1966 Daimler 250

“ The first registered keeper was Mary Elizabeth Dulcibel Vaudrey-Barker-Mill (1907–1978), known as Princess Nicholas Galitzine by marriage, a British-born woman who married into the prominent Russian House of Golitsyn (Galitzine). ”
So much rarer that the Jaguar Mk2 with which it shares its bodywork and profile, the Daimler V8-250 has the inestimable benefit of having a truly legendary engine under the bonnet.

Background
The Daimler 2.5 V8/V8-250 was produced in the United Kingdom from 1962 to 1969. It was the first Daimler car to be based on a Jaguar platform, the first with a unit body, and the last to feature a Daimler engine.

And what an engine.

The hemispherical head V8 designed by Edward Turner and first used in the SP250 Daimler Dart sports car was a cracker, and largely responsible for the V8-250’s reputation as one of the finest cars of its era.

An automatic transmission was standard, with a manual ‘box - and power-steering - being an optional extra.

Yet, despite the Daimler engine’s lower weight, a top speed of 112mph and a 0-60mph time of 13.6 seconds meant the Daimler was always more of a grand touring car than a racer for the road.

The top speed was reached at 6800rpm, prompting Autocar to write: “The Daimler’s particular strength is therefore it’s sweet and near silent running at any engine speed.”

The V8-250 finally retired in 1969, by which time around 17,600 had been built.

Overview
A quick look at the car’s original ‘buff’ logbook reveals that the first owner rejoiced in the magnificent name of Princess Mary Elizabeth Dulcibel Galitzine, having taken her title and surname from her second husband, the son of a Russian Prince.

Before him, she’d been married to a mere Baronet, Sir Joseph Herbert Spens Fayrer.

The penultimate owner, who was a professional DJ, bought the car in 1999 and used it as her occasional transport to and from gigs around the UK ever since.

In 2006, the odometer read 60,000 miles. Today, the mileage is 70,000.

It seems safe to assume that this fine old car has been living a pretty sedentary life over at least the last two decades.

We understand that the car has appeared on the silver screen on one occasion and has also graced a record cover.

In 2014 the previous owner embarked upon a significant restoration of the car and spent around £10,000 with the Iliffe Body Centre of Market Harborough addressing the car’s bodywork issues, having new panels welded in, and tackling any corrosion.

The car was resprayed at that time in the splendid shade of green you see today.

The undersides of the car tell us that the car was blue in a previous life.

In 2017 the car made its way to Brownings Garage, London WC1, where the cylinder heads were removed and all manner of skimming, adjusting, fettling and honing ensued in the pursuit of getting the engine fighting fit once more. This work came at a cost of over £4,000 and also included overhauling the brakes.

Much mechanical fettling was carried out by marque specialist Marcus Barclay in July 2024, and the results of that can be experienced first-hand in the way the car drives and performs.

It starts on the button, progresses with the smooth and quiet characteristics rightly associated with this legendary engine, and handles with plenty of balance, poise and predictability.

In terms of overall condition, the car is telling two distinct but equally compelling stories.

The exterior is really very good indeed and is clearly that of a car that has been restored to a very high standard.

The interior is restored in some places and very much unrestored in others, where the patina is moving into the territory of needing some remedial attention here and there.

Estimate Price: £8,000 - £12,000

View the current price bid HERE