Daimler 2.5-litre V8 Manual

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When Jaguar acquired Daimler in 1960 they inherited one of the greatest post-war engines ever made, the lightweight aluminium-blocked 2-5-litre V8 engine that Edward Turner had recently designed for the slightly ‘off-piste’ Daimler Dart.

Jaguar soon worked out that this new engine would fit nicely into their MkII body shell and had the bonus of being more powerful and significantly lighter than the entry level 2.4-litre XK units already on offer, adding a wonderful burbling V8 soundtrack into the bargain.

Turner was already famous for his brilliant motorcycle engine designs, the new Daimler sharing at least eight moving parts with the Triumph T-120 Bonneville motor which had come from the same drawing board. The new V8 used heavily domed motorcycle pistons to achieve its excellent gas-flow characteristics and a high compression ratio which contributed to its high specific output per litre.

A Daimler fluted grille and rear number plate surround, special wheel trims, badges and interior details distinguished the Daimler from its Jaguar cousin and it was only available with a three-speed Borg Warner automatic gearbox until February 1967 when a manual, or manual with overdrive, became an option, although these were very rarely specified.

According to the Registrar of the active and extremely helpful Daimler Lanchester Owners Club, the factory either never accurately recorded the number of manuals made or the records got lost. Their investigations however led them to believe that some 187 RHD 2.5 V8s were made with manual gearboxes, a very low percentage of the overall output, making this 1967 car a very rare beast indeed.

Purchased by the vendor in 1973 as a crash damaged vehicle, it had covered a mere 37,800 miles before the accident occurred. A major front end shunt had taken out the front offside wing, inner wing, chassis leg and front member and valence. It had also impacted the nearside wing which remains damaged for all to see.

Work was soon started, with a replacement front wing, partial inner wing, chassis leg, front panel and valence being offered into place, after which work stopped and the car was put in a lock-up garage where it remained until its move to dry storage in Leominster. As a consequence, although damaged, the car was virtually rust-free when taken off the road and the majority of the bodywork remains in excellent shape.

In a twist of fate, the repair panels used came from a Jaguar, the chassis number for that car showing on the flitch plate under the bonnet in place of the original panels which were sadly ditched in the early ‘70s. Partly dismantled, the car is believed complete, although the vendor could not readily locate the steering column at the time of cataloguing.

The engine is free to turn and the car was damaged sufficiently long ago not to appear on any insurance register. Bidders are advised that the registration number YAR 222F is no longer recognised by the DVLA although it retains the original chassis plate in the engine compartment and the car comes with its correct continuation buff logbook proving it is what it says.

What is now required is for a Jaguar/Daimler specialist to undo the rudimentary repair and start from scratch, a well worthwhile task given the overall condition of the car in general and the extreme rarity of the model.

The vendor wishes to make it clear that as the replacement chassis leg and panelwork have only been offered up for trial fit purposes, the vehicle is not in a safe condition to simply be put back on the road as it is and will require careful handling when loading and unloading during transport. Offered at no reserve, this rare car has enormous potential, the highest bidder on the day taking it home.