Daimler "Gentleman purchased Daimlers; Industrialists bought Rolls-Royces" Brian E Smith in The Royal Daimlers (Transport Book Publications, 1976, ISBN 0 85184 019 1, cites this, saying that this was the considered opinion of WJ Oldham, Rolls-Royce enthusiast and author, (see eg "The Hyphen in Rolls-Royce").
2½ litre V-8 “Cresta” prototype DN250, 1959
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In 1958 production of the Daimler Conquest Century had ceased, but a new 2½ litre v8 engine was being developed for a new range of cars – a sports car and a saloon “of strikingly modern conception and in the medium price range.” They had a marvellous new engine but nothing apart from the SP250 to put it in: a writer in the Autocar in 1959, presumably with reference to the SP250 and its controversial looks, is said to have remarked: “Whether I were to choose the new Daimler or not, I should always be glad to have its engine in any car.” Daimler, then still owned by BSA, lacked the resources to develop its own body and considered the possibility of ‘Daimlerising’ a mass produced one. One prototype was constructed based on the Vauxhall Cresta PA bodyshell. The illustration below is an impression how it might have looked. Click here to see the only two photographs, of which I know, of the actual prototype, which dates, I think, from 1959. The most obvious difference is that the prototype retains the single headlights of the Cresta, while twin headlights are shown in the illustration. I have not been able to find any information about what happened to the prototype. At a guess it was broken up after Daimler was bought by Jaguar in 1960. My aim is to recreate the prototype, for which I have bought a Vauxhall Cresta PA (a slightly later model with the single piece rear window), but one without an engine, so I will not be spoiling an existing runner. It will be fitted with the Daimler 2½ litre V8 with an automatic gearbox, a radiator shell from a Conquest or a Majestic and, of course, a thoroughly Daimler interior. This is the first page of a website, which contains in the links below what history is known about this prototype and some contemporaneous road tests, and will describe (click here) my project to build a replica of it.
other pages on this site extract from “The Daimler Tradition” by Brian Smith extract from “Daimler Century” by Lord Montague and David Burgess-Wise extract From “Daimler & Lanchester” By Brian Long article “The Vanishing V8s” by Michael Riley in Driving Member September 1987 article “The Daimler V8s” (and Edward Turner) in Driving Member July 1999 road test Daimler Century 1957 road test Vauxhall Cresta 1958 road test (figures only) Daimler 2½ litre V8 saloon 1963 SP250 specification (from “The Daimler Tradition”) my “shopping” and help list The Naming of Cars pictures of the prototype (same as link in text) photographic history of the project (also as in the text) A Dotty Tale (see also the Naming of Cars page) some comparisons a few Daimler cars in 101 words links (Clubs, Museums etc)
All information about the prototype and suggestions will be very welcome. Roderick Ramage Copehale, Coppenhall, Stafford, ST18 9BW roderick@copehale.net made 25 March 2007 latest update 12 November 2007