1968 Daimler V8 250 Saloon

One to excite the true enthusiasts indeed, for this mighty Daimler is one of the very rare manual gearbox models, which originally caused such consternation amongst Jaguar management because it was actually quicker than their much-revered Mk II saloon. So it had to go, thereby making it highly collectable today.  

Jaguar’s acquisition of Daimler was really to gain additional premises and not perhaps to develop the existing models themselves. At this time however, there was clearly a niche for good quality medium sized saloons with decent performance, so it seemed sensible to utilise Turner’s 2.5 litre which was under development by Daimler and fit it into the Mk II Jaguar shell. In order to retain the quality expected of the marque, a higher specification was offered, enriching the interior accommodation with real leather and walnut trimmings and making various changes to accept the much lighter power unit. Standard cars received the Borg-Warner automatic gearbox, which was perfectly adequate, but as previously mentioned, a few manual gearbox examples were available in 1967. On a historical note, the 250 became the first Daimler to be produced without a separate chassis.

We are very pleased to offer then OHO 286G, one of just 240 Daimler V8 250 Saloons manufactured with a manual gearbox, overdrive and power steering, and with an exceptional history.

OHO 286G was first owned by Major C Page of Bournemouth, who purchased it from Gates Engineering of Brockenhurst in August 1968. Ownership passed to his wife in 1977 and in the late 1980s instructed restoration work, which included an engine rebuild, replacement of inner sills, bodywork repairs and a lower half respray. The Daimler was serviced regularly and correctly throughout these first two ownerships. In 1991, Mr Bee of Wimborne purchased the motor car, we understand it was put into dry storage for a decade before being recommissioned and then sold to its forth owner, a Mr P Neild of Salisbury, who also had the V8 250 continuously serviced and carried out regular maintenance work, including the rebuilding of the cylinder head and the repainting of the N/S/F door. The current custodian bought the Daimler in 2007 and has continued with an immaculately documented programme of maintenance and repair. An entire file of invoices dating from 2007 reveals parts procured and work carried out that include a new starter motor in 2010, new N/S/F brake caliper, clutch slave cylinder seal, both bottom ball joint gaiters, N/S top ball joint gaiter, ignition coil, head gasket set and timing chain cover in 2014, a new thrust bearing in 2015, re-wiring and a new alternator in 2016, two new front brake pistons, caliper seals and a new battery in 2017, new suspension bushes, link bushes and top and lower ball joints in 2021, and last year, the front jacking point was replaced and the Daimler was set up on the Sigma Engineering Rolling Road following the fitting of electronic ignition. All of this maintenance has resulted in a truly difficult to fault V8 250 and an exciting opportunity to purchase for the first time in seventeen years.

The extensive history files include service manuals (volumes 1, 2, 2a and 3), history on the model for display purposes, a Jaguar Heritage Trust dating certificate, the original bill of sale and receipts and correspondence from 1968, a thorough ownership history, service records, numerous invoices including those previously mentioned from the current ownership and correspondence, together with the original handbook, original list of service facilities and the original maintenance voucher book all in their original wallet, plus an almost continuous run of MOT test certificates from 2001, V5 documents and the V5C registration certificate.