1950 Daimler DB18 Special Drophead Coupe

Lot details
Registration No: LGY 8
Chassis No: 53306
Mot Expiry: Feb 2004

Offered here is a Royal Daimler with Hooper-coachbuilt 2-door, 4-seater drophead coupe body on a 21/2-litre `Special Series' chassis. Believed to be one of only six such Hooper-bodied DB18s (Queen Marie of Yugoslavia purchased another), Coventry-built chassis 53806 with body 9617 had been intended first for HRH Princesss Elizabeth, and then for the Duke of Edinburgh. However, in answer to a request from their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and a successful demonstration run, the logbook confirms that the car was actually supplied to `King George V1 of Buckingham Palace'. The reigning monarch, who was exempt from having to pay £10 annual duty, took delivery of the car 1 September 1950 with the LGY 8 registration the open Daimler carries to this day.
In accordance with top quality practice at Hooper and to achieve lightness with strength, body construction combined English ash with Alpax castings and Birmabright strengthened plates. The very latest gizmos of the day were incorporated, including electrically-operated windows and a folding power-top with electrics again ingeniously employed to co-ordinate the opening and closing of a flap behind the rear seats beneath which the folded hood was concealed. Such labour-saving wizardry would have been quite something in the early 1950s. Rearward vision was enhanced by an extra large rear window and the radio has two extension speakers to accommodate Royal listening in the back. The well proven 2522cc six came from the DB18 and a 3-speed pre-selector gearbox was fitted.
By Royal request, however, rear leg and kneeroom had to be increased back at the coachbuilder's Park Royal workshops, a Hooper driver delivering the car back to HM at Balmoral 10 August 1951. Some time later, a racehorse mascot was added.
This superb Royal provenance is confirmed by a copy of the original logbook in a very well stocked history file, which also reveals that the car was subsequently sent back to Hoopers for a total restoration at a cost of £81,594.25p, bills detailing all the work carried out being on file.
The attention to detail in both the original build as well as this refurbishment has been amazing with even the smaller items in the factory tool kit chromed and a complete set of grease guns all properly secured underbonnet. In the rear, a cigar lighter had been fitted on the right-hand side specifically for the smoker King, while on the left-hand side the Queen Mum had her own vanity mirror. The electric front window switches were made of then still politically correct ivory. The original Motorola radio with short wave facility has survived and, reportedly, has been overhauled.
We understand that amongst the car's later owners has been the popular entertainer Max Bygraves who clearly appreciated the quality of workmanship and good looks of this delightful early postwar drophead. For hood down and tucked away out of sight beneath its ingenious flap or electronically raised, the bodywork on this Daimler is one of the best proportioned designs to have come from a British coachbuilder's drawing board, the detailing being particularly beautifully executed.
There is no doubt that King George VI earned huge respect throughout the world, not only by his having to take over the monarch's onerous duties following the abdication of his brother Edward, but also for his commendable stoicism of staying on in London at Buck House on what became the front line during the blitz. Both he and his wife, the late and similarly respected Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, regularly traveled in this fine coachbuilt Daimler.
We are also told that the then Princess Elizabeth thought that LGY 8 was "a lovely sports car" which "would be ideal for the family." Both she and the Duke are said it have used the car too.
Truly great motor cars with such gilt-edged provenance very rarely come to market. Another Royal Daimler, a 1948 DE36 Straight Eight Open Tourer, has recently been advertised in Australia with an asking price of $500,000.