• Body shell in good condition.
• Said to be complete barring carpeting
• Said to be running well before being stripped out
• Vast amount of spares

The Daimler 2.5 V8/V8-250 is a four-door saloon produced by The Daimler Company Limited in Coventry from late 1962 to 1969.

It was the first Daimler car to be based on a Jaguar platform, the first with a unit body and the last to feature a Daimler engine after the company was bought from the Birmingham Small Arms Company by Jaguar Cars in 1960. The engine is the hemispherical head V8 first used in the Daimler SP250 sports car.

The Daimler 250 was essentially a rebadged Jaguar Mk2 fitted with Daimler's 2.5-litre V8 engine and drivetrain, 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. 

Special interior and exterior colours were specified by Daimler and most of the 17,620 cars manufactured were fitted with power-assisted steering but it was optional. A three-speed automatic transmission was standard and a four-speed manual transmission – with or without overdrive – became an option in 1967.

The 2.5 V8 was the first Jaguar designed car to have the Daimler badge. A casual observer (but unlikely its driver) might have mistaken it for a Jaguar MkII, but the Daimler's stance on the road was noticeably different from the MkII Jaguar.

Little is known of the history of HUC 579C other than it received its first UK registration in October, 1965 and the last V5C was issued on the 21st May 2010 – which is not present.

Due to the downturn triggered by the pandemic, the current owner – a proprietor of a car restoration business - acquired the car with a view to its restoration as a private project and was duly stripped down to its current condition over a year ago.

However, the easing of the pandemic has seen the fortune of the car restoration and rebuild business improve to an extent that the owner can no longer devote the time and effort required to put this automotive Humpty Dumpty back together again.

No paperwork exists for this Daimler 250 saloon. According to online records, its last MoT was conducted on 3rd June, 2008 which it failed. The mileage at that time was recorded at 64,317.

Inside, the shell is basically sound with elements of surface rust along the upper door apertures. According to the seller there is enough wood and chrome trim for three or more cars and various interior and mechanical parts to repair several cars

The roof lining will need renewing. The vendor says all of the interior parts and spare ones are present and correct, including the seats, door cards and associated brightwork, veneered wood trims, dashboard, instrument cluster and the original Radiomobile radio.

The seller advises that the only part not available is the set of carpets and floor coverings which were discovered to be too far gone during the strip down to retain for future re-use. However, this should be a reasonably quick fix for any professional and sympathetic upholsterer worth their salt.

The Daimler’s exterior is again basically sound but will require some minor bodywork to remove a few dents and a thorough preparatory rubdown prior to receiving a full professional respray.

The vendor says all of the exterior parts are present, including the doors, windscreen, rear window, brightwork, headlamps, a pair of Lucas Fogranger secondary lights, front and rear bumpers and those wonderful spoked wheels which look to be in good order.

At the time of the strip down, the Daimler was said to in running order with the V8 engine ticking over to a gentle burble. 

The chassis, suspension, steering and brakes still require the intended refurbishment, but all the other mechanical components are in good condition with the basic infrastructure being there and appears sound. The only parts that are included and need work are the gearbox mount, the heater pipes and the radiator and carburetors need to be re-mounted.

As seen in the accompanying gallery, many mechanical parts exist ready for the new keeper to breathe new life into this lovely old Daimler.

It will take devotion, patience, perseverance, a dollop of passion and a reasonable budget to make this 1965 Daimler 250 saloon sing again. Presently, all the right notes are there, just not necessarily in the right order.

Once complete, the new keeper can decide to enjoy this queen of the road or move her on to pastures new.

G’won, because you’re here, pop on a cheeky bid…you know you want to!

Notice to bidders