1957 Daimler Conquest

Lot details
Registration No: ULE 685
Chassis No: 97715
Mot Expiry: Aug 2012

A replacement for the now outmoded Consort, the Conquest first saw the light of day in the Spring of 1953, a few months after Bernard Docker assumed control of the Daimler empire. The newcomer's chassis and running gear were direct developments of those underpinning the Lanchester 14, and included a cruciform chassis suspended by double wishbones and laminated torsion bars at the front, and conventional leaf springs and live axle at the rear. Braking was by Girling hydro/mechanical drums and steering by cam and peg. Power came from a straight six engine of 2433cc that in standard form produced some 75bhp and 124lbft of torque. From 1954, a more potent version of the car known as the Conquest Century became available. Courtesy of a big-valve alloy cylinder head, twin SU carburetters, higher compression and high-lift camshaft, Daimler managed to hike the output to 100bhp - sufficient to accelerate the 3,117lb car to 60mph in 16.3 seconds and on to a terminal speed of 90mph. This proved to be the most popular of the two Saloon variants, with 4818 examples eventually made as opposed to 4568 of the lesser powered car. Up until 1956, Conquests were only available with Daimler's renowned four-speed preselector gearbox and fluid flywheel. However from then onwards, there was the option of a conventional automatic unit which, when chosen, was paired with the 100bhp engine. Conquest production was terminated in 1958 after a total of 9739 Saloons, Roadsters and Drophead Coupes had been produced.

The right-hand drive Conquest Saloon offered is a 1957 example equipped with the automatic gearbox and therefore the 100bhp engine. It has Maroon bodywork and a Maroon leather interior and is thought to be a generally very original car that has at some time been the subject of a light restoration and engine overhaul. The interior is certainly deemed to be original aside of the front seats that have been sympathetically retrimmed. The vendor considers the Daimler to be "nicely patinated", and reports that the engine "runs like a sewing machine". 'ULE 685' comes complete with a sizeable history file containing the old log books, manuals, photos etc, plus an MOT valid into August 2012.