Description
This is not the typical top-quality Daimler V8250, this car is something truly special and a car we have had close involvement with for many years. Having supplied the Daimler to the recent owner and being very close friends with the family who owned the car for 50 years, we are delighted to once again have the car back. There are so many special features of this very well-presented example that ensure it will always be of high collector’s car quality and provenance. UUY 864F has covered just 41, 300 miles from new, comes with history back to new including its original service book, spent almost 50 years with one family, and was put through a no expense spared restoration in 2014 by the original owner’s son to put the car into a condition better than he could remember when his father was using the car regularly during the 1970’s. This is one of those very special cars that has history and provenance you just cannot buy; plus, the fact the car still retains a huge level of originality although restored really makes this the most impressive Daimler V8 we have offered onto the market.
UUY 864F was first registered on the 28th October 1967, supplied new in Golden Sand and today presenting as originally supplied, retaining its original body panels, and largely original, beautiful upholstery. The Daimler has spent almost its entire life in Worcestershire, supplied and maintained during its early life by Birmingham dealership Patrick Motors of Quinton, and later Halesowen. Early service stamps are present in the cars original Periodic Maintenance Voucher booklet, accompanying the original handbook, Distributor & Dealers book, Sales & Service book and spare keys. The Daimler was supplied new to a lady in Hagley before moving 3 miles to nearby Stourbridge. In February 1974, staying local, UUY 864F was sold by Stourbridge motor dealership Hewitts Garage Ltd to another lady, this time on Bridgnorth Road in Stourbridge. It was November 1974 when our friend and long-standing customers father saw the Daimler parked on the grass verge further up from his house on Bridgnorth Road with a for sale sign in the window. Owned by a Mrs Howard just further up the same street with just 36, 000 miles from new, he enquired into buying the car and negotiated a deal at around £650. Fitted with Leopard print seat covers that didn't get removed until 2014 (that has helped preserve the wonderfully original leather), the Daimler moved just a few houses down and was to be the ‘new' family luxury car. The Daimler however only spent two years in use, the long-term owner recalls a family holiday during the heat wave of 1976 when the family drove the car to Bournemouth. On return from holiday, with the arrival of the new company car, a 1976 Triumph 2000, the Daimler was laid up in the garage and didn't turn a wheel until our transporter recovered and collected the car from Stourbridge in 2014.
In 2014 an emotion driven no expense spared restoration commenced which began with stripping the bodyshell down to a bare shell. The shell was then soda blasted, and the Daimler found to be in exceptional condition requiring very little work. Back to bare metal, the Daimler was then prepared for a first class re-paint in the correct original colour of Golden Sand. Without doubt, this was the very best original Jaguar/ Daimler bodyshell we have seen having never had opportunity to heavily deteriorate. The majority of brightwork was re-chromed, and seals, rubbers, trims, gaskets replaced. The V8 engine was stripped down, fully rebuilt to include crankshaft re-grind, new pistons, main and big end bearings, rebuilt cylinder heads, the gearbox stripped and overhauled and the suspension, braking system and steering all renewed. The interior was carefully preserved, the 70's fashionable seat covers really doing their job as the leather was soft, original and still lovely after all those years. The headlining was replaced, as were carpets and furflexes. All the woodwork was removed, then re-veneered, polished and carefully re-fitted to the car. The Daimler was then fully built up with various new ancillaries, new tyres and now many years on since completion, still presents in delightful condition, has covered less than 2000 miles and comes back to us in exceptional mechanical condition, and is first class to drive. Since selling the car to the last owner, the Daimler has been converted onto chrome wire wheels (we are happy to quote re-instating original steel wheels).
