Description
Daimler 250 - V8 2. 5l
Build October 1967, First registered January 1968
On the road and enjoyed - about 2000 miles this summer.
'Burble' is one of just 700 Jaguar-Daimler V8 small-saloons built with Manual Transmission + Overdrive, of which it is thought that just 45 now survive. And it is the Daimler V8's whose prices are discretely moving upwards to fall more in line with those of the Mk2 Jaguars.
Previously unrestored, aside from two front wings and one sill, and then resprayed from silver-grey to black .. many years ago, she's a little shabby in dress but still elegant and yet surprisingly spritely. The small block V8 mid-cam, short pushrod 2. 5 litre claims just 140-bhp but delivers it smoothly and with oodles of torque.
Having covered just 91, 000 miles since new, 57 years ago, she is running well. Little used last year, we've driven about 2000 miles in her this year.
As ongoing rolling improvements, I've sort a number of mechanical and electrical issues, brakes, cooling & heating, etc., and started work on refurbishing the interior. In essence, to leisurely recommission & maintain the car so it as to be reliable, well handling, safe and comfortable.
Jobs I've done, over the past 21 months, include :
• Fed the leather seats, which are crimson in colour, in nice condition with fine patina. These seats have adjustable backrests
• Correcting the hand-brake adjustment and rebuilding the brake servo.
• Replaced the diaphragms in the carburettors. The carbs are in great condition and now correctly adjusted have all spark plugs showing an even straw colour.
• Replace the radiator, for New - old stock
• Replace the heater matrix - new.
• Oil change and filter (July 2025), including dropping the sump to clean it out. Replace the cork seals with Viton. Replace the three middle main bearings (standard size) & thrust bearings (std. size).
• Replace the front suspension's sub-frame rubber mounts.
• I've also swapped the throttle pedal for a pendulum one, as I didn't get on with the original treadle type. This gives much easier / better pedal control.
• And I've custom-made a front valance panel. This was never standard on either the Jaguar or Daimler small salons, but I feel it looks better .. particularly on the later face-lift slim-bumpered cars, having that under-bumper-void filled with a nicely shaped panel (.. it's not a spoiler / air dam)
A prior owner had - mostly four years ago, in 2021 ;
• Re-commissioned the car after years of sitting unused, including fitted new tyres
• Fitted points-less ignition.
• Replaced the clutch.
• Replaced the jacking points.
General condition ;
She is mostly original and not rotten, and as you can see - still on the road. The paintwork (with shinkage cracks) is actually not so bad, and I find it's somewhat refreshing to see an honest car. Naturally after 57 years there's places which will (sometime !) need attention, in particular around the rear bumper's valance panel. The Front end of the car appears to be very solid, with excellent front wings, good crows-feet and grille surround. Jacking points and floors and sills all appear to be very good.
In Conclusion :
She's an elegant Jaguar Mk2-Daimler, with its superb engine, gearbox + overdrive specification, which may be thoroughly enjoyed as she is or else as an ongoing rolling restoration to bring her up to show standards.
Edward Turner's small-block V8 in the Jaguar Mk2 body shell really does make for a beautiful classic and a great driver's car. The Daimler is a quality motorcar .. and then, the V8 engine is a short block and a hundred pounds lighter in weight than the Jaguar straight-six. As consequence she's considered better balanced in handling and steering.
Thankfully, it is the Daimler V8's whose prices are discretely moving upwards to fall more in line with those of the Mk2 Jaguars.
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