Description

1966 Daimler V8 250 saloon

SOLD £4,088

Interesting opportunity for cosmetic restoration with a lovely purr; recent £5,000 engine and mechanical overhaul; automatic with nicely patinated interior that offers an ideal opportunity

Launched in 1962, the Daimler 2.5-Litre V8 was one of the finest cars of its era being a more refined and luxurious version of the highly rated Jaguar MkII. Its crowning glory was the superb Ed Turner-designed all-alloy V8 that had made its debut in the Daimler Dart. This musical and muscular unit developed a silky smooth 140bhp and 155lb/ft of torque which gave the car a top speed of 115mph. Mated to a 3-speed automatic gearbox it endowed the compact Daimler with effortless flexibility that appealed to the marque’s more mature client base. It also had better handling than the MkII, the lightweight V8 giving more favourable weight distribution. It was quietly dropped from the Jaguar range in 1969 after some 17,600 examples had been sold, a real shame because it was a great car which was never properly replaced. This particular V8 automatic is finished in a subtle bronze with brown leather interior and was registered in March 1966. It comes to us with a good history comprising its V5C, nine old MOTs and old style log book showing four previous owners, the last being the company name of the current registered keeper. Invoices on file show the car had been stood for a number of years before being thoroughly recommissioned and then MOT’d through 2010 by Radlett Classic Cars of Borehamwood, Herts after its initial assessment in Autumn 2009. The works undertaken were considerable but include a full strip and rebuild of the brakes and braking system, strip of both cylinder heads to be refurbished and skimmed, new valve springs, gaskets etc after finding they were corroded around the water jacket inlets. These works and additional cost some £4390. The car returned again March 2013 for further works to the power steering and windscreen wiper assembly at a cost of £503.95. Other invoices on file date back to the late 90’s and include welding to the sills and jacking points and works to the exhaust. The history file also includes the car’s original service book with nine stamps, the first at 506 miles by Stratstone Ltd in March ’66, the last by Willets Ltd of Eastbourne in March 1980 at 13,279 miles. Look beyond the cosmetics and faded paint, focus instead on what’s already been done. The car started and ran as it should at the time of our rather wet visit, sounding very sweet. The bodywork and cosmetics could be tackled next but think of it as a great ‘use and improve’ example and go from there. For more information contact Will during normal working hours - 07951 709919