Making its debut in September 1932, the 15hp was the first Daimler for more than 20 years with an engine featuring conventional valve gear, discarding the sleeve-valve engines seen in previous models. The name derived from the car’s tax rating of 15hp, and the car was available in a variety of body styles including saloon, sports saloon, fixed-head coupé and two- and four-seater drophead coupés.
The new model was powered by a 1.8 litre six-cylinder unit and drove through a Wilson pre-selector transmission. By August 1934, the engine was enlarged to 2-litre, giving a noticeable improvement in performance.
With an intriguing and well-documented history going right back through its lifetime, this 15hp three-position drophead coupé is believed to be one of only two bodied by Mulliners of Birmingham and presents in remarkably original condition. xvvZzOu7RpHJIQ9pQ1l0HDDF190jczK5v3l0qONl.jpg859.03 KB
The History and Paperwork
Huge box-file of paperwork going back through car’s history
MoT- and tax-exempt
Current V5
Original logbook
Original Daimler parts catalogue
Owners’ Club list of prizes and awards from 1960s
Numerous references in owner’s club magazine
Previous invoices
Past MoTs
The car was originally owned by a wealthy lady in Devon, who kept it until just after WW2, when it was bought by the vehicles manager of Stratstones (the main Daimler agent in London). He kept it as his own car for more than thirty years and eventually let it go to his next-door neighbour who, by all accounts, had badgered him for it for a very long time. The neighbour then kept the car for another thirty-plus years and the vendor bought it in 2014 as the fourth owner. It has done only 37,000 miles in total, a figure which can be verified as genuine through the extensive history file.
The car has featured a number of times in The Driving Member, the magazine of the Daimler and Lanchester Owners’ Club, including a two-page feature written by the vendor in the July 2019 edition.
Having enjoyed the car throughout his tenure, the vendor faces an upcoming house move to downsize and will no longer enjoy the storage space of his current property, so has reluctantly decided to part with it.
The car’s interior reflects its careful custodianship by successive owners. The vendor had the seats reupholstered, and the carpets replaced, in 2019, but otherwise everything looks very original – although there is one concession to modern motoring, USB sockets in the glove compartment.
The wood on the dashboard and the doors is in remarkably good condition, and the original instruments are all excellent.
The vendor makes the point that the car must have designed with smokers in mind, as it has four ashtrays and a cigar lighter!
The paintwork is all original and, aside from a few scratches on the wings, is in remarkably good condition – the vendor has deliberately not done anything to it, to preserve its originality. The painted wire wheels are in excellent condition and the Avon tyres are all recent.
The hood is also original and works well, but some of the stitching has come apart – this should be straightforward to address.
The headlamps, badges and other brightwork are all in excellent condition. There’s a spare wheel mounted on the back, also in excellent condition, behind a spacious luggage compartment.
In the vendor’s ownership the engine has been completely rebuilt by a marque expert, and a new radiator core, and new (cloth-bound) wiring loom fitted. It starts and runs beautifully, as was evident when moved around for our photographs.
Under the bonnet, the care and attention that has been lavished on it by successive owners is immediately apparent – everything is clean and well-ordered.
This charming little car looks as though it would be right at home in an Agatha Christie period drama. It’s a car that could hold its head high at any classic-car event, and its fascinating and well-documented history would be an instant talking point. But the real joy in owning this car would be in driving it on a summer day, with the roof down, along quiet country lanes. It’s a lovely piece of automotive history that will turn heads wherever it goes.
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