An appealing and increasingly desirable 1966 Daimler 2½-Litre V8, offered as a restoration project after an extraordinary 39 years in the current keeper's ownership. Finished in handsome Jaguar Biascan Blue Metallic, the paintwork has survived its lengthy period of storage surprisingly well and gives a good impression of the car's potential once completed. Based upon Jaguar's elegant Mk2 body shell but powered by Daimler's characterful Edward Turner-designed 2.5-litre V8, these refined sporting saloons have developed a strong following in their own right.
This particular example was undergoing a rebuild approximately 35 years ago before family circumstances brought the work to a halt. Now offered due to the Vendor's health preventing him from completing the project, it presents an interesting opportunity for an enthusiast to finish what was started many years ago. Helpfully, the various parts retained for the rebuild have been carefully organised and stored inside the vehicle, providing the next owner with a useful starting point for the recommissioning process.
The Daimler has reportedly had very little attention for approximately 30 years and should therefore be regarded as requiring recommissioning and restoration before returning to the road. In the Vendor's own words, the engine was started approximately five years ago and was run for around an hour in total. He advises that the engine had previously received new piston rings, bearing shells and gaskets as part of the rebuild.
Of particular interest, the Vendor describes the body as rust-free, explaining that the visible blemishes within the otherwise surprisingly well-preserved Biascan Blue Metallic paintwork are the result of reactions to flux used when the body was lead-loaded prior to painting rather than corrosion. This is particularly noticeable around the offside front wing, where an aerial had previously been fitted, and on the nearside front wing, where lead was used to correctly restore the upper contour following an earlier repair.
Having remained unfinished for several decades, prospective purchasers should naturally satisfy themselves as to the extent of work required. Nevertheless, the condition of the body and paintwork, together with the organised collection of retained components, make this an encouraging basis from which to complete the restoration.
The Daimler has been in the ownership of its current keeper for an impressive 39 years. Approximately 35 years ago, the car was in the process of being rebuilt, with work progressing to the body and engine before changing family circumstances meant the project was put on hold. It has subsequently remained largely untouched for around three decades.
The Vendor had intended to complete the Daimler himself but is now reluctantly offering it for sale for health reasons. Unfortunately, no accompanying paperwork or historical documentation is present, meaning its long-term ownership and restoration story are principally recorded through the Vendor's account.
Introduced in 1962, the Daimler 2½-Litre V8 combined the handsome monocoque body of the Jaguar Mk2 with Daimler's own sophisticated 2,548cc Edward Turner-designed V8. Producing approximately 140bhp, the compact V8 was lighter than Jaguar's six-cylinder engines and gave the Daimler a noticeably different character, with smooth power delivery, a lighter front end and an emphasis on refined performance.
Daimler distinguished its version through details including the traditional fluted radiator grille and model-specific badging, while the cabin offered the expected combination of wood veneer, leather and traditional British craftsmanship. Automatic examples used the three-speed Borg-Warner transmission, with the model capable of approximately 110mph when new. The 2½-Litre V8 would later evolve into the better-known V8-250, making these earlier cars an interesting part of Daimler's post-war history.
Long-term ownership, a reportedly rust-free body, remarkably well-preserved paintwork and an engine that has previously received internal work make this a particularly intriguing restoration proposition. The fact that the components retained for the unfinished rebuild have been kept organised within the vehicle should also prove helpful to whoever takes the project forward.
With the same graceful styling that has made the Jaguar Mk2 such an enduring classic, but coupled with Daimler's distinctive V8 powerplant and greater rarity, the 2½-Litre V8 offers considerable appeal to the enthusiast looking for a worthwhile project. After almost four decades with one keeper and around 35 years since its rebuild was first begun, this handsome Biascan Blue Metallic example is now ready for its next custodian to finally take the restoration through to completion.
Offered at No Reserve; could you be the one to bring this once majestic Daimler back to the road?
