Daimler was an independent British manufacturer in its own right, having bought the rights for the name from Gottlieb Daimler way back at the start of the 20th century. The German Daimler company was a pioneer of the internal-combustion engine and subsequent automotive development. Henry John Lawson set up the distinctively separate Daimler and amassed several patients to build a British motor industry. However, the company floundered and the Coventry based Daimler was soon bought out by BSA.
BSA remained in control of the company, until 1960 when Daimler was sold to Jaguar. It was generally accepted that Jaguar's main motive of absorbing the Daimler name was to acquire the production facilities at the Daimler factory in nearby Radford.
Commonly mistaken as a Jaguar MK2, but delve a little deeper and the difference becomes quite apparent. First off, we'll get the inevitable out of the way, in which we should mention that the Jaguar MK2 was known as an excellent getaway car after the connection was made that the car performed well on the race circuit.
Daimler, however, was never that type of brand and was better known for its upscale reputation. At one point Daimler was the chosen brand for Royal travel, a distinction it still holds on an unofficial capacity. Jaguar, keen to exploit a potential niche, used the then-new executive Jaguar MK2 platform to market a new Daimler for the ’60s. The visual difference between the two cars was subtle, the stance of the Daimler was different thanks to stiffer springs, with several cosmetic differences such as the fluted grill, rear number plate surround and trim details. But the real differences lay under the hood.
The idea was that the Jaguars would be sold with their own XK6 straight-six engines and the Daimler powered the wonderful V8 inherited from Daimlers old open-top sports car the SP250. The Hemi-head 2.5-litre V8 was a compact engine and actually lighter than the straight-six and is worthy of a mention in its own right. It had been designed by renowned Motorcycle designer Edward Turner, who was impressed by the demeanour of the V8 Cadillac engines. Turner used design features inherited from his motorcycle experience to produce a small compact V8. The outcome was commended as one the finest V8 to ever be designed and made in the UK, and as a result, became a significant part of the MK2s story.
This well presented 1966 car follows the typical path of many surviving Daimler V8’s, which were generally owned by more sympathetic owners than the average MK2 Jag - we're not suggesting that all Jags were used as villains car trying to escape the grasp of Sergeant Jack Regan before ending on its roof or overtaking Ford Falcons along Pilgrims Drop at Brands Hatch, but there's going to be an increased chance of some mechanical sympathy.
As a side note, It was once commonplace for these Daimlers to be ‘downgraded’ to Jaguar specs. One way to figure out the authenticity is to obviously check the engine. In addition some restored cars may not sit as straight and true as an original Daimler, as the V8 had stiffer springs. There is no such issue with this 1966 example and has been restored as stock to retain the very character that the V8 version was known for.
Originally sold by Riders Garage in Falmouth in November 1966, a long-gone but well established garage in the area. For the first 3 decades of its life, the car was owned by one owner, who kept on top of the upkeep of the car. The Daimler then received a major restoration in 1994, possibly after being sold by its first owner. The second owner appears to have hardly used the car and over the years the Daimler fell into neglect and became a project again. The current owner subsequently bought the Daimler via an Auction about 18 months ago on a whim. He'd fallen in love with the car and saw the potential in it. However, it had a fair number of issues. This included the need for welding and a general overhaul as well as attention to the exhaust, brakes, steering and suspension parts. It was at this point he gave the car to a specialist in Suffolk and three and half thousand pounds later, we present you with this beautiful example.
There is an extensive history file too, with meticulous notes being documented by the first owner. So what we have here is a car that has seen very little use in the last 15 years, but has benefitted from a recent engine rebuild, a body and mechanical restoration with a very original interior overhaul that retains much of its patina and character. It comes with a fresh MOT, as well as invoices for the recent overhaul.
The Daimler is sumptuous inside, you're drawn in by the wood trappings and the simple yet elegant dials. The detailing is what really makes the car, such as the elegant quarter light fastenings which have the intricacy of the lift-arm of a Dunhill lighter. The rest of the interior chrome brightwork is immaculate.
The air of calm is amplified by the huge front bench seats, which are split to allow them to recline - however, this was more by inheritance rather than a specific design feature as they were inherited from the Jaguar MK1. The interior utilises a lovely balance of originality, the wood, leather and trim show evidence of ageing, which is part of the appeal of this car. The headlining is in good order, with no signs of dampness. The door cards are lightly worn but are in excellent condition. The carpets both in the interior and boot are in good condition, with signs of wear but are bone dry.
Another well-known fact is the Mk2 reputation for their fearful rust, and the giveaway areas are easy to spot from the outside, however, this one is in excellent order with very minor evidence of surface rust blemishes - which seems to be limited to the outside of the boot edge. The doors hang well, the panel gaps are as true as you would hope - all good news suggesting that there is a lot of original metal on this car. All the chrome parts, which is a dominant feature of the car's appearance is in excellent condition, with the resplendent grill and bumpers contrasting well with the excellent finishing of the paint. The tyres are well above the legit limit and have the original-hard-to-find hubcaps. The door rubbers, glass and door trims are in good condition, all doors have a reassuring 'thunk' when you close them.
The V8 engine itself was known for its smoothness, and with 140bhp on tap, was quicker than the smaller Jaguar engines, but looked less impressive compared to the bigger sixes. This could be attributed to the V8 power being sapped by the Borg-Warner Type 35 automatic transmission, perhaps appealing to the more refined customer who was happier cruising on the newly built Motorways rather than robbing banks. The later Daimler 250 V8 was available with a manual gearbox with Overdrive. As to be expected for an engine that has been rebuilt, there's nothing to worry about when it comes to the potential known issues like warped heads and lumpy running. The engine on start-up produces a luscious rumble, with no signs of excessive smoke. It is quite simply, a refined, capable and satisfying engine with a subtly different character to the raucous Jaguar engines. A quick check under her skirt paints a picture of solidity and any previous problems with rust (the areas around the jacking points have been renewed) have been banished. A very solid base.
The instinct when looking for a classic 60’s executive car is to start to search the listings for a 60’s Jaguar, yet the Daimler V8 is a far better car if you’d rather cruise - which is generally a key reason to buy a classic Jaguar these days.
Finding a British V8 car these days can be an expensive proposition, yet the combination of the durable and flexible power plant mated up to a comfortable car with a well-crafted interior makes the Daimler an obvious choice. They can be comparatively economical for a ‘60s V8 and as to be expected, service items are easy to obtain. It has lived under the shadow of the MK2, which is reflected in the values of the 3.8 models - this is likely to be due to the shared engine heritage with the Jaguar E-Type, but one wonders had the E-type been installed with the Daimler V8 would it still be the underdog?
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sales of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the sellers discretion.
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1966 Daimler V8
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