Tag Archives: Limousine

Jewel In The Crown – Daimler Majestic Major DQ450

In 1958 Daimler introduced it Majestic saloon with a six cylinder engine, three speed Borg Warner automatic transmission, power steering, and the first use of vacuum servo assisted disc brakes on a saloon car. However the by now antiquated separate chassis and bodywork construction meant that for all the cutting edge technology the car did not perform to the highest order.

In 1959 Daimler announced an addition to the range in the form of the Majestic Major which featured a 220 hp version Edward Turners V8 that first saw the light of day in the Daimler SP250 earlier in 1959 and a larger boot / trunk area than the standard Majestic.

Daimler Majestic Major, Classics at the Castle, Sherbourne

The new motor raised the top speed from 112 mph to a for the time sizzling 120 mph plus, there was no maximum speed restriction in force at the time, and acceleration from rest to 60 mph was achieved in just 9.7 seconds. Note the V in the air intake chrome trim differentiates a Majestic from a Majestic Major.

Daimler Majestic Major, Classics at the Castle, Sherbourne

In 1960 Jaguar took over Daimler and Jaguar founder William Lyons had one of the Majestic Major compact V8’s fitted to a forthcoming Jaguar Mk X and his ego was dissapointed to discover that the Daimler powered Mark X raised the cars top speed from 120 mph to 130 mph. Most might have turned this to their advantage but Sir William Lyons decided to let the jewel in the crown of the Jaguar Daimler empire wither away over the next nine years.

Daimler Majestic Major, Classics at the Castle, Sherbourne

Like it’s lesser Majestic sibling the Majestic Major was equipped with disc brakes on all four wheels, it also had a 42′ turning circle, power steering was initially only optional.

Daimler Majestic Major, Classics at the Castle, Sherbourne

The Majestic Major bodies were built by hand by Carbodies with old school cellulose paints covering the zinc phosphate protected steel panels which were supplied by Park Sheet Metal. The zinc phosphate protection proved to be less successful than anticipated.

Daimler Majestic Major, Classics at the Castle, Sherbourne

According to the owner of the model seen here at last years Classics at the Castle in Sherbourne in the Owners Manual specifies three different tyre pressures for normal motoring, over 90 mph and (unrestricted) Autobahn.

Daimler Majestic Major, Classics at the Castle, Sherbourne

Between 1960 and 1968 1187 Daimler Majestic Majors are thought to have been manufactured of which 30 are thought to still exist outside private collections and museums.

Thanks for joining me on this “Jewel In The Crown” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t for get to come back now !

Peripatetic Exile – Daimler 32 hp Straight Eight Limousine

Daimler received royal patronage in 1902 from King Edward VII and it was to maintain the Royal Warrant of Appointment as motor manufacturers to the Royal family until 1950 when the husband of the then Princess Elizabeth ordered a Rolls Royce.

Today’s featured Daimler Straight Eight is reputed to have been built in 1937 for the recently abdicated King Edward VIII and his wife who were exiled in France.

The car remained in France until it was sent to Park Ward by a titled owner for ‘minor revisions’.

In the 1960’s this Daimler was sent to Minnesotta by a US Airman and it was poorly restored by a subsequent owner in the 1990’s.

The straight eight motor has a capacity 4.624 litres 282 cui and remained in production from 1936 to 1953 and is rated at 32hp by multiplying the square of the diameter of the cylinders, in inches by the number of cylinders and dividing the sum by 2.5.

The current owners, vintage-wheels.co.uk, found the Daimler at the Hershey auctions in Pennsylvania and had her restored to her present condition 2000.

wintage-wheels.co.uk offer the Peripatetic Exile for hire at weddings and for filming.

A recent television credit includes appearances in several episodes of the British Broadcasting Corporations (BBC) detective series staring David Suchet as Belgian peripatetic detective in exile ‘Poirot’.

Thanks for joining me on this “Peripatetic Exile” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Perfect Car for A Wedding #4 – Lincoln Town Car Widebody Limousine

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Going through my back catalogue for last months Indianapolis 500 blog series I came across this pair of photographs of a Lincoln Town Car Widebody Limousine that ferried my friends Rick and Karen from the church where they got married to the wedding reception in Toronto.

This Limo, based on the first generation (’81 – ’89) Lincoln Town Car, a full size saloon, that was powered by 4.9 litre / 302 cui Windsor V8. The Town car came with an early digital trip computer and novel for the period keypad entry system.

I am not too sure which body manufacturer was responsible for this particular Widebody, if you know please chime in below, but it would appear that Larry ‘JR’ Hagman owned one.

I hope you will join me in sending best wishes to everyone getting married this week.

Thanks for looking in on today’s two way stretch limo edition of ‘Gettin a lil’ psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !