Daimler 250
Encyclopedia
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
(Dart) sports car.
, England by Daimler
. Launched late in 1962, it was essentially a rebadged Jaguar Mark 2
, but fitted with Daimler's 2.5 litre V8 engine
; aside from the engine, fluted (furrowed brow) grille and rear number plate surround, badges, drive-train and some interior details (such as a split-bench front seat and a black enamel steering wheel) the Daimler 2.5-V8 was otherwise indistinguishable from the Jaguar Mark 2
.
The 2.5-V8 was the first Jaguar designed car to have the Daimler badge. The Daimler V8 engine was more compact and therefore lighter than the six cylinder engine used in the Jaguar Mark 2
, and weighed approximately 50 kg ("1 cwt") less. Spring and damper settings were revised accordingly to suit the altered weight distribution.
Three years after its launch, a Daimler 2 ½-litre saloon with automatic transmission tested by the Britain’s Autocar
magazine in May 1966 had a top speed of 112 mph (180.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 13.6 seconds. An overall fuel consumption of 19 mpgimp was achieved. The test car was priced in the UK at £1,647 including taxes: Rover's 3 litre with automatic transmission
was retailing for £1,770. At the end of 1965, the final drive ratio had been changed from 4.55:1 to 4.27:1, addressing complaints that the car as launched in 1963 had needed to exceed its recommended rev limit in order to reach its top speed, with a corresponding penalty in fuel consumption and engine noise and wear. The testers found the car refined and well equipped with efficient, if rather heavy, brakes. The engine and transmission were felt to be well matched. The car was quiet and smooth but short on low speed torque.
, England by Daimler
from August 1967–1969. It was an updated version of the 2.5-V8 Saloon, introduced in late 1962. The V8-250 differs from the earlier 2.5-V8 in relatively small details: having the 'narrow' bumpers (shared with the Jaguar 240/340), negative-earth electrical system, an alternator (instead of a dynamo) and twin air cleaners, one for each carburettor. Other new features included ventilated leather upholstery, reclining front seats and a heated rear window. Power Steering
and Overdrive
were optional extras; aside from the engine the Daimler V8-250 was otherwise indistinguishable from the Jaguar 240/340
. The 250's place in the Jaguar range was always ill-defined. Whilst historically Daimler had been a more luxurious brand than Jaguar, the 250, though far better equipped than the base-model Jaguar 240, lacked some interior appointments found on the 340. The Daimler 250's engine, being a V8 (generally considered a highly prestigious feature), producing 142 bhp (106 kW). This was in between the outputs of the 2.4- and 3.4-litre six-cylinders. This produced a car with a highly prestigious badge sitting in the middle of its parent-company's range.
In 1968 most of the Jaguar range was replaced by the new XJ6 and the following year saw the launch of the Daimler Sovereign
variant, which effectively replaced both the V8-250 and the 420-based Sovereign. Henceforth all new Daimlers would be re-badged Jaguars with no engineering links to the pre-1960 Daimlers.
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....
and first used in 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...
(Dart) sports car.
Daimler 2.5-V8
The Daimler 2.5-V8 (or 2½ litre V8) was a four-door saloon produced in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, England by 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...
. Launched late in 1962, it was essentially a rebadged 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...
, but fitted with Daimler's 2.5 litre V8 engine
Daimler 2.5 & 4.5 litre
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...
; aside from the engine, fluted (furrowed brow) grille and rear number plate surround, badges, drive-train and some interior details (such as a split-bench front seat and a black enamel steering wheel) the Daimler 2.5-V8 was otherwise indistinguishable from 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...
.
The 2.5-V8 was the first Jaguar designed car to have the Daimler badge. The Daimler V8 engine was more compact and therefore lighter than the six cylinder engine used in 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...
, and weighed approximately 50 kg ("1 cwt") less. Spring and damper settings were revised accordingly to suit the altered weight distribution.
Three years after its launch, a Daimler 2 ½-litre saloon with automatic transmission tested by the Britain’s Autocar
Autocar
Autocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It refers to itself as "The World's oldest car magazine".-History:...
magazine in May 1966 had a top speed of 112 mph (180.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 13.6 seconds. An overall fuel consumption of 19 mpgimp was achieved. The test car was priced in the UK at £1,647 including taxes: Rover's 3 litre with automatic transmission
Rover P5
The Mark II version of the P5 was introduced in 1962. It featured more power from the same 3.0 L engine and an improved suspension, while dropping the glass wind deflectors from the top of the window openings which also, on the front doors, now featured "quarterlight" windows .The most...
was retailing for £1,770. At the end of 1965, the final drive ratio had been changed from 4.55:1 to 4.27:1, addressing complaints that the car as launched in 1963 had needed to exceed its recommended rev limit in order to reach its top speed, with a corresponding penalty in fuel consumption and engine noise and wear. The testers found the car refined and well equipped with efficient, if rather heavy, brakes. The engine and transmission were felt to be well matched. The car was quiet and smooth but short on low speed torque.
Daimler V8-250
The Daimler V8-250 was a four-door saloon produced in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, England by 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...
from August 1967–1969. It was an updated version of the 2.5-V8 Saloon, introduced in late 1962. The V8-250 differs from the earlier 2.5-V8 in relatively small details: having the 'narrow' bumpers (shared with the Jaguar 240/340), negative-earth electrical system, an alternator (instead of a dynamo) and twin air cleaners, one for each carburettor. Other new features included ventilated leather upholstery, reclining front seats and a heated rear window. Power Steering
Power steering
Power steering helps drivers steer vehicles by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel.Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver needs to provide only modest effort regardless of conditions. Power steering helps considerably when a...
and Overdrive
Overdrive (mechanics)
Overdrive is a term used to describe a mechanism that allows an automobile to cruise at sustained speed with reduced engine RPM, leading to better fuel economy, lower noise and lower wear...
were optional extras; aside from the engine the Daimler V8-250 was otherwise indistinguishable from the Jaguar 240/340
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...
. The 250's place in the Jaguar range was always ill-defined. Whilst historically Daimler had been a more luxurious brand than Jaguar, the 250, though far better equipped than the base-model Jaguar 240, lacked some interior appointments found on the 340. The Daimler 250's engine, being a V8 (generally considered a highly prestigious feature), producing 142 bhp (106 kW). This was in between the outputs of the 2.4- and 3.4-litre six-cylinders. This produced a car with a highly prestigious badge sitting in the middle of its parent-company's range.
In 1968 most of the Jaguar range was replaced by the new XJ6 and the following year saw the launch of the Daimler Sovereign
Daimler Sovereign
Daimler Sovereign was a name applied by British manufacturer Jaguar Cars to a sequence of luxury automobiles built by it but carrying the Daimler badge between 1966 and 1983....
variant, which effectively replaced both the V8-250 and the 420-based Sovereign. Henceforth all new Daimlers would be re-badged Jaguars with no engineering links to the pre-1960 Daimlers.
Die-cast models
- Dinky Toys modelled the Daimler 2½ litre V8 in the 1960s.
- Vitesse model it in the 2000s.
External links
- Daimler History
- DLOC History
- The Daimler 250
- http://www.daimler.co.uk/daimlermodels/html/sp250.htm