Dear 10/10ers I write seeking help from fellow members with my research into the J.A. Pearce Engineering company (1962-1973), and the life of John Pearce himself.
After much intensive research into the story, many unanswered questions remain to which no one individual is likely to have the answers. What started as simple curiosity has grown into a labyrinthine investigation. Nevertheless, it has become my ambition to publish as accurate a record as possible of JAP’s extraordinary story.
John Pearce (not to be confused with his contemporary Jack Pearce of the Kincraft project) worked at the Warwick (/Peerless) car company in Slough, at the Cooper Car Co
of Surbiton and LawrenceTune in Acton while also building a car spares business operated from a double-decker bus in the old Staines railway sidings, before
establishing his base in Southall. From there he sold the JAP Magna-branded wheels, set himself up as a Formula 1 constructor and traded in increasingly exotic cars before vacating the motor/ motor sport trade around 1973, transferring his energies to farming in the Maidenhead area with his wife and daughter where he appears to have stayed for the rest of his life.
Magna wheels were also sold through an agent in the USA; The Motoring Shop (on Pearl Street, La Jolla, California) which no longer exists.
Pearce’s activities still polarise opinion and he was certainly nothing if not a colourful character.
I would be delighted to hear from his friends, colleagues, associates, customers and - especially - from any family members who might wish to share relevant memories or anecdotes, however seemingly insignificant, that might help bring his story to life. Messages can be sent directly to me via the contact page of the J.A. Pearce Engineering website (
http://japearceengineering.com/ ), or Facebook page: (
https://www.facebook.com/japearceengineering ) the contents of which might help stimulate fading memories.