1967 Daimler 2.5 V8 Convertible

Description

Extremely rare two-door convertible; few owners, the current since 2017; recent sympathetic restoration and only 1,000 miles since

Now here’s something you don’t see every day – a Daimler 2.5 V8 Two-Door Convertible! Hardly surprising as it was never offered as an open car by the factory and it is believed that only two such conversions have ever been made, this car plus another one converted by Beacham which fetched over £74k when sold by Bonhams in 2017.

First registered in London in June 1967, it is not known who did the conversion or when, but it was certainly done many years ago, the vendor suspecting that it may have been done by Tickford, coachbuilders who had a close relationship with Daimler, but there is no proof of this. The job has been well executed, with extra strengthening to the chassis clearly evident.  

It has had four former keepers, according to the V5C, our vendor acquiring the car in 2017 as a renovation project from a gentleman in Sandhurst who had owned it since 2004. He has since spent many thousands of pounds restoring the car, the process being documented in a blog which you can view by copying and pasting this link into your browser:

http://daimlerv8topless.blogspot.com/

The vendor did some of the work himself, enlisting professional help as required, some of which is documented in invoices on file. The bodywork was in pretty good shape but needed work to the rear wheelarches which was carried out by Yattendon Garage of Thatcham. Invoices show that Four Winds Garage of Oxon did much work on the engine, gearbox, brakes and the wiring in 2018 which cost £3,228. They also gave it a full respray in the same year which cost £3,600 – Jaguar Antigua Blue over Daimler Old English White.

It was professionally re-trimmed inside by Jim Hawkins, although there is no invoice for this. The brightwork was rechromed by A Walkinshaw of Coventry (again no invoice). We suspect that much other work has been done which is also not documented by invoices.

The restoration was completed in May 2019 when the car flew through its MOT with no advisories recorded. It has covered just over 1,000 miles since, mainly going to local shows, as illustrated in the blog. As you can see in the photos, it looks most attractive, the only real blemish we noted being some slight microblistering to the paint on the boot lid.

Starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with good 40psi oil pressure, this exceedingly rare and handsome Daimler will draw lots of attention wherever it goes and is only reluctantly for sale due to the declining health of the vendor.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com