Daimler
In 1893, the car without horses, which was gaining ground in France and Germany, still had no account in the British Isles. It was rather the toy of some wealthy, and their purpose was to have fun with him in the parks around their castles.
Not daring to use this machine on the road, because on the invention in question weighs the stupid law of the red flag, enacted mainly to benefit railway.
The young English Frederick Richard Simms has an appointment at a cold morning with Gottlieb Daimler, German inventor inspired was then 59 years. The young and the mature, both decided in nature, have agreed to create a company in England that uses patents engines and cars that have Daimler. Simms form Daimler Motor Syndicate Ltd., which buys patents and import all types of engines and cars and dares to take the first car from Germany in 1895.
Simms sold a year later his company Harry J. Lawson to form the Daimler Motor Company, Gottlieb Daimler and Lawson and Simms as directors of the technical officer. The same year Daimler show in a major exhibition in London, which is also visited by the Prince of Wales, very concerned by these devices.
The interest is not monarchical unanswered and the government finally endorsed a request from the magazine The Coach to repeal the law of dichosa flag. The speed limit is raised to 18 km / h. The joy is such that Lawson organizes a road trip from London to Brighton which keeps repeating every year.
The English Daimler built their own cars since 1897. The first units carry racks very similar to the Panhard & Levassor, another customer of Daimler still with German engines. Since that time, each year more distant Daimler English with regard to German models. To distinguish from one another, the English call their creations Coventry Daimler in Germany until they start to use from 1901 to the name of Mercedes models Daimler, which Don Gottlieb be reflected only his surname as a trade mark in the British cars, away from their own creations.
After the turn of the century, the Daimler in Coventry built their own engines, but also provided mechanical imported from Germany. For this reason the range was very wide, twelve engines of two four-cylinder volumes of between 1.1 and 4.5 litres. As in Germany, the British models were of high quality, designed more for comfort and the duration for which significant benefits.
In the early years of the new century, the American Knight offered to Daimler without its engine valves, very interesting for the English company. In 1909 came the first model with this engine, a system that Daimler used until 1932. Beginning in 1910 and branded Daimler left exclusively upscale models, since acquiring BSA This firm was responsible for small and Daimler models of the greats. The bodywork Daimler (made in-house not only varied greatly and was marked by its bulky radiator and hood three pieces. External resemblance between them was such that one could possess a fleet of nearly identical Daimler models manufactured between 1919 and 1929 feature which benefited mainly the funeral and taxi companies. Like the German Mercedes, Daimler were used a lot in these two jobs because of his very long life without complications.
After the Great War, in which Daimler produced tanks and planes, the twenties arrived with cars increasingly expensive and sumptuous. The Americans began to introduce very large engines in Europe and continued this fashion. Daimler introduced its first twelve-cylinder engine, the Double Six, an engine that was born of the union of two blocks of six cylinders, with a total volume of 7,136 cc. Again had among its clients the Royal Family.
Each of these two blocks of six-cylinder bore dual magneto ignition coil and a carburetor four bodies and a water pump; also had detachable butts and aluminum pistons. The models weighing between 2,500 and 3,000 kg according version and battle, which in turn could vary between 3,950 mm and 4,150 mm.
Normally Iban equipped with a body type limousine, but different coach also prepared two-door models with the necessary space for two people and a huge bonnet.
Daimler reached by then offer 74 different models. For example, the 25 HP could request with seven different racks and four battles to choose. Apart from different body-type and landaulet limousine for use with driver, Daimler possessed versions type saloon and tourer. The customer could also choose between models Glazed more or less, depending on the intimacy that wished.
In 1930 came an engine of 25 HP manufactured entirely from aluminium, which led to a sport that could well exceed 115 km / h. Two years later the engine Knight reached the end of its development, because the advantage of their low sound could be achieved with conventional engines. Daimler produced his replacement, an eight-cylinder engine in line with different valves in the head and cylinder capacity, which was born with a new range of models.
That same year Daimler introduced with the gearbox and hydraulic clutch lever on the steering wheel, which used until 1956. In 1931 the Group purchased SPX-Daimler Lanchester. While the BSA, some of them equipped with a small engine without valves, turned to the average user, Lanchester had to fill the gap between them and luxurious Daimler.
The British royal was a loyal customer of the mark, which was also registered all aristocrats of their environment. Since the Prince of Wales bought his first Daimler in 1900, the Royal Fleet was constantly renewed. In the twenties came to ask versions fairly monstrous, six-cylinder engine but with a cubicaje of 9,400 cc and racks with 4,110 mm battle in which mounted bodywork type limousine or landaulet measuring up to 5,670 mm in length and 1,940 mm wide.
Also highlighted in detail: could move in the fourth to 5 km / h in total silence, something that really enjoyed their noble buyers. These purchases were made until after World War II, when British royalty came to the Rolls-Royce.
Since 1934 came into production models with the new eight-cylinder engines online, used for the range, both cars gives the Royal Family as the company Daimler Hire Ltd of London, one of the largest rental companies limousines, which had 150 superb Daimler rental if needed.
At the same time also developed models sports such as Light Straight Eight, a model that reached 145 km / h and it was successful among customers driving his own car, since all were not huge Daimler limousines.
During World War II Construía again tanks, which tested techniques (a new six-cylinder engine, a hydraulic clutch, independent front suspension, etc.), which joined the postwar cars.
Apart from the 4,095 cc engine and 112 hp offered a model smaller, 2 Litre fi, and another senior, the 5 Litre fi, eight-cylinder in-line. All engines wore valves in the head and a complicated system of central lubrication of the frame. In 1949 came the Special Sport, a sports model on rack 2 Litre fi and clothing by the coach Barker, who opted for an elegant bodywork bicolor, with broad wings and a hood very longitude. The engine power rose to 85 hp, which benefits promised something more sporting.
During this period competition with Rolls-Royce was very tough, as it increasingly aristocrats chose competing models. To avoid losing a lot of ground, Daimler limousines continued presenting with eight-cylinder engines and interiors of the most refined. For example, the Empress II 1953/54, totally aluminum bodywork and wood made by Hooper.
Two years earlier was born Regency, three litres and 90 hp, a model to which promised so successful that the company had to develop new facilities. It also extended the offer with a cabriolet six seats, hood lock hydraulic and 100 hp.
It seemed that Daimler had come to the small engines, as the Empress was carrying a six-cylinder engine only and 3,468 cc, but competition with Rolls-Royce engines became necessary to launch more voluminous. In the autumn of 1954 appeared a range of big cars: Regency Mark II, along with 3,468 cc engine or 4,617 cc and 108-129 hp and Regina Mark II with 4,617 cc, 129 hp and a body of seven seats held by Hooper.
The successors of these models came out one years later: the One-O-Four replaced the Regency and the DK400 to Regina, both with 4,617 cc engine and 169 hp. In May 1953 Daimler introduced the Conquest, a model half propelled by a new six-cylinder engine, 2,433 cc and 75 hp. This range was expanded in 1954 with the Conquest Century, 101 hp and an atypical roadster with aluminum bodywork and panoramic windscreen.
But the biggest surprise was the true sporting SP 250 designed by Turner and equipped with 2,500 cc V8 engine, enough to meet the 200 km / h. It was the first model carrying the new eight-cylinder engine, which was also little later used in the limousine Majestic, an engine with hemispheric career short and cameras. To the surprise of the public, the sporting body wearing a polyester, something unimaginable in a Daimler.
Since 1956 Daimler offered automatic gearbox and in 1958 appeared disc brakes in series. When Jaguar Daimler bought in January 1960, Jaguar MkII received Daimler V8 engine and was offered as an engine parallel with the designation “2.5 Litre V8 Saloon.” This model only differed from Jaguar on the outside for his radiator and the letters D in the hubs of the wheels. The interior also kept details of the luxurious Daimler.
In 1964 ended production of sports SP250, which left the chain more than 2,600 units. In autumn 1966 Daimler introduced Sovereign, again based on a Jaguar, the model 420, which also took the engine.
It was in 1968 when it appeared again to a model Daimler authentic style of the brand, the limousine, a model with bodywork of eight seats, with three side windows and feature a safe lead that seemed overlay, a style which was later copied by some Cadillac. Its dimensions of 5.74 x 1.99 x 1.62 meters seemed somewhat exaggerated.
This Daimler did not have to do with Jaguar, at least outwardly, but under the hood wearing the mechanics of the Jaguar Xj6 and automatic gearbox. The body was carried out by Vanden Plas, coach entered into by the consortium in Austin.
In those years formed one of the large groups of car manufacturers in England. In 1960 Jaguar took possession of the Group SPX-Daimler-Lanchester, in the 1966 BMC (British Motor Corporation, which included brands Austin, MG, Morris, Princess, Vanden Plas and Wolseley) joined with Jaguar to form the British Motor Holding which emerged in 1968 the British Leyland (mainly trucks more brands Triumph and Rover).
Unfortunately, all these unions and meetings did little to reach group to the nineties. Jaguar and Daimler were in the hands of the multinational Ford.