled out of a barn in Donaghadee. It was last on the road in 1966 according to its log book. There was evidence of accident damage on the driver's side front which had a slightly bent inner wing. The sills were rotten, the rear window broken, rats had eaten most of the interior and the whole body was covered in surface rust! Naturally it was a restoration that needed doing!
The original engine had been replaced with a Goldseal factory replacement engine sometime in its past along with the gearbox. The actual build date was shown as 3rd - 4th June 1954 with final dispatch on the 14th June 1954 to W.H. Alexander in Belfast. The original log book came with the car and was the only documentation to survive. As such little of the cars history is known. There were 3 registered keepers, the first of which was a Rev. Richard O’Rawe from Downpatrick. The tax stamps in the log book show that the car was last taxed on the 12th March 1965 for that year; it must have been shortly after this that the car was damaged and taken off the road. Repair work had been started as the driver’s side front wing had been replaced and the inner wing painted red. The last owner was a farmer, who had stored it in a barn. This might explain the car’s survival.
A comprehensive restoration was carried out. Where possible original parts were retained and refurbished. The whole shell being stripped back to bare metal using abrasive pads. The doors unfortunately were beyond repair and were replaced (retaining the original door tops, glass and mechanicals.) The boot lid was repaired with a new lower section as was each of the original rear high arch wings. The front driver's wing was later series 2 wing which was modified to fit the early grill arrangement. The passenger front wing was cut in two and a new rear section welding in. Welding continued with new sills and a rear boot well. The chassis leg was also replaced on the passenger side.
The 803cc engine was rebuilt, requiring nothing but a good clean and piston rings. The rear axel was treated to new wheel bearings and a repaint. The wiring loom had to be replaced due to rat intervention! The rear seat was replaced and the fronts repaired retaining the original frames and back. PZ was finally on the road in 2014 and attended national rally in 2015.