1955 Daimler Conquest Century Coupe

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1955 Daimler Conquest Century Coupe …. Sold

One of the best you will see. Extensively restored some years ago (see photos above) consequently the vehicle looks in amazing condition. During the professional rebuild the bodywork was dismantled and stripped to bare metal with full photographs on file.

Now sporting flawless bodywork in Masons Black over Georgian Silver, which compliments the unmarked, red leather interior. New, lined hood. Would make a fabulous Wedding Car, providing an extra income, as well as being a Classic Show car.

The Daimler Company described its new Drophead Coupe thus:…With the power-operated hood folded away you have a fast open 4-seat tourer. In seconds, when required, the hood comes up to the elegant ‘de ville’ position; and a further simple adjustment gives you a snug closed car with the warmth and comfort of a saloon. The hood is brought into action by a button under the dash.

With only 3 previous owners, the last keeper purchased the Daimler in 1986 from Dr Lionel Hiscock of Emsworth, Hants, who in turn had purchased it from the original owner, Rosemary Haward of Chichester. Both are listed on the Buff logbook. It appears to have covered only 87,500 miles in 64 years, of which only 3,500 have been since 1992.

Road tax and MOT exempt, however it has a new MOT to June 2020, for peace of mind. Recent upgrades include Flashing Indicators conversion instead of semaphores and electric fuel pump.

An opportunity to buy a rare British motorcar of fine tradition and engineering, which will surely appreciate. It is one of only 10 known surviving of the 234 Drophead Coupes made.

Ownership allows membership of the prestigious Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club, which offers technical support, spare parts, rallies and cheap insurance for these superb cars. Daimler for many years, held the Royal Warrant to supply motorcars to the Royal household.

Comes with folder of history including rare correspondence from Daimler Ltd. Supplied with a V5C, original Buff logbook, seven old MOTs, Handbook and Service manual and invoices and bills showing regular maintenance. Original tools, some spares.

For more on this unique car text/phone John on 07909 231414.

Car is located in Lytham St Annes, Lancs. Transport arranged at £1 pr/mile (one way only charged.

Video of Daimler Hood in operation         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFVTq4aq2u0&feature=youtu.be

Origins

The Conquest saloon (DJ252) was released to the public in 1953 as a replacement for the Daimler Consort, but was shorter and lighter, with better performance. The whole car appeared to have been developed within four months of Bernard Docker, then managing director of BSA, taking on the additional responsibility of managing director of Daimler in January 1953. The Daimler Conquest was meant to be an affordable Daimler, priced at ₤1066. (That price may well be linked to the name Conquest or then again maybe it was named after the 1953 British Conquest of Mt Everest) It was pedigree with pace, at a reasonable price. They still had luxurious, well-appointed traditional wood-grain and leather interiors.

Presented as a new car, the 75 hp (56 kW) Conquest actually originated from the 1950 Fourteen or Leda, produced by Daimler’s subsidiary, Lanchester. The chassis was suitably modified to accommodate the new 2.4-litre 6-cylinder engine. The usual Daimler large cruciform chassis had a double wishbone front suspension, with laminated torsion bars, telescopic dampers, and an anti-roll bar, while the rear suspension used leaf springs with telescopic dampers.

All cars featured automatic chassis lubrication to 21 points, using a pump controlled by exhaust heat at startup.

Cam and peg steering was used, and Girling hydro-mechanical brakes: hydraulic front, mechanical rear. The Daimler four-speed preselector gearbox with “fluid flywheel” was standard.

A saloon tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 had a top speed of 81.6 mph (131.3 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 24.3 seconds. A fuel consumption of 20.3 miles per imperial gallon was recorded. The test car cost £1511 including taxes.

A Conquest Century Drophead Coupe version was offered at £1,736 but only 234 were produced of which only 10 are known to survive.

Unfortunately, Conquest sales were affected by increasing prices and by the fuel shortage caused by the Suez Crisis, and production ended in January 1958 with a run of only 4,568 Conquest models, even before a replacement model was in production. Now a rare bird on the roads of GB with only 235 of all variants left .