Daimler DS420 Limousine

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Perhaps the most well-known British limousine of all time, the Daimler DS420 first appeared in 1968 and remained in production substantially unaltered for nearly 25 years.

No royal wedding or state occasion would be complete without a long line of these stately cars quietly wafting the bigwigs up to the red carpet. Introduced as a direct replacement for the Daimler Majestic Major in 1968, the DS420 also superseded the 4-litre Vanden Plas Austin Princess and was the last vehicle to use the classic twin cam Jaguar straight-six 4.2-litre XK engine. All models had automatic gearboxes, independent suspension and power steering.

They were hand-built around the already massive Jaguar 420G platform, but extended a further 21ins to maximise the imposing effect the designers had in mind. You don’t turn up in a car like this, you arrive. In the back seat, of course. The driver benefitted very little from all of this space, while the rear passengers had more than they knew what to do with, luxuriating on a leather sofa over six feet wide. Up to eight passengers could be accommodated but to put the V on IP you would ideally step out with a model, not a mob.

By the time of its demise in 1992, over 4,100 had been produced, initially at the Vanden Plas works in North London, with production moving to the Jaguar plant at Coventry from 1979. Official State cars the world over, they also found favour as funeral and wedding transport and offered dignified, reliable service for half the price of a Phantom VI Rolls Royce.

First registered in November 1983, this DS420 has had just three owners from new, the last since 2009, and has covered only around 64,000 miles (warranted). Old English White with a black vinyl bench seat for the chauffeur in the front and smart blue/grey leather for the VIPs in the rear, it has a glass privacy divide and two fold-away rear seats so it can accommodate five passengers with ease and a couple more at a squeeze.

Said to be in very good order throughout and to drive well with an MOT until June 2016, this few-owners low-mileage aristocrat is ready for work and no doubt has great earning potential as a luxury wedding or prom hire limousine. It also comes with a nice ageless private plate, DUI 9116.