Description

1968 Daimler V8 250

Engine rebuilt by V8 guru Russ Carpenter and fewer than 100 miles since; new tyres; new battery; power steering; ex-Devon motor museum; only four owners from new; a really genuine example of this sporting saloon

First registered in Chester in July 1968, this Daimler V8 250 has had just four owners from new, according to the V5C, old invoices showing that one of them, Mr P Fisher of Shrewsbury, owned the car for at least 30 years (1980 – 2010).

A run of 32 old MOTs back to 1979 (when it had covered 66,257 miles) show that the car has always been in light regular use, with lots of invoices to show careful upkeep during this time although it typically covered under 1,000 miles per year. It had a new speedo in 2000 when it had covered c.106,000 miles, the odometer currently showing 7,543 miles so the true total is 113,500 miles.

It seems that the bodywork was restored in 1981 with repairs to the wings and sills and it has had occasional oil spraying underneath to keep rust at bay since.

Our vendor acquired the car from a museum in Devon in 2018. It soon became apparent that the engine was smoking so in June 2021 it was sent to Russ Carpenter of Guildford for a full rebuild. The UK’s leading Daimler V8 specialist, Russ did all the usual things (re-bore; new pistons and bearings; reground crank; new timing chain etc) and also incorporated 12 modifications to make the engine more suited to modern driving conditions (unleaded heads; modern oil seals; uprated oil pump; porting and balancing; ethanol-proof fuel floats etc), the bill for this lot coming to £6,782. The car also received a new set of tyres, a new battery and a new brake servo at the same time.

Since the engine was rebuilt it has only covered around 75 miles and is still running-in, instructions on file stating that it must not exceed 3,500rpm for 1,000 miles at which point the oil and filter must be changed and the tappets must be checked and reset if necessary. The vendor also states that the carburettors will need tuning (they were rebuilt along with the engine but have not yet been set up properly in the car) and that the kickdown cable will need final adjustment.  

Finished in Golden Sand with a nicely mellowed red leather interior and the desirable option of power steering, it looks like a really genuine old car and should have many more years of faithful service ahead of it.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com