Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
20th September, 2023 10:00
1951 Daimler DB18 Special Sports
Estimate
£22, 000 - £26, 000
Registration No: 522 CUO
Chassis No: 59147
MOT: Exempt
One of only approximately 500 manufactured
Coachwork by Barker & Co.
Offered with a number of original Road Test Articles and Handbooks
Development of the pre-war Daimler Fifteen culminated with the DB18 model announced for 1939. Independent suspension appeared for the first time on a Daimler and the DB18 featured an enlarged, 2522cc version of the overhead-valve six first introduced in 1933. Daimler's customary fluid flywheel, pre-selector gearbox and worm drive rear axle comprised the transmission. A new drophead coupé appeared at the first post-war London Motor Show in 1948: the DB18 Special Sports. Stylish in a most un-Daimler-like manner, the Special Sports featured coachwork by Barker, the latter, like Daimler and fellow coachbuilders Hooper, being one of the BSA Group's many companies. The radiator grille was now curved, the alloy-panelled coachwork more streamlined, and the Special Sports benefited from hydro-mechanical braking and a power output raised to 85bhp courtesy of twin carburettors. In short: a model combining all the usual Daimler refinements with increased performance. When DB18 production ceased, only 500-or-so of these elegant and refined Special Sports roadsters had been completed and around 250 are thought to exist today.
It is understood that chassis 59147 was first delivered to Jersey in 1951 under registration number 'J 4400' and was then returned to the mainland in 1959 when it received the registration number that it still bears to this day. The car was exported at some time to France where much of the history file was unfortunately lost and the vendor purchased the car in 2012. The car was in rather a bad state at this period so the vendor (who is a serial car restorer) set about correcting many of the issues. In his period of ownership he has collected many of the original tools for the car and original type parts were refitted. A new fully lined Mohair hood and hood bag has been fitted at great expense. The vendor has advised the car is 'in good shape and running well' with the interior displaying gorgeous patina and the paint having aged to suit the car well.
