When Jaguar acquired nearby Daimler they found themselves with access to the Daimler 2.5 litre V8 engine which fitted conveniently and easily into their best-selling Mark 2 saloon.
The Daimler 2.5 V8 (or 2½-litre V8) was Launched late in 1962 and was essentially a rebadged Jaguar Mark 2 fitted with Daimler's 2.5-litre V8 engine and drive-train, a Daimler fluted grille and rear number plate surround, distinctive wheel trims, badges, and interior details including a split-bench front seat from the Jaguar Mark 1 and a black enamel steering wheel.
The Daimler turned out to be a fine performer with its 110mph top speed exceeding that of an overdrive-equipped, 2.4-litre Mk2 by a wide margin. Not surprisingly, the V8 was soon outselling its Jaguar rival and became the most successful Daimler of all time with more than 17,600 sold up to the end of production in 1969.
Since May 2008 this car has undergone a complete renovation at the hands of a few like-minded classic car enthusiasts.
The first wave of work saw the car converted to negative earth and the sensible addition of an alternator in place of the original dynamo, with electronic ignition replacing the original and less reliable points.
Considerable welding was undertaken to repair the car’s floor and various body panels that needed attention and a brand new headlining was fitted.
The next round of work went a bit further, with the car being taken back to bare metal and being primed and repainted in its original colour of indigo Blue. The chassis rails and cross-members were all welded up or replaced as necessary including welding in new chassis rails and some more repairs to inner and outer body panels.
The front suspension units were stripped down and completely refurbished with new ball joints and bushes before being primed and painted, and the braking system was also refurbished all round. Once the underneath was completed the car was waxoyled, with the treatment being injected into all the sill cavities.
With the car sitting solidly on its renovated and rejuvenated running gear, chassis and body further work has been done in more recent years while being part of a large private collection of classic cars. A new petrol tank has been fitted along with a new water pump and viscous fan coupling, there’s a new battery, and the refurbished wheels have been fitted with new, correct specification tyres, and all the lights were refurbished with new parts as and where required.
All the fluids have been changed and the car has been fully serviced very recently. It has also been kept in dry heated storage for the past six years.
The car comes with a large file of receipts and photographs which detail much of the extensive work that has been done, together with the V5c showing 7 previous keepers, a full tool kit and an original Daimler service manual.
The red leather interior is in really great condition having had new carpets, door cards and headlining as part of its restoration.
The deep leather seats look comfortable and supportive and have a nice well-kept and aged patina. All the wood and chrome fittings are very good throughout the cabin and the car has been fitted with rear seat belts and still has its original radio.
The instruments are all clean, clear and all work, with the classic central dash and black enamel steering wheel looking very smart indeed.
This being the first series of this model it has real leather and real wood rather than the later model’s cost-cutting vinyl and wood veneer, and it’s all the better for it.
Although the body is nice and straight and solid the re-spray done using acrylic paint is now showing some age-related crazing and is looking a bit thin in places where the car has probably been machined polished in its past.
There are no scratches or dents anywhere and the chrome-work is mostly in exceptional condition, with just the odd piece beginning to show signs of pitting, and all the door and window seals are all in great shape too.
Lights are all clear and free from any cracks and the bumpers are straight and dent free.
Although very presentable as it is, a re-spray would finish this car off very nicely and in-line with the overall condition of the rest of the car.
Recently serviced with all fluids changed the car is reported to be in very good mechanical condition and ready to go. The extent of the restoration over the years has covered all the running gear, electrics, and mechanical parts of the car with either renovated or new parts being used extensively.
The radiator and cooling system has been flushed through and the heating works efficiently and the car further benefits from a complete stainless steel exhaust system. Starting on the button and running very nicely this car drives as it should with no known issues to report.
This is a very solid and well-prepared example of this great British sports saloon, the shape of which is recognised the world over, and its popularity with motoring enthusiasts and collectors is stronger than ever.
Most of the important, serious and expensive restoration work has already been done on this car, with only the paintwork letting the side down if you’re looking for all round excellence, but it’s mechanically sound and in very nice condition otherwise, and ready to be enjoyed and driven perfectly well just as it is.
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1966 Daimler 2.5 V8
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