• Immaculate bodywork and interior • Lightweight but powerful, rebuilt V8 engine • One of the finest sports saloons of the 1960s
The Background
The Daimler 2.5 V8/V8-250 was produced by Daimler in the UK between 1962 and 1969. It was the first Daimler car to be built on a Jaguar platform, and the last to use a Daimler engine – the Edward Turner-designed lightweight V8 first used in the SP250 sports car.
The original Daimler 2.5 V8 was a four-door saloon built in Coventry. Launched in 1962, it was in essence a rebadged Jaguar MkII fitted with Daimler’s 2.5-litre engine and drivetrain, and with some slight styling modifications: a Daimler fluted grille and rear number plate surround, and distinctive wheel trims and badges. There were minor interior differences as well.
More refined than the equivalent Jaguar, the Daimler turned out to be a fine performer to boot, its 110 mph top speed exceeding that of an overdrive-equipped, 2.4-litre MkII by a wide margin. Not surprisingly, the V8 was soon outselling its Jaguar rival and in due course became the most successful Daimler of all time, with more than 17,600 sold up to the end of production in 1969.
In 1967 the car was given a facelift and renamed the V8-250, with a few differences, such as ‘slimline’ bumpers and overriders, a negative-earth wiring system, an alternator instead of a dynamo and twin air-cleaners. Interior changes included padding over the instrument panel, ventilated leather upholstery and a reclinable split-bench front seat, plus a heated rear window.
Aside from the more powerful engine, the V8-250 was essentially a more luxurious Jaguar 240. Historically Daimler had always been a luxury brand and the V8-250 was aimed at the ‘executive’ market.
In 1968 Jaguar replaced its saloon range with the XJ6, and the following year the XJ6-based Daimler Sovereign replaced the V8-250 and the 420 Sovereign. Subsequently all Daimlers were rebadged Jaguars, with no links to the pre-1960 Daimler cars.
Manufactured in 1968, this car is believed to have been sold new to Jersey before being returned to the UK in 1971. This would explain why the V5 states the date of first registration as October 1971.
It was acquired by the current owner in 2005 and then subject to a lengthy and comprehensive bare-metal restoration at Classic Restorations in Alyth, Scotland. The car comes with a history folder full of receipts for this, from 2005 to 2012, totalling around £100,000.
The engine although not original, was subsequently rebuilt by Russ Carpenter in Guildford and the gearbox has also been refurbished.
The owner has taken particular care to refurbish original components wherever possible, rather than replacing them with more modern equivalents. Hence BPP 399 K is a remarkably original-looking car despite the major restoration.
A change in the owner’s personal circumstances has led to the decision to sell the car.
The car comes with a thick folder full of receipts for the restoration at Classic Restorations, which documents every stage of the work that was carried out from 2005 to 2012, and shows amounts spent close to £100,000. There are also numerous other receipts, including those for the engine rebuild.
There is also an original Daimler V8 service manual, plus a reproduction service manual and parts catalogue.
The car has an MoT certificate valid until May 2022.
The Exterior
The bodywork and paint of the car are in outstanding condition, a reflection of the costs of restoration and the care with which the car has been subsequently looked after. There are no visible blemishes or marks and no evidence of the rust which can occur in Daimlers/Jaguars of this era.
The brightwork is in similarly excellent condition, with only one tiny crack visible in the chrome of the rear numberplate surround.
The wheels are largely unmarked, the tyres have plenty of life left in them, and in the boot is a spare wheel and tyre in similar condition.
Underneath, the car appears to be in similarly first-class condition.
The red leather seats are largely original and the front seats in particular, while in extremely good condition, have a ‘patina’ that reflects the age of the car. When the car was restored only the base of the rear seat and the passenger side armrest were significantly refurbished, which accounts for the interior’s original looks.
The dashboard and instruments are all in outstanding condition and the owner assures us that all the switches and instruments all work as they should.
The carpets are all immaculate, as are the interior panels on all four doors.
When the current owner purchased the car in 2005 it had no radio, but he has taken the trouble to source and fit a suitable period radio, which works as it should.
The boot lining has some marks, but underneath it the floor and spare-wheel cover are in very good condition. Unusually, in the spare wheel compartment is the original toolbox, complete with Daimler-branded tools – a real rarity in cars of this age. There is also an original jack mounted in the boot.
The engine springs to life at first turn of the key, and idles with a healthy V8 ‘burble’. The owner assures us that the automatic transmission works smoothly and that BPP 399 K drives and handles as well as one would expect of a car that has been subject to such a high-end restoration – as well as the engine rebuild, the gearbox has been refurbished and an oil cooler fitted.
In the engine bay, everything is clean and well-ordered if not quite pristine, reflecting the fact that the vendor has driven the car.
When purchased in 2005, the car’s odometer showed 17,000 miles, which the owner believes may have been genuine but he is not able to verify this. The current odometer reading is 22,115.
The car has an MoT certificate valid until May 2022.
Jaguar’s principal motive in acquiring the Daimler Motor Company was to increase manufacturing capacity, and the fact that the purchase included Daimler’s fine V8 engines was almost incidental. Almost by accident, this led to the creation of the 2.5 V8/V8-250, long regarded as one of the finest sports saloons of the era.
BPP 399 K is clearly an outstanding example of this highly regarded car, and has been subject to a high-end restoration and subsequent careful ownership, such that it should provide many years of enjoyable and trouble-free motoring. The interior is a smart and comfortable driving environment, with a truly original feel that has been sympathetically retained despite the significant expenditure involved in the restoration.
With much of the running gear the same as the Jaguar MkII, parts and specialist support are readily available.
Widely considered a better car than the equivalent Jaguar MkII, thanks to that lightweight V8 engine, the V8-250 combines good looks with a serene driving experience. There are probably few better examples on the market than BPP 399K.
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. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale 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 seller's discretion.
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1968 Daimler V8-250
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