One summer evening on the way home from work, amongst the peak hour traffic exiting a freeway off-ramp I saw an old white sports car that was easy to identify as a Daimler.
Here is what it looks like from the front; one of the more controversially-styled cars there is. I quite like it though, it is distinctive and the flowing wheel arches have a purposeful flared aspect. I think the style could be adapted to a modern sports car, with some updating such as more integrated headlights.
In one sense, it reminds me of the first generation BMW Z4, with sculpted sides and an awkward headlight-grille relationship.
Just 2,648 SP250’s were built over 5 years and 3 distinct series.
The Dart or SP250 as it was known in the US (Chrysler already had the Dart name there) had a step-brother model when the V8 was dropped into the Jaguar Mark II body to replace the smaller Daimler models after the firm was taken over by Jaguar.
Edward Turner, who designed the classic Triumph motorcycle engines, designed the two new Daimler hemi-head pushrod V8 engines. The smaller one, a 2.5 liter as used in the SP250, was rated at 140 hp @5800 rpm. To hear it, you would not pick that it is half the size of a ‘normal’ V8.
This is a photo of the larger 4.5-litre version, which was effectively a scaled-up version of the 2.5. This was trialled in the Mark X Jaguar, and I think would have been a great option for a Daimler version of the E-Type – as if Jaguar would have let that happen! Note the typical British twin-SU carburation, but the air cleaner is likely not standard. The engine was rated at 220 bhp @ 5,500 rpm. This was regarded as conservative and for good reason; Daimler’s old engine dynamometer would only read up to 220 bhp!
This is the Daimler Majestic Major that featured the 4.5 L V8, note the “V” insignias on the horn grilles inboard of the headlights. The car also shares separate side/parking lights above the headlights with the Dart. Just 1180 Majestic Majors were built, plus another 864 of the 24″ longer DR450 limousine.
I was only able to get one more photo before it was swallowed up by the vehicles around me, but I was definitely left with a feeling that I’d rather be driving the Dart and listening to its fantastic burbling V8!
I think the 220 hp is the figure for the 4.5L unit. It was in any case a better unit than Jaguar’s own archaic XK six and hence was stupidly killed.
I doubt it was as rugged and reliable as the XK. Turner’s engines weren’t exactly famous for that. The XK was quite bullet-proof.
Oh, all they need is getting rid of the chrome, decent wheels and rubber and a slight lowering and then they look very nice (see more about the car here: http://www.britishracecar.com/LarryLigas-Daimler-SP250.htm):
They also needed a gearbox the unit used was far too small and brittle, or so I was told by the owner of this naked example.
I always wondered why the Brits went with those awkward sidedraft carb setups on their V-8s. Was there no one in Britain that could supply a 2V or 4V downdraft card?
Not in the American way, no.
Other than the Ford Pilot V8 and Rolls-Royce/Bentley, the Daimler V8 was the first production V8 in Britain. I dare say it was easier to use existing, familiar equipment rather than new, expensive (low-volume) parts.
Edsel-class ugly on the outside, but the engine compartment is elegant. Reminds me of the ‘wiring discipline’ needed in UHF electronics. Everything as short and straight as possible, everything properly contained and shielded.
there were vertical su’s but much lower bonnet lines than US cars precluded their use.I have never found them awkward ,As for the Daimler engines well they were designed by Edward Turner of Triumph motorcycle fame,,,,they were not really reliable and complex and awkward to service,and very dear to make.The mk.2 variant used up the stock then vanished,For the limo the4.2 xk was used to the huge relief of the hire trade.
My book lists 140hp for the 2.5 V8 but what a great car. Not for challenging Porsches or Alfas on the track but for a spirited drive in the country with a pretty girl and a melodious soundtrack provided by the tiny V8.
He was referring to the larger 4.5 L version. I’ve amended the text for clarification.
These are fascinating to look at. It is one of those designs where individual pieces taken on their own are quite attractive. Put it all together and . . . yeah.
Definitely a “what were they thinking” in terms of styling, but nice to see one out on the road being used as it should.
Great catch John. Quite possibly the fugliest car to come out of Britain. William Lyons killed both V8s as well as the proposed SP250 update.
Its predecessor, the Conquest Roadster, wasn’t much better, if at all. But that prototype, which I’ve not seen, sure is an improvement.
Killed so as not to compete with the E-type, apparently.
That is rather sleek and lovely.
Call me crazy, but I really like the styling on these. It’s a little bit of a mixed message, I suppose, but somehow I just feel like it works. Comparatively speaking, just to use the example cited in the post, it’s sure as hell a better looking car than any of the BMW z-series roadsters, as far as I’m concerned. It’s “Of Its Time” in the same way that the Z3 was. Ironically, the Daimler looks a bit like an evolutionary creature that just crawled out of the muck, just about as much as the original Z3 looked like a bizarre cross between a pig and a fish. To each his own, I guess.
The Daimler does look like some sort of sad fish from the front, but I agree it has a certain charm. Just speaking personally I’d prefer the Daimler to the Z4, which never quite worked for me.
Beautiful or not the Majestic Major was good for 130mph in standard form Jaguar didnt use the engines because it made the XK six look a bit slow.
this quoted top speed on the Daimlers was not matched by the dynamics.The Jags would run rings around them on A +B roads.They were grand cars for posh town work .They were not mourned by the hire firms or anyone seeking to earn a crust.
I wonder how far back the Daimler chassis could trace its roots? Possibly even pre-war, with minor changes along the way?
The Daimler company was very well tooled up It was almost a bespoke outfit.Each car was quite individual.Total production of every Daimler UK is hard to find but it is probably about 100,000.They were not like Detroit .
Unfortunately, the 4.5 V8 Mk10 Jaguar prototype ran rings around the XK powered version of same. When I had my 420G, my mechanic was fitting a V12 into his Mk10, but I’ve always wondered whether the 4.5 might make for a better Q-car.
The 3.8 jag was about 265 hp the 4,2 280 more poweful and lighter than the Daimler.I can find no reference to a Daimler Mk X I am not sure it would fit .
found the ref on ARO .The comparisons are with a fully trimmed car.The mule was bare and As for fitting easily.I think some of Daimler’s resentment of the loss of independence comes out here.They felt they should have been senior partners.The bus division faced extinction the military orders had dried up..what saved the name was Lyons’ decision to proceed with the Fleetline and badge it as a Daimler not a Guy.
Thanks for that John. Had known about the mule but you’ve filled some gaps for me. My 420G never felt lacking for power.
We had a red SP living in our SW London street for several years about a decade ago. I think the same owner also ran a Riley Elf, so he had a fondness for lost causes.
The Daimler looks a lot better in the flesh than it does in photos. Sure, it’s a little unusual, but it has real presence and a nice stance too. Bill Lyons had a major attack of “not invented here” after he bought Daimler in 1960.
There was an optional chrome front bumper available for the Dart, which made it look really really ugly.
I’m with MTN, I like the styling. Kind of like the Sabra Sport. The tiny V8 is interesting, it must sound great.
MK2 Daimler Jags are still reasonably common in NZ there are several around here in daily use they sound and go great, Darts are quite rare I think there was six at the show where I shot that bare chassis and a couple here in Napier that Ive seen on the road, they just sound like a V8.
CC effect. Saw a gold 2.5 Mk2 the other day. Engine sounded great. Too dark to shoot but.
I can remember when these first made it state-side, must have been around ’63. They were panned for their “carp-like” front end but the V8 was widely praised. They sound very distinctive – even at 2.5 litres, they sound stouter than a small block Chevy or Ford. A 289 K-Code may be closest.
Front and rear, the styling is a fisherman’s dream. The 30’s fender outlines pressed into the fenders and 1/4 panels are an interesting touch. The Hemi V8 under the hood more then makes up for the “unique” shape. Finding one in everyday traffic is a amazing find!
The original ’60s Sunbeam Alpines did a much better job of those fins. Much like the updated & (sadly) never-produced SP250.
Happy Motoring, Mark
No one has mentioned that the body is “glass-fibre”. The transmission was some version of Triumph TR3/4, as [I think] was the rear axle.
In the spirit of Mr Slick, of the recent Ford F-250 fame, wasn’t the left-hand-drive version an SP251?
Mr Slick… Hehehehehehehehehe