Highlights
- Exceedingly handsome mid-century roadster
- Well-presented following a full restoration
- In current ownership for over a decade
The Appeal
Sporting tailfins, extravagantly extended wheelarches and lashings of chrome, there’s something quintessentially American about the Daimler SP250. Its design is clearly from a bygone age, yet with four-wheel disc brakes and a 2.5-litre Hemi V8 engine, its mechanicals have held up remarkably well.
Well-preserved examples of this under-rated classic are increasingly rare, so the arrival to market of this carefully preserved 1960 Dart is bound to attract attention – much like the car itself. A snug cabin sits below a well-fitting replacement canvas roof with three plastic windows at the back, while the black leather seats feature white piping and show few signs of wear. The painted wire wheels are particularly impressive given their intricate design, with gleaming caps whose polished chromework matches the front grille, bumper, headlight surrounds and wiper arms.
Many components have been diligently replaced, including the roof and the stainless exhaust system, each of which cost around £1,000. Their renewal was recorded as part of a detailed vehicle history which shows just three registered keepers since the 1970s, and a collection of paperwork stretching back to the early 1990s. This particular Dart has had the same owner for over a decade, representing a rare opportunity to acquire a lovingly maintained post-war classic.
The History and Paperwork
- Three owners since 1979; one since 2015
- Comprehensively resprayed around 2010
- Photographic evidence of its restoration
- Full engine rebuild a few thousand miles ago
The Condition
- Clean engine bay with no signs of corrosion
- Replacement canvas soft-top fits snugly
- Chromework and paint in excellent order
- No rips or tears across the leather seats
- Resprayed in Jaguar Opalescent Grey metallic paint
The current owner describes this Dart as being in “superb condition throughout”, which is partly attributable to a bare bones respray completed around 15 years ago. This achieved a very high standard of (Jaguar) paintwork which still looks good today. The interior is more original, with a huge three-spoke steering wheel ahead of a six-dial dash including period toggle switches. The carpets and leather are in very good condition considering the car’s vintage, though both door pockets would benefit from attention.
The Mechanics
- 2.5-litre Hemi V8 engine and four-speed manual gearbox
- Fuel, oil and voltage gauges all working
- Replacement exhaust, fan and brakes
- Engine rebuild around 4,000 miles ago
This is not a factory-original example of a Dart, but instead a progressively maintained car. Mechanical upgrades have included a stainless exhaust, Kenlow fan and servo-assisted brakes. The engine was comprehensively rebuilt four thousand miles ago at a cost of almost £5,000, with a lengthy list of new components including pistons, bearings and clutch assembly alongside a reground crankshaft.
