Daimler 2.5 & 4.5 litre
Encyclopedia
The Daimler 2.5 & 4.5 litre V-8 engines were designed by Edward Turner
in 1959 and used in several of the cars made by the British Daimler
company in the 1950s and 1960s. After Daimler's merger with Jaguar in 1960 they were also used in some of the Jaguar
saloons which were then badged as Daimlers.
, not those in the Triumph motorcycle. ("Lightweight" is relative to similar engines of the period, but the engine would not be considered lightweight in today's world.) The two sizes of engine share similar external dimensions and design. They share the same bore spacings, and the one can be bolted in place of the other.
The motor first publicly appeared in the Daimler Dart, but after Chrysler objected to use of that name, it was called the Daimler SP250
, a carp nosed fibreglass bodied sports car aimed at the American market.
The 2.5-litre motor, only thirty inches in length and developing 140 bhp @ 5,800 rpm, gave better performance than Jaguar's own 2.4-litre DOHC in-line six, and after the 1960 merger the opportunity was taken to create an up-market Daimler V8 version of the Jaguar Mark 2
. Between the years 1962 and 1969 17,620 Daimler/Jaguar V8s were built. Initially called the Daimler 2½ litre V8, it was later called the Daimler 250
.
The 4.5 litre motor was used in the Daimler Majestic Major
which is now rare , but was a respected high performance saloon in its day. It was also used in the limousine derivative, the DR450
. The 4.5 litre was tested in a Jaguar Mark X
and lapped MIRA
at 135 mph but was not put into production reportedly precisely because its performance was better than the original Jaguar Mk 10's. All 4.5 litre V8s sold were automatic, which makes connection to a manual transmission difficult.
designed a 350 cc single motorcycle engine with overhead camshafts. By age 27 it was in a complete motorcycle, and the motor patented. This brought him to the attention of Ariel's Jack Sangster
, who asked him to join Ariel Motorcycles
. In 1931 the Ariel Square Four was released, designed by the now 30-year-old Edward Turner. In 1936 Sangster bought Triumph Motorcycles, and made Turner the General Manager. The Triumph 500 cc Speed Twin, designed by Turner, came onto the
market in 1937. In this era of the rigid rear motorcycle frame, he designed a "sprung hub" rear wheel, not released till 1948. In 1942 Turner walked out after a disagreement with Sangster, but returned in 1943, and by 1944, was Managing Director. In 1951 Sangster sold Triumph to the Birmingham Small Arms group (BSA), and joined their board. By 1956 Sangster was Chairman, and made Turner head of the automotive division. This then included Ariel, Triumph, and BSA motorcycles, as well as Daimler and Carbodies
(London Taxicab manufacturers)
Edward Turner
Edward Turner was a British motorcycle designer. He was born in Camberwell in the London Borough of Southwark, on the day King Edward VII was proclaimed King....
in 1959 and used in several of the cars made by the British Daimler
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
company in the 1950s and 1960s. After Daimler's merger with Jaguar in 1960 they were also used in some of the Jaguar
Jaguar (car)
Jaguar Cars Ltd, known simply as Jaguar , is a British luxury car manufacturer, headquartered in Whitley, Coventry, England. It is part of the Jaguar Land Rover business, a subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors....
saloons which were then badged as Daimlers.
Engine design
The lightweight 2.5 litre V8 had hemispherical heads made of aluminium alloy resembling those in the Chrysler Hemi engineChrysler Hemi engine
The Chrysler Hemi engine, known by the trademark Hemi, is a series of V8 engines built by Chrysler with a hemispherical combustion chamber. Three different types of Hemi engines have been built by Chrysler for automobiles: the first from 1951–1958, the second from 1964–1971, and the third...
, not those in the Triumph motorcycle. ("Lightweight" is relative to similar engines of the period, but the engine would not be considered lightweight in today's world.) The two sizes of engine share similar external dimensions and design. They share the same bore spacings, and the one can be bolted in place of the other.
The motor first publicly appeared in the Daimler Dart, but after Chrysler objected to use of that name, it was called the Daimler SP250
Daimler SP250
The Daimler Dart was a sports car built by British manufacturer Daimler in Coventry.It was launched at the 1959 New York Motor Show, and its greatest success was in the North American market. It had a fibreglass body, four-wheel Girling disc brakes, and a 2.5-litre Hemi-head V8 engine designed by...
, a carp nosed fibreglass bodied sports car aimed at the American market.
The 2.5-litre motor, only thirty inches in length and developing 140 bhp @ 5,800 rpm, gave better performance than Jaguar's own 2.4-litre DOHC in-line six, and after the 1960 merger the opportunity was taken to create an up-market Daimler V8 version of the Jaguar Mark 2
Jaguar Mark 2
The Jaguar Mark 2 is a medium sized saloon car built from 1959 to 1967 by the Jaguar company in Coventry, England, as successors to the Jaguar 2.4 and 3.4 models, manufactured between 1957 and 1959...
. Between the years 1962 and 1969 17,620 Daimler/Jaguar V8s were built. Initially called the Daimler 2½ litre V8, it was later called the Daimler 250
Daimler 250
The 2.5-V8/V8-250 was the last Daimler car to feature a Daimler engine after the marque was acquired by Jaguar Cars in 1960. The engine is the hemispherical head V8 designed by Edward Turner and first used in the Daimler SP250 sports car.-Daimler 2.5-V8:...
.
The 4.5 litre motor was used in the Daimler Majestic Major
Daimler Majestic Major
The Daimler Majestic Major was a large executive saloon made by Daimler in Coventry between 1959 and 1968, using a 4,561 cc V8 engine and offered as a much more powerful supplement to their then current Daimler Majestic....
which is now rare , but was a respected high performance saloon in its day. It was also used in the limousine derivative, the DR450
Daimler DR450
The Daimler DR450 was a limousine based on the 4.5 litre V8 Majestic Major saloon. Although intended for the carriage trade or as a hire car for those needing something larger than a five-seater saloon, it was produced in almost the same numbers as the "Major" saloon itself. It was also used as the...
. The 4.5 litre was tested in a Jaguar Mark X
Jaguar Mark X
The Jaguar Mark X was the top-of-the-range saloon car built by the British manufacturer Jaguar, originally aimed at the United States market. The Mark X succeeded the Mark IX as the company's large saloon model.-Body:...
and lapped MIRA
MIRA
MIRA may refer to:* Margin Infused Relaxed Algorithm* Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia* Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy* Movimiento Independiente de Renovación Absoluta* Motor Industry Research Association...
at 135 mph but was not put into production reportedly precisely because its performance was better than the original Jaguar Mk 10's. All 4.5 litre V8s sold were automatic, which makes connection to a manual transmission difficult.
Edward Turner
At the age of 24 Edward TurnerEdward Turner
Edward Turner was a British motorcycle designer. He was born in Camberwell in the London Borough of Southwark, on the day King Edward VII was proclaimed King....
designed a 350 cc single motorcycle engine with overhead camshafts. By age 27 it was in a complete motorcycle, and the motor patented. This brought him to the attention of Ariel's Jack Sangster
Jack Sangster
John Young Sangster was an industrialist who became an important figure in the history of the British motorcycle industry. He is more commonly known as Jack Sangster.-Early life:...
, who asked him to join Ariel Motorcycles
Ariel (vehicle)
Ariel was a bicycle, motorcycle and automobile marque manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham, England. Car production moved to Coventry in 1911. The company name was reused in 1999 for the formation of Ariel Ltd, a sports car producer.-History:...
. In 1931 the Ariel Square Four was released, designed by the now 30-year-old Edward Turner. In 1936 Sangster bought Triumph Motorcycles, and made Turner the General Manager. The Triumph 500 cc Speed Twin, designed by Turner, came onto the
market in 1937. In this era of the rigid rear motorcycle frame, he designed a "sprung hub" rear wheel, not released till 1948. In 1942 Turner walked out after a disagreement with Sangster, but returned in 1943, and by 1944, was Managing Director. In 1951 Sangster sold Triumph to the Birmingham Small Arms group (BSA), and joined their board. By 1956 Sangster was Chairman, and made Turner head of the automotive division. This then included Ariel, Triumph, and BSA motorcycles, as well as Daimler and Carbodies
Carbodies
Carbodies LImited is a British company based at Holyhead Road, Coventry. It started business as a coachbuilder, and now, as The London Taxi Company is best known for its production of London taxicabs.-History:...
(London Taxicab manufacturers)
Daimler SP250 Technical Data (1959 - 1964)
- Numbers built - 2648
- Weight - 948 kilo / 2090 lb
- Engine - 90° V-8
- Displacement - 2548 cc / 155.5 ci
- Bore/Stroke - 76 mm x 70 mm
- Valvetrain - 2 valves per cylinder, OHV , Hemispherical Head.
- Fuel feed - 2 SU HD6 Carburettors
- Gearbox - 4 speed Manual
- Drive - Rear wheel drive
- Engine dimensions (with fan) - 2.5 litre- 30" long,24" wide, 27" high, Weight 419 lb (190.1 kg)
Performance figures
- Power - 140 bhp / 105 kW @ 5800 rpm
- Torque - 210 nm / 155 ft·lbf @ 3600 rpm
- Top Speed - 200 km/h / 124 mph
- 0-60 mph Acceleration - 8.9 s
Daimler 2.5 Litre V8 (Jaguar) Technical Data (1962 -1969)
- Number built - 17620
- Engine - 90° V-8
- Displacement - 2548 cc / 155.5 ci
- Bore/Stroke - 76 mm x 70 mm
- Valvetrain - 2 valves per cylinder, OHV , Hemispherical Head.
- Fuel feed - 2 SU HD6 Carburettors
- Power: - 142 bhp. at 5800 rpm.
- Top Speed: - 175 km/h. (110 mph) AutoAutoAuto, from Greek αὐτο- auto- "self, one's own", may refer to:*An automobile*An auto rickshaw*Auto, an Israeli car magazine*Short for automatic* Auto , a form of Portuguese dramatic play...
- Gearbox: - 3-speed BW Type 35 automatic
- Weight: - 1430 kg.
- Engine dimensions (with fan)- 2.5 litre- 30" long,24" wide, 27" high, Weight 419 lb (190.1 kg)
Performance figures
- Power - 140 bhp / 105 kW @ 5800 rpm
- Torque - 210 nm / 155 ft·lbf @ 3600 rpm
- Top Speed - 112 mi/h
- 0-60 mph Acceleration -
Daimler Majestic Major Technical Data (1959 - 1968)
- Numbers built - 1180
- Weight - 1880 kg
- Engine - 90° V-8
- Displacement - 4561 cc
- Bore/Stroke - 95.25 mm x 80 mm
- Valvetrain - 2 valves per cylinder, OHV , Hemispherical Head.
- Fuel feed - 2 SU Carburettors
- Gearbox - Automatic
- Drive - Rear wheel drive
- Engine dimensions (with fan) - 31.25" long, 25.5" wide, 31" high Weight 498 lb (225.9 kg)
Performance figures
- Power - 220 bhp @ 5500 rpm
- Torque - 283 ft.lbf @ 3200 rpm
- Top Speed - 120 mi/h
- 0-60 mph Acceleration - 10.3 seconds