Daimler Majestic Major
Encyclopedia
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
.
A substantially lengthened limousine
version of the same chassis and bodyshell, the Daimler DR450
, was available from 1961 until the V8 engine ended production.
released in 1958. Both cars used the same chassis and bodyshell, the Major having an extended boot as well as the new engine which was lighter and much more powerful.
The engine transformed the staid Majestic into a high performance executive car capable of 120 mi/h. It is faster than a Mark X Jaguar up to 80 mi/h despite its 1880 kg bulk and it has been said that Jaguar tried a Daimler 4.5 motor in a Mark X
and it did 135 mph (218 km/h). External differences from the Majestic were the longer boot and cast-in V symbols in the horn grilles.
's 4561 cc V8 engine had a head design closely resembling the Chrysler Hemi engine
(not his Triumph Speed Twin motorcycle engines), and a crankshaft closely resembling that of a slightly earlier Cadillac. The 4.5 had a cast iron block and alloy hemispherical heads with a bore of 95 mm and stroke of 80 mm. The valves were pushrod operated and the Vee slanted at 70°. Equipped with twin SU carburettors and a free-flowing twin exhaust system the engine produced a conservative 220 bhp at 5500 rpm and 283-foot-pounds (396 Nm) of torque
at 3,200 rpm. By comparison a Jaguar Mark X did claim 220hp but used a different scale of measurement.
The combination of an imported Borg-Warner
DG (Detroit Gear) 12 automatic transmission, power steering and Dunlop's power disc brakes on all wheels made the Major in those respects a mechanically advanced car for its time. Its body, however, was originally designed for the Majestic by Daimler subsidiary, the old coachbuilding firm Carbodies
. It was already outdated and heavy when the Majestic Major first went into production and seemed increasingly so in later years.
The Majestic Major's turning circle was an enormous 46 feet (14 m). This coupled with the fact that power steering was only an optional extra until 1964, meant that the car was not one for manoeuvering in tight spaces – as even with power steering 4.5 turns lock to lock was required.
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...
in Coventry
Coventry
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...
between 1959 and 1968, using a 4,561 cc
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...
V8 engine and offered as a much more powerful supplement to their then current Daimler Majestic
Daimler Majestic
The Daimler Majestic 101 was launched by the Daimler Motor Company of Coventry in July 1958 and was in production until 1962. The six cylinder, four door saloon, with new three speed Borg Warner automatic transmission, power steering and four-wheel disc brakes, vacuum-servo assisted, was very...
.
A substantially lengthened limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
version of the same chassis and bodyshell, the Daimler 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...
, was available from 1961 until the V8 engine ended production.
Introduction
Though the Major was announced and displayed on 20th October 1959 at the London Motor Show , the car on the show stand was a prototype and production did not get under way for a couple of years. It was offered as a supplement alongside the slightly shorter 3.8 litre MajesticDaimler Majestic
The Daimler Majestic 101 was launched by the Daimler Motor Company of Coventry in July 1958 and was in production until 1962. The six cylinder, four door saloon, with new three speed Borg Warner automatic transmission, power steering and four-wheel disc brakes, vacuum-servo assisted, was very...
released in 1958. Both cars used the same chassis and bodyshell, the Major having an extended boot as well as the new engine which was lighter and much more powerful.
The engine transformed the staid Majestic into a high performance executive car capable of 120 mi/h. It is faster than a Mark X Jaguar up to 80 mi/h despite its 1880 kg bulk and it has been said that Jaguar tried a Daimler 4.5 motor in a 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 it did 135 mph (218 km/h). External differences from the Majestic were the longer boot and cast-in V symbols in the horn grilles.
4½ litre 220hp V8 Engine
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....
's 4561 cc V8 engine had a head design closely resembling the Chrysler Hemi engine
Chrysler 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 his Triumph Speed Twin motorcycle engines), and a crankshaft closely resembling that of a slightly earlier Cadillac. The 4.5 had a cast iron block and alloy hemispherical heads with a bore of 95 mm and stroke of 80 mm. The valves were pushrod operated and the Vee slanted at 70°. Equipped with twin SU carburettors and a free-flowing twin exhaust system the engine produced a conservative 220 bhp at 5500 rpm and 283-foot-pounds (396 Nm) of torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
at 3,200 rpm. By comparison a Jaguar Mark X did claim 220hp but used a different scale of measurement.
Chassis and Body
It was built on Daimler's standard massive cruciform-braced box-section chassis with their conventional coil-sprung independent front suspension and a well located 'live' rear axle using semi-elliptic leaf springs. As with the Majestic, there were four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes with a vacuum servo.The combination of an imported Borg-Warner
BorgWarner
BorgWarner Inc. is a United States-based worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier. It is primarily known for its powertrain products, which include manual and automatic transmissions and transmission components, , turbochargers, engine valve timing system...
DG (Detroit Gear) 12 automatic transmission, power steering and Dunlop's power disc brakes on all wheels made the Major in those respects a mechanically advanced car for its time. Its body, however, was originally designed for the Majestic by Daimler subsidiary, the old coachbuilding firm 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:...
. It was already outdated and heavy when the Majestic Major first went into production and seemed increasingly so in later years.
The Majestic Major's turning circle was an enormous 46 feet (14 m). This coupled with the fact that power steering was only an optional extra until 1964, meant that the car was not one for manoeuvering in tight spaces – as even with power steering 4.5 turns lock to lock was required.
Performance
The British The Motor magazine tested a Majestic Major with power steering in 1961 and recorded a top speed of 122.3 mph (196.8 km/h) and acceleration from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 9.7 seconds. A "touring" fuel consumption of 16.9 miles per gallon(imperial) was recorded. On the home market, as tested , the car cost £3166 including taxes of £955.Scale models
- Neo Scale Models have produced (2011) a 1:43 resin molded model of the Majestic Major.
External links
- Extended Boot
- Daimler Majestic Major
- Daimler Majestic MajorMajestic Major