Details
1899 DAIMLER 6HP WAGONETTE
Registration No. PA 7517
Chassis No. Not stated
Engine No. 1417
Blue with ivory coachlines and black leather interior.
Engine: Twin vertical cylinders, water cooled, sidevalve, 1551cc; Gearbox:4 speed forward and reverse, double chain drive; Brakes: spoon, also external contracting on rear wheels; Suspension: semi-elliptic front and rear. Right hand drive.
Founded in this country in 1896, Daimler is one of the few companies that can justifiably claim to have been one of the pioneers of the motorcar, being involved from the very birth of the industry. The styling of the Victorian Daimlers was quite clearly from the earlier period and the cars were in effect, genuine horseless carriages. These cars were, of course relatively crude, but well constructed and by 1897 the company was making twin cylinder 4hp and 6hp cars. The quality of these early Daimlers was soon recognised by much of the aristocracy and in fact His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales took delivery of his first Daimler, a twin cylinder 6 h.p. model in the summer of 1900. From then on, Daimler constituted a Royal car.
This Daimler has been in the present ownership for 28 years and is a lovely example of the large 6 h.p. model and it comes with V.C.C. dating certificate no. 0681. A typical Daimler of the period it carries Wagonette coachwork which was designed to carry up to eight people. It retains many original features including the dashboard-mounted gearchange mechanism with one lever selecting the four forward speeds and the other the forward or reverse motion. In theory there are as many forward speeds as backwards ! The tyres are solid rubber as original, and it still possesses the original rear mounted radiator, although the original tiller steering and hot tube ignition have been replaced in favour of a conventional steering wheel and trembler coil for ease of driving and to improve reliability. The carburettor has also been replaced with a slightly later example. The car was last used in 1970, when according to the vendor it was running well. It appears from the file of history that a previous owner, a Mr Nigel Mann, spent a considerable amount of money on the restoration of the car. The engine was re-sleeved and the bearings and crankshaft all re-ground and re-metalled. He also overhauled the gearbox, fitting new bearings and bushes etc. Although this work was probably carried out in the early to mid sixties the car has seen relatively little use since. It competed on a few London to Brighton Veteran Car Runs in the late 1960's and has been in dry museum storage from 1970. Consequently it may require a certain amount of careful re-commissioning prior to use, although the vendor would not expect any major problems.
The Centenary of the dawn of British Motoring is being celebrated in 1996, and numerous rallies for Victorian cars have been specially organised to coincide with the occassion. This imposing Victorian touring car is ideal for all these events and of course has the useful attribute of being able to carry a number of friends and their luggage. Early Daimlers such as this are rare indeed.
Registration No. PA 7517
Chassis No. Not stated
Engine No. 1417
Blue with ivory coachlines and black leather interior.
Engine: Twin vertical cylinders, water cooled, sidevalve, 1551cc; Gearbox:4 speed forward and reverse, double chain drive; Brakes: spoon, also external contracting on rear wheels; Suspension: semi-elliptic front and rear. Right hand drive.
Founded in this country in 1896, Daimler is one of the few companies that can justifiably claim to have been one of the pioneers of the motorcar, being involved from the very birth of the industry. The styling of the Victorian Daimlers was quite clearly from the earlier period and the cars were in effect, genuine horseless carriages. These cars were, of course relatively crude, but well constructed and by 1897 the company was making twin cylinder 4hp and 6hp cars. The quality of these early Daimlers was soon recognised by much of the aristocracy and in fact His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales took delivery of his first Daimler, a twin cylinder 6 h.p. model in the summer of 1900. From then on, Daimler constituted a Royal car.
This Daimler has been in the present ownership for 28 years and is a lovely example of the large 6 h.p. model and it comes with V.C.C. dating certificate no. 0681. A typical Daimler of the period it carries Wagonette coachwork which was designed to carry up to eight people. It retains many original features including the dashboard-mounted gearchange mechanism with one lever selecting the four forward speeds and the other the forward or reverse motion. In theory there are as many forward speeds as backwards ! The tyres are solid rubber as original, and it still possesses the original rear mounted radiator, although the original tiller steering and hot tube ignition have been replaced in favour of a conventional steering wheel and trembler coil for ease of driving and to improve reliability. The carburettor has also been replaced with a slightly later example. The car was last used in 1970, when according to the vendor it was running well. It appears from the file of history that a previous owner, a Mr Nigel Mann, spent a considerable amount of money on the restoration of the car. The engine was re-sleeved and the bearings and crankshaft all re-ground and re-metalled. He also overhauled the gearbox, fitting new bearings and bushes etc. Although this work was probably carried out in the early to mid sixties the car has seen relatively little use since. It competed on a few London to Brighton Veteran Car Runs in the late 1960's and has been in dry museum storage from 1970. Consequently it may require a certain amount of careful re-commissioning prior to use, although the vendor would not expect any major problems.
The Centenary of the dawn of British Motoring is being celebrated in 1996, and numerous rallies for Victorian cars have been specially organised to coincide with the occassion. This imposing Victorian touring car is ideal for all these events and of course has the useful attribute of being able to carry a number of friends and their luggage. Early Daimlers such as this are rare indeed.