Description
H&H Classic Auction @Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
27th Nov, 2024 13:00
1969 Daimler V8 250
Subject to a recent £35, 000 restoration
Estimate
£25, 000 - £30, 000
Registration No: DVG 679G
Chassis No: P1K 5124VW
MOT: Exempt
Fresh out of a comprehensive, fully photo-book documented restoration
Supplied with a healthy history file including an original service booklet and owners handbook
Subject to a full 'post restoration' detail by Auto Art Detailing of Essex in preparation for sale
Fitted with tasteful upgrades for modern use
Built from 1962 through to 1969, the Daimler 2. 5 V8/ V8 250 was the first car to be produced by the marque on the Jaguar platform, and the last Daimler to feature its own engine. As a derivative of the all-conquering MkII Jaguar although its fluted grille and more luxurious interior gave the car an air of exclusivity. Its name was drawn from its Edward Turner-designed engine - a lightweight, eight-cylinder 2, 548cc V8 shared with the SP 250. Production continued until the manufacture of all MkII derivatives ceased in 1969, by which time some 17, 620 of the Daimler version had been made, making it the best-selling car in Daimler’s history.
First registered on the 11th April 1969, 'DVG 679G' was first registered in the Norwich area and was supplied in the attractive colour scheme of Light Blue over a Grey leather interior, and was specified with Automatic transmission. Little is known about the early history of this elegant V8, however it came into the vendor's posession in 2018 having been off the road for a number of years. An avid enthusiast and restorer, the vendor immediately embarked upon a comprehensive body and mechanical overhaul into the original specification which was completed in 2024 and documented via a set of photographs provided digitally in addition to the history file. Some £35, 000 was spent on the works (for which the hours of labour was mostly conducted by the vendor himself and is not recorded) and a list has been provided with some invoices documenting this spend. The first task during the restoration was the bodywork, and £3, 450 was spent with Martin Robey for the body repair panels which included new sills and wheel arch repairs. Post metalwork, the body was sent for paint at a cost of £7, 500 into the original Light Blue which presents excellently today. Inside the car, the new blue paint was complimented with the original, now reconnolised grey leather components along with its extensively reconditioned set of burr walnut trimmings. The same level of attention was given to the mechanical elements of the car and the mighty 250 V8 was overhauled with an unleaded conversion by Thurstons at a cost of £6, 350. Attention was also paid to the Borg Warner BW35 automatic transmission, for which there is an invoice on file for its overhaul at £750. The Daimler's suspension components were completely overhauled with poly bushes and adjustable shock absorbers throughout, and the rear end was treated to new leaf springs from Harvey Bailey to support the freshly reconditioned back axle. Of course, all of this work would be no good if you could not stop it and the entire braking system was overhauled and uprated with Zeus callipers fitted all round with their four pot callipers on the front. Finally, the Daimler was fitted with a new set of chrome plated wire wheels which compliment the glistening body.
All of this work has made this V8-250 in our opinion one of the finest examples in existence today and the vendor has confirmed this by stating that it is 'excellent' all round today. During our inspection and short drive to take photographs during the consignment process, 'DVG 679G' performed very well indeed - if it wasn't for the modern vehicles that were passed it'd of been hard to believe that it wasn't 1969.
Now offered for sale due to the vendor preferring the restoration process rather than the ownership side of the classic car hobby, it has just been subject to a post-restoration detail by Auto Art Detailing and is supplied with a history file including an owners handbook, original Daimler service books, the UK V5C and the aforementioned list confirming expenditure.
