1951 Daimler DB18

Development of the pre-war Daimler Fifteen culminated with the DB18 model announced in 1939, just prior to the start of World War II. The DB18 was also known as the Eighteen or Daimler 2½-litre. During the War, the company focused its talents on the manufacture of military vehicles. Thus, most DB18s were produced after 1945. For the first time in Daimler's history, an independent suspension setup was used. Power was from an enlarged 2,522cc version of the overhead-valve six first introduced in 1933. Daimler's customary fluid flywheel, pre-selector gearbox, and worm drive rear axle comprised the transmission.

In October 1948, at the London Motor Show, Daimler introduced a slightly updated version of the car, the DB18 Special Sports. It wore coachwork by Baker. Updates included the integration of the firewall into the body rather than it being part of the chassis. The rod-operated mechanical brakes were replaced with a Girling-Bendix hydraulic front and rod-operated rear system. Headlights were integrated into the front guards and the front received a more curved radiator grille. The alloy-paneled coachwork was more streamlined, and with the help of twin carburetors, horsepower rose to 85 bhp.

Power came from a six-cylinder, pushrod overhead valve unit that was assisted by a single SU carburetor. The engine was mated to a Daimler Fluid Flywheel coupled to a 4-speed Wilson Pre-selector gearbox. The chassis was underslung at the rear where the main chassis members passed below the rear axle. A conventional hypoid bevel drive to the rear axle replaced the Daimler underslung worm drive in the mid-1950s.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2013