Registration - FRR 38C

Chassis No. - PA8710BW

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - 63,500

The vendor describes this lovely-looking automatic Daimler as ‘a very sound, fully original example’. It has apparently had just four owners in its 56 years and currently displays a mere 63,500 credible miles from new, and the vendor presently views the bodywork, maroon paintwork, beige interior trim, V8 engine and three-speed automatic transmission as all being in ‘good’ condition. The brightwork appears to be in equally fine order and the car rides on chrome wire wheels. ‘FRR 38C’ has apparently benefited from the attentions of both the vendor and a professional engineer, and is now being offered complete with a period push-button radio and chrome badge bar, plus its original sales brochure and purchase invoice, workshop manual etc.

The Daimler V8-250 was a derivative of the all-conquering MKII Jaguar saloon. It took its name from the engine that powered it – a lightweight, eight-cylinder unit of 2548cc designed by Edward Turner; the aluminium hemispherical cylinder heads of which closely resembled those of the Triumph motorcycle engine which had already made him famous.

Turner’s silky smooth V8 was first seen in the Daimler SP250 launched in 1959. Following the merger between Jaguar and Daimler the following year, the new company decided the V8 was the perfect basis for an upmarket version of the MKII Jaguar. Being more powerful than Jaguar’s own 2.4-litre straight-six engine, the V8 endowed the saloon with greater performance, and being lighter it resulted in less weight over the car’s front wheels, and therefore arguably superior handling and more nimble steering. The V8-250 continued in manufacture until production of all MKII derivatives ceased in 1969, by which time some 17,620 of the Daimler version had been made.

In summary:

• A lovely-looking example of a favourite British classic
• Just 4 owners and 63,500 credible miles from new
• Apparently very sound and original