Rare ONES After on several occasions we have a talk about classic cars from Italy or Germany, this time it was the turn of classic cars made by British manufacturer to be our topic. And here's the Daimler SP250, a unique stylish sports car model built by the Daimler Company, a Coventry, England based automotive manufacturer. (FYI: It was a completely different company and did not related to Daimler AG, a German automotive company).
1959 Daimler SP250 'Dart' had debuted at the 1959 New York Auto Show. (Picture from: Otoblitz.net)
It turn out, the company and was one subsidiaries of the major British manufacturing company, Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) Company and renowned primarily in making limousines and hearses for the UK upper class and royalty. The car mentioned above was produced for 5 years ranging from 1959 to 1964, and was known also the last car model launched by Daimler Company before the manufacturer sold by BSA to its compatriot company Jaguar Cars in 1960.
1959 Daimler SP250 'Dart' applied 2 + 2 layout, although the rear seats offer very limited legs room unless the front seats are on its default positions. (Picture from: Otoblitz.net)
The Daimler SP250 classic car was originally launched as the Daimler Dart in April 1959 at the New York Motor Show. However Chrysler objected to those name uses, due to its Dodge division registered as the official brand owner for the model name 'Dart'. Under one legal action threat, The American auto giant asked Daimler Company was not used those name. It had troublesome to the British company because they had to find and embed a new name in place of the old one. In a short time, Daimler Company ended up using the car's project number, SP250, as the car name.
1959 Daimler SP250 'Dart' is powered by an Edward Turner designed Hemi-head V8 2.5 liters engine and coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission with synchromesh in the top three ratios, with provisions for overdrive. (Picture from: Otoblitz.net)
The Daimler SP250 has a fiberglass body with large rear fins, and also applied 2 + 2 layout, although the rear seats offer very limited legs room unless the front seats are on its default positions. Then as its power source, this British manufacturer installed an Edward Turner designed Hemi-head V8 2.5 liters engine.
1959 Daimler SP250 'Dart' (with retractable hard top) was able to record a top speed of 123.7 mph (199 kph), and acceleration from rest to 60 mph (97 kph) in 8.9 seconds. (Picture from: Otoblitz.net)
The engine is mated to a 4-speed manual transmission with synchromesh in the top three ratios, with provisions for overdrive, while for speed deceleration the car uses the Girling disc brakes mounted on all four wheels. There're the automatic transmission is also available as optional. The car's suspension system, in the front applied the independent suspension with coil springs, while the rear suspension is equipped with a live axle with half elliptical leaf springs.
1959 Daimler SP250 'Dart' (with retractable hard top) has a fiberglass body with large rear fins. (Picture from: Otoblitz.net)
For performance, reportedly in the 1960, the Motor magazine had test a hard top version of Daimler SP250. In the test, the car was able to record a top speed of 123.7 mph (199 kph), and acceleration from rest to 60 mph (97 kph) in 8.9 seconds. Its fuel consumption was recorded at 25 mpg (11 liters/100 km). At that time, the car sold at a price of £1,489 including taxes.
Unfortunately, in the five years of production ranging from 1959 to 1964, only 2,654 units were ever made by Daimler Company and circulated to the market, bethink those figures were far from the company's initial projection of 3,000 units per year. And it is estimated that no more than 200 units of Daimler SP250 are still existed today. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HAGERTY | BONHAMS ]
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