In Brief:

• A charming example of the Jaguar platformed V8-250
• Finished in Regency Red with matching wire wheels over Black leather
• Owned by The Vendor for the last 11 years
• Completed rebuild carried out by previous owner
• Described as one of the most rust-free examples underneath that you are likely to find

Auctioneer's Notes:

Offered at No Reserve, this 1968 Daimler V8-250 Saloon presents as a tempting and highly usable classic saloon, finished in Regency Red and retaining all the charm, elegance and understated performance for which the model is so well regarded. The Vendor has owned the car for 11 years and reports that it was completely rebuilt, both bodily and mechanically, by the previous owner. The car was also subject to a colour change from Blue to Regency Red during that rebuild, with the repaint understood to have been carried out as a bare-shell job by an ex-Vicarage employee. The Vendor describes it as one of the most rust-free examples underneath that you are likely to find, and feels that it is well worth further attention to turn it into a very nice car.

Maintenance & Condition:

During the previous ownership, the Daimler is understood to have been comprehensively rebuilt bodily and mechanically, with photographs of the work included within the history file. Zeus brake calipers were also fitted at that time to improve stopping power. The Vendor reports that an oil leak at the front of the engine has started recently and, now approaching 80 years of age, he has decided that the time has come to pass the car on to its next custodian. With its reported solid underside, upgraded braking and previous restoration work, this V8-250 appears to offer a rewarding opportunity for a new owner to carry out some further fettling and enjoy a refined British classic.

History:

The history file is particularly pleasing and includes information relating to the car’s sale through another auction in 2015, where it achieved a hammer price of £9,000. Valuation certificates are also present, confirming a value of £9,000 in both 2001 and 2005. Further documentation includes a handwritten maintenance log detailing works carried out between April 1992 and May 1994, spanning three sides of A4 paper, along with an invoice folder containing bills totalling in excess of £9,800 and dating back as far as 1979. Also included are the operating, maintenance and service handbook, the printed Brightwells auction catalogue booklet, a photo book, a printed write-up from a former keeper, and both old-style and more recent MOT history.

The Model:

The Daimler V8-250 is one of the most elegant and charismatic compact sporting saloons of the 1960s, combining the graceful Jaguar Mk2 bodyshell with Daimler’s superb 2.5-litre V8 engine. Producing around 140bhp, the lightweight V8 gave the car smooth and spirited performance, accompanied by a distinctive exhaust note and excellent refinement. The model also benefitted from traditional wood-and-leather craftsmanship, Daimler’s fluted grille and unique trim details, setting it apart from its Jaguar sibling. By 1968, the V8-250 had received a number of later updates including slimmer bumpers, reclining front seats, a padded dashboard, negative-earth electrics with alternator and other detail improvements, making it a particularly usable and desirable version of the model.

Sale Insight:

Offered at No Reserve, this Daimler V8-250 represents a rare chance to acquire a handsome, well-documented and previously restored example of this much-loved sporting saloon. With long-term ownership, substantial history, photographic restoration evidence, upgraded Zeus braking and a reported notably sound underside, it offers considerable appeal as a usable classic with scope for further improvement. A charming gentleman’s express, ready for its next enthusiast custodian.

Estimate:
No Reserve