Daimler 2½ litre V-8 “Cresta”
prototype DN250 history of the project part 1 the eBay auction and
transporting and starting to look at the wreck – 13 March 2007 to 19 May 2007 |
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13
March 2007 Pictures
on eBay immediately after my bid, about 2 min 56 seconds before the auction
end time. |
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LSL 929 1/4 of
many pictures supplied by the seller. |
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LSL 929 2/4 of
many pictures supplied by the seller. |
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LSL 929 3/4 of
many pictures supplied by the seller. |
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LSL 929 4/4 of
many pictures supplied by the seller. |
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12 April 2007 Ready
for loading at Morris & Sons (Dunsford) – edged tools, billhooks etc. |
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12 April 2007 On its
way to Burslem, |
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WT Bell (Burslem) Ltd To be
the “home” of LSL 929 for the next few months or year(s). |
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EOG 1 (“Dotty”) My Daimler New Conquest Drophead Coupé DJ254 on
31 January 2007, having suffered its bonnet flying open at 60 mph and
smashing its windscreen, which saved my head from worse than a slight
bump. I finished my business trip with
the bonnet strapped down. |
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Dotty at WT Bells The
repair work on Dotty, as well as years of work on it and my Daimler Empress,
are why LSL 929 is there rather than elsewhere for conversion into a replica
of the Daimler 1959 prototype. |
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Daimler Empress II (“the Dowager”) My other
Daimler from 1985, which for a while was my family car in succession to the
Daimler (ex Lanchester) Dauphin.
Hooper made some of the best looking cars of the 40s and 50s, but,
with a ash framed coach built body and about 55 bhp/ton, it is less practical
than it used to be for regular use.
Now, if this project succeeds, the Dowager will be replaced by the
still to be named (with a D) Cresta. |
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8 May
2007 Mistake
number one. I missed an appointment. |
I arranged with Michael Riley of Monyash to meet
him at the bodyshop and discuss the specialist bodywork needed on the job,
mainly the bonnet lid, the C-pillar and the rear wings. Years ago he had worked on the Dowager at
Scott-Moncrieff. Happily he accepted
my apologies and will take on the job, but such is his order book, he cannot
start for about 12 months. Probably
about right. |
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9 May 2007 In WT Bell’s
bodyshop, awaiting stripping to the bare metal. A former office room had been allocated to
store all the parts for what will be a long haul. When fully stripped, the shell will be shot
blasted to get down to clean metal, all damage will be repaired and then it
will be cold galvanised. |
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9 May 2007 Plenty
of room for the Daimler V8, I hope. It
is said to have housed a Rover 3 ½ V8 in its relatively recent life. |
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9 May 2007 How
will an interior like this ever look like a Daimler? More mundane, how will anyone get in and out
with A-pillars like this. Perhaps I
should have thought about this first! |
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9 May 2007 Rear
suspension. The springs are bound to need
replacing after 50 years. GME Springs,
prominent in a Google search, did not reply to my email enquiry. The prompt reply by Eaton Springs of |
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9 May 2007 Front
suspension. As above. |
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