Daimler DB18 Hooper Empress Sports Saloon

The Daimler DB18 was launched in 1939 with a 2.5-litre overhead-valve six-cylinder engine and was essentially a development of the earlier Daimler New Fifteen. Built on a cruciform-braced chassis with an underslung worm-drive axle and independent front suspension, it had beautifully light worm and roller steering and Girling mechanical brakes. Transmission was by Daimler’s traditional pre-selector gearbox allied to a fluid flywheel. The standard saloon had coachwork by Mulliners of Birmingham but drophead bodies by Charlesworth, Abbott and Tickford were also available.

In 1948 a more powerful Super Sports model was launched with twin carburettors, an alloy cylinder head and various other engine tweaks that raised power from 70 to 85bhp. Improved brakes, a modified chassis and overdrive top gear were also added while the all-aluminium coachwork was predominantly in a swooping drophead style by Barkers.

However, 97 of the Super Sports chassis were dispatched to Hooper to be bodied in the elegant razor-edged Empress coachwork you see here – a body style that was so well received by the aristocracy that it went on to adorn several Rolls-Royce and Bentley models. Luxuriously trimmed inside, the Empress cost a hefty £3,450 in 1950, compared to £2,103 for the Barker drophead and £1,624 for the standard Consort saloon. Just 24 examples are thought to survive today.

First registered in January 1952, this particular Empress has a known history virtually from new and is in fine and largely original condition throughout. Last year the car was treated to a bare metal repaint (recorded in photographs) which revealed no evidence of any filler in the aluminium coachwork nor any degradation in the ash frame. The cream leather interior is believed to be totally original and is also in fine condition along with the woodwork, carpets and other finishings. Mechanically the car is also in fine fettle and recently completed a 130 mile trip with no problems whatsoever. It certainly fired up readily and sounded wonderfully smooth and quiet on the occasion of our visit to take these photographs.

The car comes with a large amount of history including many bills from 1989 onwards and 21 old MOT certificates back to 1988 (at 59,849 miles) to show regular light use (it is now showing around 70,000 miles on the clock). There are also various bills from the period 1956 – 59 when the car was owned by a Mr AT Buckle of Cheshunt. There is also a letter on file from the wife of a previous owner, John Cochran, who had owned the car in the mid-1980s when it was described as being in “immaculate condition” and stating that it had originally belonged to a Lady Illiffe in the 1950s. Dennis Mynard of Milton Keynes owned the car from 1989 to 1993 when it was acquired by Brian Smith of Romford (Historian of the Daimler & Lanchester Owners’ Club). He was to keep it until 2003 when it was acquired by Reginald Binet of Colchester in whose name it has remained to this day. It also comes with much technical literature relating to the model and a copy of an original owner’s handbook.

In October 1993 the car was the subject of a lengthy article in Classic & Sportscar magazine along with three other DB18 models. Concerning LRU 457, Jon Pressnell had this to say: “The Empress is very much the Grand Dowager of the series… Exploring the interior should be done slowly: it’s a delicious uncovering of the coachbuilder’s delights which demands to be savoured. These range from quick-release window levers (lovely!) to a third sunvisor above the driver’s door, from dinky elasticated map pockets to matching walnut-trimmed vanity units in the rear quarters: a lift-out mirror on one side for milady, and a cigar lighter the other for milord. There are walnut veneer picnic tables, of course, but discreetly covered with leather on their outer face… It’s a wonderful environment with big gentleman’s club seats.”

Of the driving experience he wrote: “What’s so refreshing is that the Empress doesn’t feel like a floundering hippo… It doesn’t keel over on bends and the steering is beautifully fluid – and not heavy when manoeuvring. The brakes are fine, too, with plenty of bite… Even the gearchange is smooth and progressive. Cruising along at 65-70mph is a therapeutically tranquil experience.”