Pete in Oakland, CA sent us this story:
The Pembleton is a single donor (Citroën 2CV) kit car designed and marketed by Phil Gregory of the Pembleton Motor Company which can have either three or four wheels.. It looks rather like a Morgan trike from the 1920s and 30s but does not attempt to be a replica. Every car is personalised by the builder and no two cars are exactly the same.
A Pembleton is constructed on a space frame chassis. The gearbox, steering, brakes, front suspension, half or all of the rear suspension, wiring loom, electrical parts and lots of other parts come from a Citroën 2CV donor. The front suspension geometry is modified to improve the road-holding of the vehicle. The engine can be from a 2CV but people have installed BMW and Moto Guzzi engines for more performance and appearance. This car uses a 602cc 2CV air-cooled engine provided by the donor car. It has a top speed of approximately 70mph.
All of the body was handmade out of aluminum cut from a sheet from patterns. This includes flooring, bulkheads, and front wings.
“I decided to leave the body bright so used Permalac Matte to protect these surfaces. There are no compound curves in the original design but I chose to modify the rear panels for aesthetic reasons. By adhering strictly to the kit’s guidelines, one can build this car for under $8000. Most people don’t. Because 2CV donor
cars are difficult to find in this country, I contracted with 2CV City, a dismantling yard in the UK to provide the parts needed for my project. This included the 1985 engine. I was lucky to have had assistance from a retired French mechanic, Jean Haritchabalet in sorting out the electrical system and engine tuning. The car runs beautifully and the country roads in my area are well suited for this type of motoring.”
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