• Recently imported from Japan, where the climate is kind to old cars

• In regular use until very recently

• Highly original and well-preserved

Daimler’s Double Six name has a long pedigree, having first been used on a range of V12s beginning in 1926. Daimler was bought by Jaguar in 1960, and after both were taken over by British Leyland, the name was revived for the upmarket, Daimler-badged version of the XJ12 in 1972. To some enthusiasts, the XJ6 and XJ12 represented the last true Jaguars, as they were the last to have been built under the aegis of Sir William Lyons, who retired in 1972. His successor was ‘Lofty’ England, who had worked as a Daimler apprentice in the 1930s and no doubt felt a touch of nostalgic sentimentality when he bestowed the Double Six name upon the new Daimler version.

Utilising Jaguar’s now-famous 5.3-litre V12, introduced for the E-type in 1971, the Double Six had the performance to match its elegant looks. This evolved into the HE (high-effciency) version in 1981, with a redesigned cylinder head, electronic fuel injection and Lucas’s Constant Energy Ignition. It also boasted a number of subtle luxury upgrades not seen on the Jaguar and was, of course, distinguished by the traditional Daimler fluted radiator grille.

Impressively, the XJs and Daimler equivalents sold so well that they survived until 1992 with relatively few changes. Apart from the chunkier bumpers which  they acquired in 1979, even the latest cars looked like they had just driven out of the 1960s, helping to add to Jaguar’s reputation for tradition and longevity.

This car’s Jaguar Heritage Certificate reveals that it left Browns Lane on 2nd July, 1991, in Platinum with Savile Grey upholstery, right-hand drive and an automatic transmission. It was dispatched on 6th August to be sold through Jaguar Cars in Japan. 

The Japanese climate is famously sympathetic to old cars, and it was imported in 2019 by a Japanese gentleman in London wanting a well-preserved older car which he could enjoy using on a regular basis. Sadly, the owner has been forced to stop driving for health reasons and hence must offer the car for sale.

In addition to the V5, the car comes with various documents including a certificate of authenticity from the Jaguar Heritage Trust and a handful of invoices and MoT certificates. Its current MoT is valid until 2nd April, 2022.

The car does come with a few historic booklets supplied new from the dealership, although they are in Japanese. The Series III Drivers’ Handbook is in English, though, as are the instructions for the more modern Pioneer DEH-X7800DAB radio which has recently been installed.

The Daimler’s beautiful Savile Grey leather interior has survived very well. The upholstery is all very well preserved. The front seats have mellowed nicely through gentle use, with a few creases in the leather but no damage. 

The doors, dash, steering wheel and centre console all appear virtually flawless, and the dark walnut, a fundamental component of any British luxury saloon, exhibits a decidedly ageless quality, having a certain antique appearance and yet also looking so good that it might have just left the showroom yesterday. Even the clock tells the right time, and not all 30-year-old cars can say that.

Of course, the rear passenger area is outstandingly good and we suspect has hardly ever been used. The headlining is immaculate and the carpets are excellent too, although the driver’s may benefit from a good wash.

The theme of well-preserved originality continues into the boot, were a very tidy luggage space is host to a bag containing a jack and the original Jaguar toolbox, which appears to contain a complete set of tools bar the paint touch-up kit. The spare wheel is present and in superlative condition.

The original Platinum paint has survived extremely well, and embodies the understated elegance for which Jaguar and Daimler products are renowned. As you’d expect from a 30-year-old car which has been driven regularly and respectfully, it cannot quite be called perfect anymore but it still comes very close. 

Crucially, the car appears to be resoundingly solid, although we would suggest that the winning bidder keeps on eye on the sills.

All the chrome on the car is in the very best condition, with no deterioration that we could see, and even the plastic bumpers are exemplary. Usually, one expects to find at least one scuff, but we could not. All the glass, likewise, cannot be faulted. 

A few minute cosmetic blemishes mean that the wheels fall just short of perfection, but they are nevertheless exceptional and also appear to be scuff-free, so it is quite apparent that this car has only ever been cherished by all its owners.

The mechanics on this car, we are sure, are every bit as good as the rest of it. The discreetly powerful V12 fires up on the button, and is so civilised at low speeds that you might very well forget it’s a V12 until you have a chance to put your foot down. 

The engine fills pretty much all the available space under the bonnet, but it has all been kept clean and tidy. Of course, with an automatic gearbox, it pulls away easily and smoothly. With power steering, the car is as light as a feather to steer, and the brakes are firm and efficient. 

We really do believe this is could be an extremely versatile car, at home wafting around town or driving the lengths of Her Majesty’s express highways. It passed its MoT in March with no advisories, so you can rest assured that it is, at the very least, an entirely safe car in which to take to the roads.

If ever there was a car which perfectly straddles the divide between classic and modern, this is it. Despite being built in 1991, it retains the outward appearance of a 1960s classic. The round, shrouded headlights, the fluted chrome grille and the long, gracefully sloping side profile – all were hallmarks of an age which had all but disappeared. 

However, while the art of styling might have been better understood in the past, mechanically we have managed to make cars quicker, more efficient and more reliable. Even though this Daimler is 30 years old, it boasts a 5.3-litre V12, fuel injection and electronic ignition, so we reckon it must be every bit as fast, efficient and reliable as any car needs to be.

That ideal combination of classic looks and a more modern engine makes this the sort of car that you could comfortably press into regular use, while also deriving pleasure from simply looking at it on your driveway. It’s all the better for its originality and well-chosen specification, which suits it to a tee. If for no other reason, you could buy this car just to show off what good taste you’ve got.