Vintage Daimler needs restoration

ADAIMLER Dart SP250 sports car which has been discovered in an old garage in Bournemouth and needing total restoration is expected to sell for £10,000 in the Charterhouse specialist auction of vintage and classic cars on Thursday, March 3.

“It was the phone call you dream of as an auctioneer with the client saying her father had passed away and there was an old twoseater sports car in the garage she needed help with,” commented Richard Bromell. “Having arranged a convenient date and time to meet I was not disappointed when the garage doors were opened to reveal the Daimler Dart.”

Originally supplied by Spink (Bournemouth) Garage, the 1960 Daimler Dart SP250 A Spec was the 54th SP250 to be produced and has been tucked away in its garage since 1974. It is understood by the family to have been bought by the deceased owner in the early 1960’s. It was used as every day transport before being locked away and even brought new born children home from Bournemouth Hospital despite being just a two seater.

With the family home now cleared, the Daimler has been dragged out of its resting place after 48 years. Although the garage was in pretty poor condition it managed to protect the Daimler from the elements and the car has remained largely intact.

The Daimler Dart was launched at the New York Motor Show in 1959 where it was unofficially dubbed the ugliest car in the show. Fitted with a 2.5 litre V8 engine and a fibreglass body it had a tested top speed of 123mph and a 0-60mph time of 8.9 seconds when new.

Of the 2,654 SP250’s produced during its five-year production run several were bought by Police forces where they were used by Traffic Departments to catch up with speeders, and in particular café racer bikers.

Today a Daimler Dart SP250 is a rare sight on the roads. Although they were not particularly popular when new they are now highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. Rarely do they come up for sale and those that do are restored making this such an exciting discovery.

Coming from a deceased estate in Bournemouth, this Daimler is estimated at £8,000-10,000 and is being sold without reserve at the Charterhouse auction on Thursday, March 3 at the Haynes International Motor Museum, Sparkford, Somerset.

Charterhouse can be contacted for advice and valuations at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne on 01935 812277 or via www.charterhouse-auction.com.

> Daimler Dart SP250 in its Bournemouth garage where it has remained in and not turned a wheel for the past 48 years