Description
THE HISTORY SO FAR:
When you’re buying a car of this age and stature, the most reassuring possible scenario is to learn that it’s been looked after throughout its life by owners who really care about it. And that’s very much the case with this Jaguar. So here we have for sale, our Daimler V8 250 saloon in OEW with burr walnut wood and a red leather interior.
Over the course of my ownership, I have kept the car active and gradually improved it, as and when time and money has allowed, with the most recent improvement being a partial (below waist respray in its original OEW.
Nowadays, however, the Jaguar isn’t getting used as much as it once was. We have owned our Daimler for 9 years. The present mileage is 61, 779 from new. With the paint job and associated works having taken a couple of years, the absence has led me to think that I have had my fun with the Mark 2, and it’s time to move on to something else. So, with everything fixed and attended to, it’s now time for a new keeper to enjoy the fruits of my labours.
Originally supplied new by Rippon Bros of Harrowgate and Leeds, the car has a comprehensive history file covering its rebuild and part restoration. This V8 saloon is equipped with factory power steering and automatic transmission, making for a very relaxed drive.
It’s been thoroughly serviced (all oils and coolant, plugs, etc) and I’ve recommissioned age-related parts myself, such as and when needed - the list goes on. The car starts on the button and drives well. The V8 engine sounds great and is in good condition.
Adding to this, the car retains its original colour and beautifully aged original red leather upholstery. This would be an ideal car to add to your collection or as your first classic car. It has the perfect combination of background and condition, with originality retained wherever possible.
THE EXTERIOR
As you can see from the photographs, this really is a beautifully presented Daimler Jaguar. Indeed, as I was taking these images of the car, people who were passing stopped to remark how splendid it looked. And this beauty isn’t just skin-deep – the extensive restoration works this car has received mean that it’s incredibly straight and solid underneath, the underside of the car has been undersealed numerous times and looks magnificent, with the car never having spent a night under the stars.
The body is really rather special too, with the fresh paint shining like the proverbial new pin. The body panels all sit where they should with even gaps, and the doors close with pleasing surety. All of the glass and window seals are excellent, every correct piece of chrome is present, while also retaining just a very gentle smidge of patina. The taillights have the ever-present rust pimples, but the wire wheels are in excellent condition, and the tyres are the correct-size Pirelli Cinturato radials, which have evidently seen very little use.
There are some areas of imperfection, or, otherwise known as patina, upon the brightwork (rear light and bumpers); however, they will shine up and wear their age well. The cabin's glass and brightwork present excellently, and the car sits on new, chromed wire wheels. The wheels are affixed with Daimler embossed central spinners. There is also the original steel painted wheels with chrome trim.
THE INTERIOR
The interior of the Daimler Jaguar is a wonderful place to be, and this one is no exception. In fact, I would go as far as to say that this is exactly how you’d want your Daimler to be presented: the original leather seats are showing a little patina, but as the old saying goes, ‘they’re only original once’.
The burr walnut wood trim has all been stripped, repaired where necessary and then re-lacquered with numerous coats before being polished.
The upholstery was cleaned and treated to new colouring and finishing. The inner floors were cleaned, primed and painted before new soundproofing was fitted. A full new carpet set was fitted as were new Furflex, door rubbers and seals and the boot was fully trimmed and edged with a red carpet to match the interior.
All of the doors are secure as they should be, with all windows being operational. The door cards are finished in the red faux, soft-textured leather of the period. Chrome furniture adorns the door cards, including obligatory ashtrays in the rear.
The dashboard was removed and all interior woodwork re-lacquered and re-fitted. The said dashboard is peppered with white on black Smiths gauges and dials, and they all work. A number of toggle switches and buttons take care of the other functions. The steering wheel is in very good condition, with both the carpets and headlining being brand new. (old carpets are stored and can go with the car).
The wide front seats fill the entire width of the car, creating an effect. These seats are bolstered and feature box-pleated centre panels with twin, fold-down centre armrest. THE APPEAL:
This is one of the all-time classic body profiles; there’s no doubt about that. For many enthusiasts, the Mark 2 Daimler Jaguar is the archetypal classic British car. But as an ownership proposition in 2024, it actually feels surprisingly modern. Naturally, it has that classic 1960s feel when you’re surrounded by such period-perfect luxury, the large steering wheel marshalling the endearing body roll as you drink in the multi-sensory splendour of it all… but with disc brakes, power steering, and that automatic gearbox, this makes for a superb contemporary cruiser.
Forget all of that cops ‘n’ robbers’ bluster, this is a very civilised formula indeed. And with such care and attention to getting the condition and the specs absolutely spot on – and with it all provable with the paperwork – you will find a better example than this car; however, it will be at a much more exorbitant price than this. ‘Grace, pace and space’ indeed.
THE PAPERWORK:
There is a very large and impressive file of documentation accompanying this car. As well as the original operating, maintenance and service manual. This car has a whole folder of paperwork to prove everything that’s been done to the Daimler Jaguar. Most significantly, there is an official Heritage Certificate, confirming that the car was built on 14th February 1964, and distributed by Daimler Distributors Leeds, sold by Rippon Brothers, Britain’s oldest coachbuilder, dating back to Elizabeth I
THE MECHANICALS:
The car starts on the first turn of the key, idles evenly, pulls strongly through the gears with no smoke, and makes the trademark Jaguar V8 noises which so endear them to enthusiasts.
Daimler Jag mechanicals are pretty bulletproof, and it’s very reassuring to note that this venerable 2. 5-litre unit was rebuilt in the 2020s. Since that rebuild, it has enjoyed gentle miles and has recently received a full and thorough servicing.
This car is equipped with an automatic transmission. The ’box shifts cleanly and smoothly, changing up and down when it should. I can report no issues with the suspension or the steering, with everything working as it should, and the all-round disc brakes have recently had new pads.
The V5 confirms that there have been eight former keepers, and there are recent receipts documenting impressively deep-dive work: very recently, the engine and gearbox have had a full rebuild.
The engine was removed from the Daimler and stripped down by a Jaguar-trained engineering specialist local to me.
The 2. 5-litre hemi-head V8 has been thoroughly rebuilt.
The crank was re-ground and checked for size and straightness, which only required the journals to be micro-polished.
The bores were checked and honed for correct piston clearance.
The engine was treated to a new set of main and big end bearings, pistons and rods cleaned and the block reassembled with all new bearings, piston rings, rope seals, rubbers, gaskets and lastly, fitted with a new timing chain.
Cylinder heads were stripped and re-faced and lapped, valves and seats re-faced and lapped. Rocker shafts overhauled. The head was reassembled with new gaskets, nuts and some studs.
The carburettors were rebuilt and refitted.
An automatic transmission specialist rebuilt the gearbox, with a new torque converter, clutch bands, bearings and seals with upgraded new oil cooler pipes.
Further mechanical work included new bushes, steering swivels, wheel bearings and new rear springs and shocks were also fitted.
The braking system was overhauled with new brake discs and pads.
A modern radiator core was fitted, and also a new heater matrix, all new coolant hoses and a new fuel tank and pipes were fitted.
It also had new gearbox mounts, Panhard rod bushes, a rebuilt clutch master cylinder and new steering column bushes.
The oil gallery plugs were removed, and all the sludge was removed. It’s amazing how much dirt and gunk can accumulate in such a small space. Although the plugs can be difficult to replace its easy to see why it just has to be done.
All ancillaries, including heads and manifolds, were media blasted.
The block re-honed and the waterways chemically cleaned.
There’s also a sizeable sheaf of receipts and invoices detailing all of the work that’s been carried out for decades, as well as printed A4 photographs of the full restoration the car received from me in the 2020s.
The car benefits from electronic ignition and has been changed to negative earth polarity.
It is not a 20k+ car to give an honest description and not a show winner so please do not expect perfection.
Having said that it does look really nice and is a pleas to polish up. Structurally the car is solid. I had it MOT’d every year I have had the car, and it has done very few miles since the mechanical rebuild. It is MOT exempt and road tax free.
I also have a set of used steel wheels, which can come with the car if the buyer wishes.
