Daimler that rivalled the E-Type

Sep 1 2008 Ian Johnson

Daimler that rivalled the E-Type

THE Daimler Dart seemed almost too posh to be a sports car.

Introduced at the 1959 New York Motor Show it wowed the fans, being the fastest car Daimler had ever produced.

But it then developed an identity crisis, eventually losing its name because of Dodge copyright, the car becoming known as the Daimler SP250.

But to enthusiasts it will always be the Dart - a car that truly lived up to its name.

An innovation was the use of glass fibre for the characterful, sweepingly-curved body and power came from the wonderful 2.5-litre OHV V8, which powered the 250 saloon. Designed by Edward Turner, this unit remains one of the top 10 engines of all time in my books.

But a prowling big cat was closing in on the Dart in the shape of Jaguar who took over the company in 1960. Jaguar was on the brink of launching its own sports car, the E-Type, and was left to decide what to do with the rather quaint but very fast Dart.

With its low-slung grille, featuring the familiar Daimler flutes, the Dart was certainly not short of good looks. But in some areas it was lacking.

Jaguar dug in quickly and revamped the chassis, which they found unrefined.

Indeed, some press road tests mentioned doors opening of their own accord when the car flexed in heavy cornering.

Such was the concern that Jaguar shipped back some unsold models from America to be updated with a stiffer chassis.

It was the new-spec cars that are now the desired collectors items and they are always a joy when you see them cruising effortlessly along the highways of 2008.

But the Dart certainly had its moments and cocked an aristocratic snoot at its in-house rival, the E-Type Jaguar, when it became the choice of some police forces as a fast pursuit car

The Metropolitan Police had a fleet of nine black-painted Darts, unusually fitted with automatic gearboxes. They certainly looked the part and could do the job.

The Met¿s police version could do 123mph and featured the famous Winkworth bell on the front bumper and the hub caps were removed to stop them flying off under heavy cornering.

The Dart was also used by forces in Surrey, Essex, Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester and Liverpool. I seem to remember one being featured in an episode of Z-Cars in the 1960s.

Production lasted until 1964, with 2,645 examples built. Happily many have survived.