・Largely original
・Excellent condition throughout
・Recent carburettor work

*The photographs in this listing were submitted by the seller*

Representing a number of firsts and a ‘last’ for Daimler, the V8-powered 2.5 and later 250 saloon were produced between 1962 and 1969. 

This was the first Daimler car to be built upon a Jaguar platform, sharing its underpinnings with the Jaguar Mark 2. It was also the first Daimler with a ‘unibody’ construction, and the last to be fitted with a Daimler engine after the company was purchased from BSA by Jaguar in 1960.

While the 2.5 was in essence a badge-engineered Jaguar Mark 2, the chassis required some significant changes in order to accommodate the 2.5-litre Daimler V8 engine. The engine itself weighed less than the XK6 engine in the MK2, meaning the suspension had to be tweaked to compensate for the weight changes. The engine sump had to be re-designed to fit within the suspension mountings of the MK2 chassis, a new exhaust manifold was designed, and ancillaries such as the water pump and cooling fan had to be relocated.

In addition to the Daimler engine, the 250 also featured the iconic ‘fluted’ front grille and rear number plate plinth, unique wheel trims, badging and special-order interior and exterior colours. The cabin featured a split front bench seat from the Jaguar Mark 1 and a black enamel steering wheel. Initially, only a four-speed automatic transmission was available, but later a four-speed manual with or without overdrive was able to be optioned. 

This example is a pre-facelift Daimler 2.5 V8 saloon from 1965 with the Borg-Warner Type 35 automatic transmission, finished in an attractive champagne gold over a claret interior. 

Having been in the care of the current vendor since December 2019, the car has been regularly used for Sunday drives with the family, though less than 1,000 miles have been added to the odometer.

During their ownership, the vendor has spent a significant amount of money addressing small items on the car such as the fitment of seat belts, along with more major work such as stripping the chassis, replacing perished rubber items and having the carburettor system tuned correctly. With the exception of the aforementioned seat belts, the vendor has retained the car in its original condition, even down to the brakes which are “typically Daimler” in their nature. 

Supplied with the vehicle is a plethora of invoices and MOT certificates dating from the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, along with numerous notes about the car’s condition and work carried out by a previous owner. The original Daimler handbook is also included, as is the service manual. The V5 ownership certificate is present and shows 4 prior owners. 

The red leather and wood-trimmed interior of this 250 appears to be in excellent shape throughout, which is especially impressive when you consider this is now a 56-year-old vehicle. 

The front split bench seats are in great condition, with no rips or tears to the material that we can see. The usual age-related creasing of the leather is present, though no doubt this would be minimised following a full leather treatment and re connolising. The door cards, too, are in fantastic shape, with no major scuffs to the material. 

The wood trim looks to be free from any major damage, scratches or marks, though the areas around the instrument bezel and glove box door in particular appears to have a few minor marks, though these are commensurate with the age and mileage of the car.

Importantly, the seat belts added by the vendor add an increased level of safety to the vehicle, making it all the more usable on a regular basis. There is also a third lap belt in the rear, allowing the next owner to make the most of the spacious rear bench seat if needed.

The odometer reads 27,657, however the seller indicates the true mileage of the car is nearer to 44,000 miles.

According to the vendor, the paintwork was resprayed “around 15-20 years ago” and still presents in fantastic condition to this day, with the paintwork being “silky smooth” to the touch. There is a small mark on the offside rear of the vehicle where a child’s bicycle caught the vehicle, but it has been touched in. 

The wire wheels look to be in good shape, with no kerbing or damage to the wheels. There are a few spots of surface corrosion on the spokes, but this does not detract from the appearance of the vehicle. In a similar vein, the chrome detailing and scalloped grilles and number plate holder are also in fine condition, but would benefit from a thorough polishing to bring them back to their best. 

The vendor tells us that this 250 starts, runs and drives fantastically, with all systems working exactly as they should. The vehicle will quite comfortably get up to and sit at 70mph on the road, with no untoward noises or issues.

There is the typical oil leak which is a common feature of these old Daimlers, which has been photographed. The engine runs well, however, and there are no knocks or ticking noises, meaning the valves and rockers are in good order after speaking to the vendor. 

As mentioned, the brakes are “typically Daimler” though they are in full working order. Many owners choose to fit a more modern brake servo in order to alleviate this foible of the cars. The exhaust pipes are in good shape, though the engine bay itself would benefit from a thorough detailing. 

The vehicle is now exempt from mandatory MOT testing due to its age. 

Offering fantastic road presence, surprising practicality and the benefit of having been retrofitted with seat belts, this 1965 Daimler 2.5 V8 Saloon is in excellent order throughout, and only requires what is believed to be minor mechanical TLC to fix the oil leak. 

There is also scope to carry out sympathetic upgrades to increase the drivability of the vehicle, should the new owner wish to go down this route. 

Otherwise, as it sits, this Daimler makes an excellent Sunday road trip companion or special occasion vehicle to transport the driver and occupants back to a time when motoring was still somewhat of a luxury, and the vehicles reflected this fact.