1963 Daimler SP 250

H. J. Lawson founded The Daimler Motor Company Limited in 1896, becoming The Daimler Company Limited after 1910, the year it was acquired by Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA). When BSA acquired the Lanchester Motor Company in 1933, it was made a subsidiary of the Daimler Company.

Between 1902 and the 1950s, Daimler had a Royal Warrant to provide cars to the British monarch. Many of the vehicles produced by Daimler were elegant and stately limousines, yet just before its acquisition by Jaguar, the company introduced a drastic departure from the 'norm' with the SP250 sports car. It was given a separate ladder-type chassis on which sat controversially styled fiber-glass coachwork manufactured by Daimler themselves. Beneath the bonnet was a 2.5-liter V8 engine that was kept in check via the four-wheel disc brakes. This engine was the smaller of Daimler's two Edward Turner-designed V8s and delivered 140 horsepower, enough to propel the SP250 to a top speed of 125 mph. Aimed at the North American market and launched in 1959, the SP250 was offered with an optional automatic transmission.

The Daimler SP250 survived Jaguar's 1960 take-over, benefiting from its new owner's attention that resulted in the much-improved 'B' version introduced in April of 1961. It gained a stiffer chassis and thicker fiberglass coachwork. The 'C' version arrived in April of 1963 and differed only in detail. Production ceased in 1964.

Edward Turner was appointed Managing Director of BSA's Automotive Division in 1956 and by March 1958, had finalized the drawings for the V8 engine. The saloon prototype, project number DN250, was not available at the time to be considered for feasibility. Instead, the SP250 sports car project was analyzed and determined that a profit could be made if sufficient numbers were produced, with most of the sales expected to come from the United States. Both steel and fiberglass bodies were considered, with the fiberglass material being selected due to its affordability, shorter production time, and lower cost to modify the styling.

Specification

The Turner-designed engine displaced 2,547cc (2.5-liters) and had a bore of 75 mm and stroke of 70mm. It was a water-cooled unit with an iron block, aluminum alloy hemispherical cylinder heads, five-bearing crankshaft, and an 8.2:1 compression ratio. It used an SU electric fuel pump, twin SU carburetors, and a single central camshaft to operate valves through short pushrods. Horsepower was rated at 140 bhp at 5,800 RPM and torque at 155 lb-ft at 3,600 RPM. The engine was backed by a four-speed transmission with synchromesh on the top three ratios. This gearbox was reverse-engineered from the Standard gearbox used in the Triumph TR3A and was the first of this type used by Daimler. Prior to this, the company had primarily used pre-selector-type gearboxes for their vehicles dating back to the 1930s. The Hypoid bevel rear axle had a 3.58:1 ratio, and the steering was by Cam & follower. The front suspension was comprised of coil springs while the rear used a live axle with half-elliptic leaf springs. The wheelbase measured 92 inches and the length of 165 inches.

Introduction

Daimler introduced its new sports car in 1959 at the New York Motor Show where it was unofficially voted as the ugliest car at the show. If this wasn't bad enough, Daimler had introduced the vehicle as the Daimler Dart, which prompted Chrysler, whose Dodge division owned the trademark for the 'Dart' model name, to threaten legal action if the name was not changed. So Daimler quickly renamed it to the project number, SP250.

A-Spec

The first iteration of the SP250, later dubbed the A-spec, had a 14-gauge ladder frame reinforced with cruciform bracing. These proved inadequate as the frame tended to flex, and occasionally the doors would come open. The B-Spec version remedied this issue with the addition of outriggers on the chassis and a strengthening hoop between the A-posts.

Additional unique features of the early A-Spec cars included recessed behind-the-door handles and chromium-plated 'whiskers' on the body flanking the front grille, joined by two short, vertical bumpers (overriders) at the rear. If the rear optional bumper was added, the overriders were removed.

B-Spec

Along with chassis improvements and thicker fiberglass, the SP250 received an adjustable steering column and was devoid of the 'whiskers.'

C-Spec

Daimler introduced the C-Spec version in April of 1963 with standard equipment that included a cigarette lighter, a trickle charger socks, and a heater/demister unit. Like the B-Spec, it, too, did not have the 'whiskers.'

Production

The Daimler SP250 was produced from 1959 through 1964, with a total of 2,654 examples built during that time. The feasibility study predicted that 1,500 examples would be sold in the first year of production and 3,000 examples per year for the second and third years of production. Thus, the SP250 did not achieve profitability for the company.

A replacement for the SP250 was considered but scrapped due to the poor sales of the SP250 and the competition it would add to Jaguar's more expensive sports car, the E-Type.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 104198
Engine number: 97411

The Daimler SP250 had a low, sleek fiberglass body design, rollup windows, and was equipped with an all-new 2,548cc overhead valve V-8 engine with hemispherical combustion chambers. During its production lifespan, a mere 2,648 units were built.

This particular example is a left-hand drive 'C-Series' example finished in classic British Racing Green with a tan interior and convertible top. The silver-painted wire wheels are wrapped with Michelin tires. The 2,548cc OVH V8 uses two SU carburetors to produce 142 bhp at 5,800 RPM. There is a four-speed manual transmission, an independent front suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 100929

Daimler had a reputation for its stately limousines and in the post-World War II era, remained the automobile of choice for the Royal Family. Their automobiles were renowned for comfort, conservative styling, and reliability. Breaking from tradition, the company introduced the Daimler SP250 sports car at the New York Auto Show in 1959 (initially called the 'Dart,' the name was changed following a protest from the Chrysler Corporation). It was low, sleek, and aerodynamic with a separate ladder-type chassis, fiberglass coachwork, four-wheel disc brakes, and an all-new Daimler-designed 2,548cc overhead valve V-8 engine with hemispherical combustion chambers and 140hp plus on tap. It was the smaller of Daimler's two V8 engines but was good enough to send the SP250 to a top speed of 125 mph. A four-speed manual transmission was standard, but in keeping with the demands of its intended market, automatic transmission was available as an option.

The Damiler SP250 was the final 'hurrah' before the struggling company was acquired by Jaguar in 1960. With Jaguar's 1961 introduction of the E-Type there was no place for the SP250, and it faded from production in 1964 after only 2,648 had been built. Before its demise and following Jaguar's takeover, a much-improved 'B' version was introduced in April 1961. The SP250 'B' boasted a stiffer chassis and thicker fiberglass coachwork. The 'C' version was introduced in April 1963 and differed only in detail.

This 1963 Daimler SP250 Roadster is powered by a 2,548cc OHV Hemi-head V8 engine with two SU carburetors and 142 bhp at 5,800 RPM. It has a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. It wears a metallic blue paint scheme and retains its original handbook and Manufacturer's Warranty certificate. It was owned by the noted naval architect Rodger Martin, a local Newport, Rhode Island enthusiast, for many years. Its original owner was Alonzo E. McLaughlin Jr. of Brentwood, New York, who received his car through agents Raymond Foreign Sales Corp of Islip, New York.

Mr. Martin acquired the SP250 in the mid-2000s. He showed it at local events such as the Newport Car Festival in 2006 and Portsmouth in 2008, and was rewarded with Best in Class silver plates. More recently, the car was driven to and from Nova Scotia for a British Car tour.

The car's current caretaker gave it a full set of custom-made, professionally fitted Wilton wool carpets, and the door cards have been replaced.

by Dan Vaughan

The last Daimler car to feature a Daimler engine, the Daimler 250 was produced in Coventry, England in 1963.

The original Dart was introduced in 1959 at the New York Motor show. At first, it was remarkably popular with a fiberglass body, 2.5-liter Hemi-head V8 and four-wheel Girling disc brakes.

After being threatened with legal repercussions by Chrysler's Dodge division, the Dart name was dropped and renamed the Daimler SP250.

The Daimler SP250 was considered to be a surprisingly satisfying vehicle despite it's bad reputation early on and the stigma it carried of being 'homely' and 'poorly executed'.

On the market for six years, the four-door saloon was considered to be indistinguishable from a Jaguar Mark 2.

It was only minor interior differences, the fluted grille, drive-train, and badged that set the two vehicles apart.

Acquiring the marque in 1960 from Jaguar, the hemispherical head V8 engine was found in the Daimler SP250.

In 1960, Jaguar purchased Daimler. The main concern was regarding the chassis flex, which they improved with the addition of the B-spec version that had extra outriggers on the chassis and between the A posts was a strengthening hoop.

The original A-spec could do 120mph, but the doors would come open as the chassis flexed too much. An adjustable steering column was also added to improve the specifications.

Three years later in 1963, the C-speed version was introduced and featured more additional luxuries as standard equipment.

Weighing barely 2000 pounds, despite the good handling and powerful engine on this highly sophisticated sports car, only 2,648 vehicles were produced during its six-year production run.

The vehicle had the finest braking system ever made, with discs on all four wheels and a completely fade-free hydraulic operation.

The 8-cylinder engine had a single high camshaft that operates valves through short alloy pushrods and had double heavy-duty valve springs.

A major flaw of the vehicle was its propensity for the doors to fly open by themselves on rough roads. Called 'flexi-flyers', this problem persisted until Jaguar purchased Daimler and reinforced the chassis and cowl for the B-spec vehicles, therefore, eliminating the problem.

The main attraction of the Daimler SP 250 was its motor. Possibly if it hadn't received such negative attention, it may have gone down in history for it's small Hemi-head V8 as one of the truly great sports cars.

It reached its peak at 140 hp at 5,800 rpm and hit a top speed of 125 mph. With a snazzy interior, the SP 250 had a polished aluminum surround, polished stainless door top finishers, chrome trim that followed around the roll-up side glass, and toggle switches. The cockpit was entirely leather, and the sop top had the added features of being both weatherproof and attractive.

by Jessican Donaldson