Grindlay-Peerless was formed in 1923 when Alfred Grindlay, William Grindlay and Edward Peerless combined forces to create a formidable outfit. The company operated out of Melbourne Works in Coventry and produced some spirited motorcycles powered by various high-end proprietary motors from the likes of J.A.P, Barr and Stroud, and later on – Rudge-Whitworth. The Grindlay-Peerless brand became known for their exceptional and innovative standards of craftmanship, and created some fast record-breaking bikes in their heyday.
In 1923, the year of foundation, Grindlay-Peerless made the bold move to bypass the popular lightweight market and went straight in for a monster 998cc sleeve-valve Barr and Stroud V-twin. It became the flagship touring model, and was built to an exceptional quality.
This is one of those machines that rolled out of the factory in 1925. It is one of the many motorcycles from the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, and was present at the 2024 Banbury Run. In fact, Sammy, at 90 years old and in top form, rode the bike at the event and was one of the first to return to the assembly area at British Motor Museum. Let us have a quick look over the bike with photos taken by Alex Rollings from the Classic Motorcycle Channel.
The standout feature on this bike is the somewhat unconventional, yet innovative sleeve-valve engine from Barr and Stroud of Glasgow. It is a four-stroke engine which was frequently used to power early aircraft. The design uses a ported sleeve-valve that is meddled between the piston and its cylinder. The sleeve is caused to slide up and down inside the cylinder, and at the same time rotate about its axis. This oscillating motion allows the sleeve to open and close both the inlet and exhaust phases of the four-stroke cycle. As a result, there are no pushrods, valves, half time pinions, cams or rockers in sight!
The setup allowed the spark plug to be best positioned above the piston for maximum efficiency, however there were downsides to the pattern. The top end of the motor was prone to overheat, and sleeve-valve engines were renowned as oil-burners.
This model featured a three-speed Sturmey Archer gearbox and drive was transmitted to the rear wheel by chain. The oil was fed into the engine via an automatic twin Pilgrim Pump.
As shown in the photos, the finish to the bike was exceptional, with monogram embossed aluminium silencers and a polished and painted saddle-tank (this in itself was advanced for the time when most motorcycles were still of the flat-tank form). There are subtle touches on the bike, such as the Bar and Stroud emblem on the timing cover, and splashes of nickel plating throughout.
The sleeve-valve motors were made with precision and were known to be reliable and torquey with a dependable spread of power through the revs. The costs however, became an issue when the motor trade encountered difficult times during the mid-20s, and ultimately phased the concept out. This model from Grindlay-Peerless was produced for four years before it became obsolete.
This is a short film produced by the Classic Motorcycle Channel that features an interview with Sammy (by John Oakes) who explains the intricacies of the bike and starts it up – and what a sound!
Thanks to Alex at the Classic Motorcycle Channel for the photos of this beautiful machine.
Thanks also to the VMCC, the team at the British Motor Museum, and all of the volunteers and marshals who made the Banbury Run a top event.
an article by The Girder Club
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