Description
Daimler 250 - V8 2. 5l *** photos added ***
Build October 1967, First registered January 1968
On the road and enjoyed - about 2000 miles this summer.
'Burble' is one of just 700 Jaguar-Daimler V8 small-saloons built with Manual Transmission + Overdrive, of which it is thought that just 45 now survive. And it is the Daimler V8's whose prices are discretely moving upwards to fall more in line with those of the Mk2 Jaguars.
Previously unrestored, aside from two front wings, and at that time resprayed from silver-grey to black .. many years ago, she's a little shabby in dress but still very elegant and surprisingly spritely. The small block V8 mid-cam, short pushrod 2. 5 litre claims just 140-bhp but delivers it smoothly and with oodles of torque.
Having covered just 91, 646 miles since new, 57 years ago, she is running well. Little used last year, we've driven about 2000 miles in her this year.
As ongoing rolling improvements, I've sort a number of mechanical and electrical issues, brakes, cooling & heating, replaced the battery, etc., and started work on refurbishing the interior, including replacing the driver's seat diaphragm. In essence, to leisurely recommission & maintain the car so it as to be reliable, well handling, safe and comfortable.
Recommissioning and Maintenance work.
• the car is mostly original and unrestored, but I believe the front wings were replaced with new-old stock panels. they are excellent.
• I guess at the same time the crows feet were replaced for new. Again they are are in good condition
• Furthermore I might only guess, this was when the car was repainted from Silver grey to Black. How long ago that was I do not know, but the front wings were brazed on and that hasn't been used in the car trade for many years.
A prior owner had - mostly during 2021 ;
• Re-commissioned the car after years of sitting unused, including fitted new tyres
• Fitted points-less ignition.
• Replaced the clutch.
• Replaced the jacking points.
Jobs I've done, during the past 2 years, include :
• Fed the leather seats, which are crimson in colour, in very nice condition with fine patina. These seats have adjustable backrests
• Replaced the diaphragm under the driver's seat. It is now comfortable again.
• Correcting the hand-brake adjustment and rebuilding the brake servo.
• Replaced the diaphragms in the carburettors. The carbs are in great condition and now correctly adjusted have all spark plugs showing an even straw colour.
• Replace the radiator, for New - old stock
• Replace the heater matrix - new.
• Add an coolant expansion bottle for the radiator.
• Oil change and filter (July 2025), including dropping the sump to clean it out. Replace the cork seals with Viton. Replace the three middle main bearings (standard size) & thrust bearings (std. size).
• Replace the front suspension's sub-frame rubber mounts.
• Replaced the battery, albeit not for a new one, but a good one that had only been in service for a year.
• I've also swapped the treadle throttle pedal for a pendulum one. This gives smoother and more accurate throttle control. (the original pedal comes with the car).
• Optional Extra : I've custom-made a front valance panel. This was never standard on either the Jaguar or Daimler small salons, but I feel it looks better to fill in under the front bumper with a nicely shaped panel.. particularly on the later face-lift slim-bumpered cars. (NB it's not a spoiler / air dam). If interested I offer that as an option - see last two pictures where it is seen in red. It is now stripped and coated in rust converter (ie., it's presently unpainted and not fitted).
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General condition ;
She is mostly original and not rotten, and pretty much used as a daily driver (.. weather being taken into account). I am retired, so my annual mileage is not so very much, but she's always reliable and more pleasant to drive locally than my 'modern'. The paintwork (see photos of shinkage cracks) is actually not so bad, because it's not rusted in those places. It's purely cosmetic. Some might say that it's somewhat refreshing to see an honest car. Naturally after 57 years there are places which will sometime need attention., but the front end of the car appears to be very solid, with excellent front wings and side light pods, good 'crows-feet' and grille surround. I understand the jacking points were replaced five years ago, and the original internal floors and the boot floor all appear to be very good.
The engine, gearbox and overdrive are all in good working order. I rebuilt the twin HD6 carburettors last year with new diaphragms and she's now in a good state of tuning .. with even (straw coloured) spark plugs. She drives smoothly .. even pulling smoothly along in urban driving from as low as 1, 300 RPM in 4th gear .. in overdrive.!
Engine oil pressure is very good. The heater works well and she's comfortable. but the original (it being an unrestored car) door seals have perished and so there's wind noise above 60 mph. I have a brand new set of doors seals - ready to be fitted.
I been through the brakes and they are now really good, even the handbrake works well.
In Conclusion :
She's an elegant Jaguar Mk2-Daimler, with its superb engine, gearbox + overdrive specification, which may be thoroughly enjoyed as she is or else as an ongoing rolling restoration to bring her up to show standards.
Edward Turner's small-block V8 in the Jaguar Mk2 body shell really does make for a beautiful classic and a great driver's car. The Daimler is a quality motorcar .. and then, the V8 engine is a short block and a hundred pounds lighter in weight than the Jaguar straight-six. As consequence she's considered better balanced in handling and steering.
Thankfully, it is the Daimler V8's whose prices are discretely moving upwards to fall more in line with those of the Mk2 Jaguars.
