Daimler Cars | Used Cars, Motorbikes, Vans & Other Vehicles

Daimler is not only Britain's oldest car marque; it is also one of the few names associated with exclusive cars and quality beyond the norm. The founder of the Daimler Company, Gottlieb Daimler, is credited with the invention of the modern car engine which has given rise to every vehicle on the road today.

The History of Daimler
Gottlieb Daimler revolutionised the automobile industry in 1885 when he invented what is considered today to be the modern car engine. His first working example had a break-horse-power of 0.5 and a cubic capacity of 163. Within a year he had doubled these figures giving his first Daimler car a top speed of around 7 miles per hour! In 1887 he opened his first manufacturing factory and produced over 20 engines in his first year of production.

It didn't take long for the Daimler engine to catch the attention of investors and in 1895 the patent was bought by the Englishman Harry Lawson. On 14th January the following year, Lawson formed the Daimler Motor Company Ltd in Coventry. The basic patent was improved and expanded on each year, keeping the Daimler engine one step ahead of the competition. At this point the company didn't manufacture their own chassis' or car bodies and so they had these shipped to the factory to produce complete cars.

In 1902 King Edward VII took delivery of his first Daimler and quickly honoured the company with the Royal Warrant. Production continued unabated through the years until the First World War changed the company's priorities. During this time Daimler manufactured over 4000 lorries in support of the war effort, plus they produced a number of engines for both aircrafts and tanks.

By 1924 the Daimler Company had 7 basic models to choose from and in 1926 they launched the Daimler Double Six � the first V12 in Europe that did about 10 miles per gallon! By this time the company had become a subsidiary of BSA and they remained so until Jaguar cars took control in 1960.

Today Daimler only produces one model � the Daimler Super Eight which will set you back in excess of �80,000 if bought new.

Landmark Models
Daimler are famous for a number of models and throughout their long production history they have developed numerous variations of each model. One of their first cars was the 1900 22hp La Turbie Rennwagon. This was one of the first cars to manage speeds of over 12 mph and so Lawson had to appeal against a standing law that said all automobiles had to be preceded by a walking man with a red flag.

1931 saw the release of the Daimler Double Six. This was an impressive car with an even more impressive V12 engine, the first of its kind in Europe. Throughout the next few years the company modified the body to produce a number of individual models, many of which sold well with the British elite. In 1938, the Daimler DB18 was developed with production carrying on through to 1952. It was this model that Winston Churchill used as his private vehicle during the war years.

When Jaguar took over the Daimler Company in 1960, the new models started to look similar to the stereotypical Jaguar and in 1961 the new sporty Daimler SP250 and the Daimler 250 were launched. Being associated with the prestigious names of Daimler and Jaguar these luxury cars sold well and production continued for a large number of years. The 70s saw Daimler move in a different direction with the Daimler Limousine and the Daimler DS420. This last model was owned and cherished by the Queen Mother for many years and she even had one put on board the royal yacht for when she was travelling abroad.

The Current Model
Today, Daimler only manufacture one model � the Daimler Super Eight. With its aluminium body, voice activated four zone climate control, walnut veneer with boxwood inlays, finest leather upholstery, fully integrated multimedia system, Sat Nav system worthy of the space shuttle and of course it 400bhp, 4.2 litre supercharged V8 engine, this car is the height of luxury and class.

Buying a Second Hand Daimler
Unless you have around �80,000 spare for the new Super Eight you will probably have to buy your Daimler second hand. The 1990 models of the Double Six can be bought from around �4000 depending on the condition and mileage. The classic models are often priced higher than their more recent counterparts however the quality and reliability that the Daimler Company has always upheld means that even vintage cars should be a sound buy.

Models produced after the 1960 Jaguar takeover should have very few problems, especially since their owners will have cherished them since the day they bought them. Any specific things to watch out for on particular models can easily be researched on the internet. For older cars, it might be worth taking a qualified mechanic to look over the car before you decide to buy it. They will be able to spot any potential problems that you can't see or that you choose to ignore because you want the car so much! Most second hand Daimlers are in very good condition because they are lovingly cared for by their owners however it is still probably worth getting a second opinion from an expert.