It’s More Than Just A CarRichard Geary explores the story of Peter’s Daimler 250V8 and

what makes classic car ownership so specialI’m often asked why I have such an affinity for cars; or more specifically, classic cars. I’m asked why I have such affection for, what are essentially, old, slow, unsafe and unreliable heaps of metal, lavished with whiffs of old leather, oil and petrol. And I’m asked why I don’t simply buy something modern, which, as a car at least, is six thousand times better than anything the equivalent from the 1960’s.

My answers are always the same. I love the designs firstly, the swooping curves and chrome-work that have since disappeared due to safety and emissions regulations, and the pursuit of greater aerodynamics.

I too, love the smells that seemingly only a vintage car can emit. The combination of leather, oils and petrol create an intoxicating aroma, instantly throwing you back into the swinging sixties. Even while too young to be able to look back through rose-tinted nostalgia glasses, I’m still transported straight into an episode of The Saint or Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). It’s truly wonderful.

But what I love most of all is the history. And not just the history of a certain cars design, but its the fact that every car has

some sort of past. They have a story to tell, and unearthing the stories is what makes the world of classic car ownership so enthralling.

Take Peter and his Daimler 250 V8 saloon. It’s a very special car to him, not because of the make and model of the car, but it’s because of the particular story attached to that specific car.

Though that’s not to say that the 250 isn’t a delightful car. The Daimler was based on the iconic Jaguar Mark II, gaining the same swooping lines and curves, but the crucial difference was the engine. The Mark II gave you a choice of three, a 2.4 litre, a 3.4 litre, and the most coveted of all, the 3.8 litre straight six XK unit. There was less choice in the Daimler however, but that’s not to say that’s a bad thing. The engine you did get was the magnificent 2.5 litre V8 designed by Ted Turner, which was also used in the unusual looking SP250 Dart, that managed to give effortless grunt thanks to the two extra cylinders while still being lighter than Jaguar’s own unit.

The Daimler, however, was not meant to be the lightweight, sports version of Jaguar’s Mark II. The bank robbers’ getaway vehicle of choice was already the 3.8 Mark II. Instead the Daimler was the opposite. It was more a refined, gentleman’s cruiser.

That then, is why the Daimler was so much slower than the Jag, despite having two extra cylinders and weighing less. The Daimler was merely meant to waft businessmen from meeting to meeting quickly and effortlessly, whereas the Mark II was supposed to get you away from the police.

But every car has specifications and design history, it’s the life of Peter’s Daimler that makes the ownership special and interesting.

His dad Norman purchased it, while Peter was just 14, back in 1974. Originally Norman was after a 3.8 Mark II, be he

noticed that a local lady from up the road was selling her Daimler, and so he bought that instead knowing that it had done very few miles and had only been driven around the local area.

Two years and two thousand miles later in 1976, the Daimler was driven into the garage after Norman received a company car, and there it subsequently sat in wait. For the

next 38 years it remained motionless, being used as storage for miscellaneous items and as a plaything for Peter and, subsequently, his son.

As the years passed, Peter grew more and more anxious to have the car restored back to its former glory. Norman

too, dreamed of having his beloved Daimler back in the pristine condition it once was when it was driven into his garage in ’76, but he knew the restoration would be too costly considering the value of 250 V8’s, especially as those gorgeous curvaceous bodies were plagued by rust and rot.

In 2014, Norman sadly passed away at the age of 88, but this prompted Peter to achieve his fathers’ dream and restore what was once his pride and joy. The rusted Daimler finally saw the light of day, 40 years after being bought, and was hoisted onto a trailer to be restored.

The car was taken up to Malton Coachworks in Yorkshire, the furthest it had ever travelled away from the Midlands, where the damage of 38 years of neglect would be assessed.

Of course, the rubbers had all perished, the brakes were seized, and the engine required a complete rebuild, but it was the rot-prone body and chassis that were the largest worries. The car was sandblasted completely to the bare metal shell, and miraculously, only one jacking point was eaten away by rust. The rest of the car was structurally perfect.

Even the leather seats had unbelievably survived, after being wrapped in leather print seat covers, which were optional extras at the time, and had never been removed.

With knowledge of the excellent condition of the body and chassis, the restoration began in full swing. The engine and gearbox were rebuilt, the wood was replaced and everything was re-chromed. The wheels were refurbished, and the car received new brakes and was re-wired.

The body was painted in the wonderful Jaguar golden sand metallic, and months of hard labour saw Peter and Norman’s dream being fulfilled.

The stunning Daimler was revived, and has become so much more than merely a car. Its story, and its history, means that it’s become a symbol. A tribute to his father Norman, and it’s become infinitely more special and interesting than anything that’s modern.

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Reader’s Stories Classic Motoring

“the restoration began in full swing. The engine and gearbox were rebuilt, the wood was replaced and everything was re-chromed”

“The Daimler was merely meant to waft quickly and effortlessly, whereas the Mark II was supposed to get you away from the police”