We have another question for you this month. Do you recognise the 1960s Classic Car shown in the photograph?
You probably said that is easy, as it is the car made famous by TV Police detective Inspector Morse, the Mark II Jaguar. Well, you are almost right, as the photograph shows the Jaguar`s luxurious and much rarer stablemate, the Daimler V8 250.
This particular beautiful example, which dates from 1968, has just been imported to Cyprus by its owners Phil and Sarah Marrows, and is the PCVC Classic of the Month for August.
The Daimler Motor Company Ltd. were one of the oldest motor vehicle manufacturers having produced their first car in 1896. They constructed the first automotive factory in Britain, in Coventry, in the Midlands, and quickly establishing a reputation for constructing reliable and refined cars. They supplied the first Royal car to Edward, the then Prince of Wales, in 1900 and held the Royal warrant up to 1950. The cars they produced were considered to be superior in engineering, build quality and standard of fittings and finish to those of any other manufacturer in the world. These were not only custom built and luxuriously fitted out but contained numerous innovative features, such as combining a pre-selective gearbox with a fluid flywheel to create a semi-automatic transmission. Unfortunately, the company always suffered from poor management and went through several ownership changes, the first as early as 1910, when they were bought out by BSA. In 1960 they were acquired by Jaguar Cars Ltd, who, for the next 30 years, manufactured cars under the Daimler badge as the luxury versions of Jaguar cars. This ceased when Jaguar were purchased by Ford in 1990, but the Daimler Company was retained as a registered but non-trading company until it was finally dissolved, after nearly 130 years, at the end of last year by Jaguar`s present owner Tata.
Whilst in Jaguar`s ownership they produced what was to be the highest selling Daimler, and what is considered by some to be their best car ever. This combined the beautiful body style of the Mark II Jaguar with an upgraded luxurious interior and the highly acclaimed 2.5 litre V8 engine. This powerful, light-weight, perfectly balanced, and responsive engine was developed by the talented engineer Edward Turner and transformed the sluggish, small-engined Mark II, providing more power and superior handling. It may not be as fast as the 3.4 or 3.8 Jaguar version, but, due to being lighter and having better weight distribution it is a more rewarding drive and certainly uses a lot less fuel. In addition, you have the wonderful sound of that Edward Turner V8 engine!
Phil and Sarah`s Daimler V8 250 is in immaculate condition and looks resplendent in its metallic gold paintwork, with red leather and burr walnut interior. It is also an extremely rare example as it has a manual transmission with overdrive.
If you would like to see, and hear, this, and other fantastic Classic Vehicles, please come to one of PCVC`s many meetings.
Full details can be found on our Facebook page, or, on our webpage
www.paphosclassicvehicleclub.com,
or, telephone, 97760997.