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Are Chesil still trading?
russbost - 5/9/16 at 10:30 AM

As per the title, a friend is contemplating building a 356 rep, I had a feeling Chesil had ceased trading, certainly not seen anything about them for some while, the website is still up & running, but nothing on there to indicate recent dates etc.

If not, what else similar is there out there?

adithorp - 5/9/16 at 10:55 AM

I did a service, MOT and a few repairs on one for a customer in July '14 and had to contact Chesile so they were trading then. It needed a new ignition lock and I needed to confirm what the column was sourced from. Have to say it was a nice bit of kit.

rdodger - 5/9/16 at 11:12 AM

Pilgrim are selling them again.

Chesil I think were at Stoneleigh this year.

russbost - 5/9/16 at 11:25 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rdodger
Pilgrim are selling them again.

Chesil I think were at Stoneleigh this year.



When you say "Pilgrim are selling them again" do you mean Pilgrim are acting as agents for Chesil, or that Pilgrim do a 356 copy? Is Pilgrim still Den Tanner or did it move into other hands when Den had his little stay at one of her majesties hotels?

rdodger - 5/9/16 at 12:36 PM

Hi Russ

I meant Pilgrim are doing there version of a 356 speedster again.

I'm not sure what the situation is regarding Den and the ownership of Pilgrim. I suspect he is still in charge.

http://www.pilgrim-motorsports.co.uk/speedster-kit/

I see they are now call Pilgrim Motorsport.

obfripper - 5/9/16 at 12:37 PM

The company was sold and rebranded Tygan, went bust and Peter Bailey bought the company back and is operating as Chesil Motor Company, but have moved to his home address.
The website is www.chesil.biz
If you can't get in contact, i can forward his home number to you.

Dave

russbost - 5/9/16 at 01:02 PM

Great, thanks for the info, I assume both cars are basically rebodied Beetles, does anyone know anything relative costs, complexities, quality of the 2 kits?

CC Cyclone - 5/9/16 at 06:39 PM

356 replicas are a hot topic as there are a few about and owners of one make tend to belittle other makes to try and increase resale values In my experience.

Martin & Walker are great. Low key, don't advertise but a good product and good friendly service. a Google search will help.

Speedster Clinic and Pilgrim also make them. Den Tanner sold Pilgrim following his brief foray into the garden centre business.

Chesil make a good product and sell all the finishing bits and bobs etc but that is reflected in the kit prices. It was a good operation and so for Peter to 'relocate' it to his house suggests sales are somewhat slow and worth probing a bit further I would have thought.