Daimler V8 S.P. 250: New Edition

Front Cover
Veloce Publishing Ltd, Jan 15, 2008 - Transportation - 192 pages

Today very much part of the classic car scene around the world, the Daimler SP250 sports car has a fascinating and eventful history. The idea of staid and traditional Daimler building an open sports car is surprising enough in itself; that the car should be fibreglass-bodied, V8-engined and have a daring futuristic appearance stretches credibility to the limit ... but that's exactly what the company did produce between 1959 and 1964. A bold new design, ‘theDart' – as it was originally to be called – should have been struggling Daimler's saviour and a springboard to a range of new models, including saloons and coupés. Things didn't quite work out that way and Daimler was acquired by Jaguar, which led to the SP250's Edward Turner-designed V8 engine being used in a Daimler-badged version of the Jaguar Mkll saloon.  Here is the full story of the SP250 including concept, development and production history. Also covered are related models, specials, buying and restoration, chassis numbers, production numbers, colour schemes, clubs and specialists. Altogether a source book of essential information for SP250 and Daimler enthusiasts.

 

Contents

Foreword by JackWickes
6
Introduction acknowledgements
7
The Daimler story
9
The DN 250 project
19
Birth of the SP
27
The first production models
50
Hoopers closecoupled saloon
80
The cat pounces
88
The SP 252 story 10 V8 saloons 11 Competition history 12 SP specials
97
Buying and restoration advice
164
Factory modification data courtesy Bryan Purves
172
Chassis numbers and production figures
182
Index
190
Copyright

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About the author (2008)

Born in Coventry, the heart of Britain's motor industry, Brian Long is a professional writer with a passion for vintage machinery. A trained mechanical engineer and a former board member of the Daimler & Lanchester Owners' Club (as well as founder of the XJ Register), he has had strong links with the factory for two decades. Married to Miho and with two children (Louis and Sophie-Mercedes), he now lives just outside Tokyo. With over 40 books published, he's a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers in the UK, the SAH in America, and the RJC and JAHFA in Japan.

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