Daimler 15/Bentley Speed Six Special

History

First registered in May 1934, this car started out in life as a Daimler 15 saloon. By the time the current vendor acquired it in 2001, it was just a rolling chassis but came with a large quantity of spares and a fair amount of history. The owner's intention was to turn it into a special and to this end he managed to acquire a very attractive four-seat open tourer body which is said to have come from a Bentley Speed Six that had formerly lived in India. The body is in very good condition with sturdy mahogany running boards and a teak deck to the rear.

The paperwork with the car includes a modern V5C, a continuation buff log book from 1935, some old MOTs from 1962 and 1970 and some bills from the 1950s. There is also a Daimler 15 maintenance manual and an instruction manual.

Spare Daimler 15 parts include: complete bonnet; pair of front wings; many engine parts; spare crankshaft; manifold; preselector gearbox; dynamos; starters; brake drums; springs; five servo units; differential; steering column; axle; propshaft; brand new half shafts; complete dashboard with all instruments; spare headlamps and sidelights. There are also four spare road wheels which have been newly renovated and powder coated.

Although the engine was last running in the 1990s, it is still thought to be good, as is the pre-selector gearbox. At present the bodywork is only loosely mounted on the chassis and could easily be removed if desired. After six years of ownership, the vendor has reluctantly come to the conclusion that he will never find time to complete the project and would now like it to go to someone who will be able to give it the attention that it so richly deserves.