1964 | Daimler 2.5 Litre V8

This is one of those very special cars that will be very difficult to repeat and is without doubt the very best Daimler V8 Saloon we have ever owned. Not only has it had a truly top class 800 hour restoration in 2013/2014, it has only covered just 70,000 miles from new, comes with a full history from new to include original service book, MOT’s back to 1974, buff logbooks and a full maintenance log with receipts throughout its life time. Adding to this, the car retains its original colour and beautifully aged original Blue leather upholstery. This is an ideal collector’s piece that has the perfect combination of provenance and top class condition with originality retained wherever possible.

BDG 735B was first registered on the 3rd September 1964 and still retains all original handbooks, Manufacturer's Warranty booklet, Dagenite Battery Guarantee Card, Motor Fuel Rations book and Periodic Maintenance Vouchers Booklet recording the first service by Imperial Motors, Cheltenham on the 2nd October 1967 at 468 miles. Walker and Ward Limited in Cheltenham serviced the Daimler at 2667, 4983, 6474, 7546, 8744, 10074, 12484, 15071 and 17398 miles. Services are recorded in the book at 20201 and 25300 in 1970 with an alternative Cheltenham based garage. From 1970 to 1973 the Daimler doubled its mileage to 50,000 and logs of services, maintenance and repairs have been recorded from 1973 to 1984 at 64000 miles. The Daimler was kept off the road from 1985 to 1992 and was MOT tested in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2012 at 66246 miles and receipts and paperwork are available detailing maintenance.

During 2013 a fifteen month rebuild commenced and a full photographic record with invoices are in a second comprehensive history file. The Daimler body was totally stripped down and treated to new front cross members, supports and crows feet, new front wheel arch sections were let in, inner arch sections replaced, front doors were treated to new lower sections and rear doors treated to new door skins, new inner and outer rear quarter panels were fitted and the bodyshell taken to bare metal. The engine bay was fully stripped down and treated, the boot area stripped and primed and the entire car carefully prepared and gapped prior to painting. The underside was fully stripped and prepared prior to painting and then treated to waxoyling. All inner box sections, sills, inner door casings were drilled where necessary and pressure injected with waxoyl for maximum protection. All outer trim fixings and chrome were cleaned or replaced as required and in total over 450 hours went into the body restoration. The upholstery was cleaned and treated; inner floors were cleaned and painted as necessary with new soundproofing fitted. A full new carpet set was supplied and fitted, as were new furflexes, new underdash and kick panels were also fitted. New door rubbers and seals were fitted and the boot fully trimmed and upgraded with edged carpet to match the interior. The dashboard was removed and all interior woodwork carefully stripped and re lacquered and re-fitted.

A mechanical overhaul included a full engine strip down. All ancillaries included heads and manifolds were media blasted, the block re-honed and waterways chemically cleaned. Crankshaft mains were reground, big ends machined, pistons and rods cleaned and the block reassembled with new bearings, piston rings, rope seals, rubbers and gaskets. Cylinder heads were stripped and re-faced, valves and seats also refaced and lapped. Rocker shafts were overhauled, the oil pump rebuilt, a new type relief valve fitted and a new timing chain with later type tensioner fitted. Cylinder heads and manifolds were reassembled with all new gasket kits, nuts and studs. A new stainless upgraded engine and heater pipe kit was fitted, the water pump rebuilt, as was the dynamo and starter motor. The distributor was also stripped and rebuilt, a new ignitor kit fitted and a complete stainless steel exhaust system fitted. Final detailing to the engine bay included polished rocker covers, carb covers and intakes. The automatic gearbox and torque converter were fully overhauled with new clutch bands, bearings and seals and stainless upgraded gearbox oil cooler pipes fitted. When the engine and gearbox were re-fitted to the immaculate engine bay, all new mountings, rubbers and perishables were replaced. The wiring was repaired and re-lagged, Kevlar engine hoses fitted, a heavy duty race spec upgraded radiator core was fitted and the heater box rebuilt with new heater valve and controls. The steering box was overhauled and later a Vicarage power assisted steering system fitted, all ball joints and track rod ends were replaced, all new bushes and rubbers fitted and new frame mountings and shock absorbers fitted. Brake calipers were overhauled, a new upgraded servo and vacuum tank were fitted and the whole braking system was re-piped. New brake hoses were fitted and new anti-roll bar links and bushes fitted. A new original specification fuel tank was installed, the rear axle cleaned, etch primed and sprayed and a new complete panhard rod fitted. Since completion the Daimler has covered little over 4000 miles and we can report the car is outstanding to drive with super light steering, excellent braking and handling, beautiful quiet, strong engine with smooth changing automatic gearbox.

BDG 735B is in pristine condition with fabulous paintwork, a superb straight bodyshell with excellent gaps and still retains a show standard engine bay and boot. The spare wheel well is as new, a perfect spare wheel is in place with tool kit present and the inner arches are beautifully painted and the underside simply outstanding. The interior is first class with original leather, stunning woodwork, carpets and headlining and the car is worthy of any collection. This has to be one of the very best examples we have come across and what is equally as pleasing is the wonderful records, original paperwork and extensive rebuild file that comes with the car. Finding a Daimler V8 like this rare and this car really is as good as it looks. Having supplied this stunning car to the last two owners, we are delighted to once again have it back.