Daimler SP250 1959

[Sick Cylinder]

2,645 Daimler SP250's were produced between 1959 and 1964 including 30 which were purchased by the British Metropolitan Police. Originally named the Daimler Dart it was renamed the Daimler SP250 when Dodge threatened legal action over the Dart name.

The engine was a 2.5 litre twin carb, hemi-head V8 designed by Edward Turner who was better known for his motorcycle designs. Four wheel girling disc brakes were fitted and the fibreglass body was in typical late fifties style with fins at the rear. The car was available with either a four speed manual plus overdrive or three speed automatic gearbox.

Clip is a modern day road test:

 

[Dr P Grunfelde]

A great classic with period looks and an incredibly mechanically strong engine. A certain irony that the British Police turned to a car with an Edward Turner designed engine to solve the scourge of the "ton up" boys when those hooligans were charging around London on motorcyles designed by Edward Turner!

The "ton up" boys used to race their motorcyles round Londons streets at more than 100mph (the ton), normally from the Ace Café and round the North Circular road. One rider would challenge another and they would return to the café before the record on the juke box had ended - or often not return. So many young lads were killed during this craze that there was public outcry and the Police purchased a fleet of Daimler SP250's. Police spec cars had steel wheels without hub caps, were painted black and had a large bell at the front (police cars didn't have sirens in those days). The cars were unmarked and the police used them with the hoods down and their police uniforms showing - presumably the motorcyclists only raced in the dry! In place of the four speed manual plus overdrive box the police used a three speed auto geared for approximately 55mph in first, 85mph in second and 123mph in third. With a hemi head V8 and fibreglass body the cars had fantastic acceleration for the time and within 18 months had brought the "ton up" café racing craze under control.

Proof of the strength of Edward Turners engine design comes from the great drag racer and tuner Russ Carpenter who used a 2.5 litre Daimler hemi V8 to set many records including first sub 5 litre car under 8 seconds. He had been told by British Leyland that the engine couldn't develop more than 300bhp, but incredibly using a stock crankshaft and con rods and his own fuel injection system he eventually obtained 1,400 bhp. Enjoy this fantastically cheesy period clip of Russ Carpenter showing what that tiny hemi V8 masterpiece could do!

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Thanks for the extra information and classic dragster clip Dr P - a great find!

The following clip shows the great sound and acceleration of these fabulous classics.




This clip gives more information and features some beautifully restored examples.

 

[Dr P Grunfelde]

Here's an unusual use for a Daimler hemi V8!

 

[Dr P Grunfelde]

A nice shot of restored carbs and inlet for the Daimler V8 motor.

 

[mook]

The series A cars were a bit dodgy in terms of chassis rigidity - the doors used to open on their own when the chassis flexed round corners, but this was fixed on the series B and C cars. As you can see from this unusual shot it was theoretically a 2+2, but the back seat was only suitable for tiny children, shopping or golf clubs - but that is still more practical than many sports cars. Even though the front looks like a Catfish and the raygun styling makes the car resemble a plastic water pistol from some angles, it was a great car with a great sound and a fantastic hemi-head V8 so it would be a great addition to the game and a useful rival to the 1957 BMW 507 in GT6. They have quite similar specs and would be good to race against each other.

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Enjoy this video from Jay Leno's garage, which features a test drive, restoration and other details on this great classic:

 

[JKgo]

purchased by the British Metropolitan Police

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They just won the "Coolest Five-Os in the world" award!!

 

[Time_Cop]

Very nice find.

We don't have enough of these cars in Gran Turismo.

 

[CostasDrifter]

Nice car. Really like that "frog' face!

 

[Sick Cylinder]

....

They just won the "Coolest Five-Os in the world" award!!

Have a look at the Humber and Daimler Police cars in this short clip:

 

[Dotini]

Thought by some at the time to be ugly, this was in fact a great car, or at least far superior to the common MG's, TR's and Healeys available back in the day. Many were seen by me on the streets of Seattle in the 60's, and they raced well, too.