20th Mar, 2019 13:00
Imperial War Museum Duxford
1961 Daimler SP250 Dart
Estimated at £36,000 - £40,000
Lot details
Registration No: 998 EYX
Chassis No: 102526
Mot Expiry: May 2020
- History file which includes restoration photographs, invoices, old MOTs, etc.
- Sensible upgrades in the form of servo assistance to braking system and fitment of rack and pinion steering
- 'B-Specification' example in restored condition
Until the unveiling of the Dart at the 1959 New York Auto Show, Daimler was renowned for making stately, if unexciting, limousines. The Dart, marketed in the US as the SP250 to avoid a law suit from Dodge who already owned the name, was something very different. A two-seater sports convertible, it had a 2,548cc V8, a state-of-the-art fibreglass body and disc brakes all round. The result was a very quick car for the era: 0-60mph in nine seconds and a top speed of 120mph. It's no wonder the Metropolitan Police bought Darts to track the fastest sports cars then on the road.
However, early cars were not without their issues. Bumpers were an optional extra leaving the cars vulnerable to knocks, chassis flex was so bad there were stories of doors flying open under hard cornering, and steering was slow. The chassis flex and other problems were addressed by the 'B Spec' cars, released after Jaguar took over Daimler in 1960.
This right-hand drive 1961 SP250, is one such 'B Spec' car. The subject of a photographically-recorded restoration, it also has other, sensible upgrades: the brakes now have servo assistance and a rack and pinion steering system has replaced the old worm and peg design.
Presented in a wonderful combination of gunmetal grey paintwork combined with an ivory/pale grey interior, both described by the vendor as being in 'good' condition, as are the engine and electrical equipment. The gearbox is recorded as 'good' noting a noisy first gear, although this was typical of the car as it had a 'crash' first gear. The car comes complete with comprehensive history file, V5C and a fresh MOT.
The Daimler Dart is a distinctive and powerful two-seater British sports car, and this presents a great opportunity to secure a right-hand drive example with sensible upgrades in a wonderful colour combination.
Registration No: 998 EYX
Chassis No: 102526
Mot Expiry: May 2020
- History file which includes restoration photographs, invoices, old MOTs, etc.
- Sensible upgrades in the form of servo assistance to braking system and fitment of rack and pinion steering
- 'B-Specification' example in restored condition
Until the unveiling of the Dart at the 1959 New York Auto Show, Daimler was renowned for making stately, if unexciting, limousines. The Dart, marketed in the US as the SP250 to avoid a law suit from Dodge who already owned the name, was something very different. A two-seater sports convertible, it had a 2,548cc V8, a state-of-the-art fibreglass body and disc brakes all round. The result was a very quick car for the era: 0-60mph in nine seconds and a top speed of 120mph. It's no wonder the Metropolitan Police bought Darts to track the fastest sports cars then on the road.
However, early cars were not without their issues. Bumpers were an optional extra leaving the cars vulnerable to knocks, chassis flex was so bad there were stories of doors flying open under hard cornering, and steering was slow. The chassis flex and other problems were addressed by the 'B Spec' cars, released after Jaguar took over Daimler in 1960.
This right-hand drive 1961 SP250, is one such 'B Spec' car. The subject of a photographically-recorded restoration, it also has other, sensible upgrades: the brakes now have servo assistance and a rack and pinion steering system has replaced the old worm and peg design.
Presented in a wonderful combination of gunmetal grey paintwork combined with an ivory/pale grey interior, both described by the vendor as being in 'good' condition, as are the engine and electrical equipment. The gearbox is recorded as 'good' noting a noisy first gear, although this was typical of the car as it had a 'crash' first gear. The car comes complete with comprehensive history file, V5C and a fresh MOT.
The Daimler Dart is a distinctive and powerful two-seater British sports car, and this presents a great opportunity to secure a right-hand drive example with sensible upgrades in a wonderful colour combination.
Auction: Imperial War Museum Duxford, 20th Mar, 2019
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