About this Daimler SP250

SOLD

The Daimler SP250 was launched as the 'Daimler Dart' at the New York Motor Show in April 1959 (and unofficially voted as the ugliest car at the show) although preliminary details and pictures first appeared in ‘The Motor’ on 1st April 1959. Unfortunately, its baptism at the New York Show was overshadowed by the Chrysler Corporation objecting to Daimler’s use of the name ‘Dart’, as Chrysler had previously registered that name for one of its own in-house Dodge models, therefore it became known as the SP250 which was its production type number, but affectionately it has always been called the 'Daimler Dart'.

The Metropolitan Police recognised the 120mph plus capability of the car and they purchased 26 Black Daimler Dart's which were used as 'high speed' chase cars and the mere sight of a black SP250 was more than sufficient to quell an errant speeding car driver and the 'ton-up' biker dashing around the North Circular Road in London near the notorious Ace Café.

The SP250 had a Fibreglass Body mounted on a Ladder frame Chassis and had a 2547cc V8 Engine with Hemispherical Aluminium Cylinder Heads and a 5 main bearing Crankshaft and it produced 140bhp @ 5800 rpm with a Maximum Torque of 155lbs ft. This was mated to a 4 Speed Manual Gearbox with an optional Overdrive or with an Automatic Transmission. Due to the fact that almost 50% of production would be destined for the USA and Canada, a large number of the car's features were optional extras to save on import duties into the United States.

See the Owners Club page for more detailed information on the car: https://daimlersp250dartownersclub.com/history/

According to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust production record, this lovely 'A' Spec Daimler SP250 Dart - Chassis No: 100689 was built on 27th April 1960 and supplied by Daimler dealers Spink Motors in Bournemouth to a Mr Dennis Alsop and first registered on 2nd May 1960 with his personal number plate DA 12. The car is finished in its original colour of Rochester Red, albeit with a with a Black vinyl interior now in place of its original Tan interior, and comes with a Black Vinyl Soft Top, Tonneau Cover, optional factory Hardtop in Black, Smiths heater, Wire Wheels and Overdrive Gearbox.

Mr Alsop kept the car for nearly 50 years and did have a restoration carried out on the car in the late 1990's/early 2000's before he eventually sold the car to Classic Automobiles in Wandsworth, London in April 2009, and the mileage recorded on the speedometer at this time was circa 4,400. Unfortunately, little is known of the car's early history during Mr Alsop's 49 years of ownership as the early paperwork was lost. However, there are some old MOT certificates in the file dating back to June 1999 with the mileage indicated at 00454 and it has been consistent since then, but we dont know if the speedometer was replaced or zero'd after the restoration or it was actually 100,454. Prior to selling the car, Mr Alsop removed his private plate DA 12 in February 2007 and the car was issued with its current age-related number plate 6516 EL.

Classic Automobiles sold the car in May 2009 with 4,710 miles on the speedometer to a Mr Aldo Salvade in Genoa, Italy who had a small collection of Classic Cars, and there is correspondence in the file from him regarding the car and works carried out by him during his ownership. Works included a full Gearbox rebuild along with a new Clutch, Water Pump and numerous other new parts and there are lots of invoices in the file for parts purchased from SC Parts and specialist Barry Thorne.

The Dart spent 10 years with Mr Salvade at his home in Tuscany until he sold it in 2018 to his English neighbour in Tuscany who subsequently had the car transported back to his home here in Stratford Upon Avon before selling it to Evoke Classics in London in April 2019. They repainted the car and sold it to a customer in Bristol in August 2019 and after enjoying the car for 3 years, he offered the car to us and we purchased the car from him in early 2022 for stock.

We sold the car in May 2022 to a car collector who put it in storage with a number of other cars that he had bought, but due to a change in his personal circumstances, he is now selling his car collection and we have been given the Dart back to sell for him.

It is in lovely condition and comes with its original tonneau cover & hood cover and its original black factory hard top which has been renovated and repainted and the interior is also really very nice. It has a brand new set of Chrome Wire Wheels with the correct and period B F Goodrich tyres fitted and it is lovely to drive.

The history file contains lots of old invoices, MOT certificates and a number of old Tax Discs, Heritage Trust Certificate, photographs of the car completely stripped for repainting in 2019 and its previous ownership history from new. It is also clear on all HPi records and comes with an HPi certificate.

The SP250 is a very reliable car and they are great fun to drive and perfect for touring around the UK and Europe. They are also a pretty rare site on our roads today as only 2,654 cars were built between 1959 and 1964 and over half of these were exported, so they have started to become very collectible.

As an Historic vehicle it is Road Tax free, MOT exempt and ULEZ free and can be insured very cheaply on a collectors classic car insurance policy.

Upon sale the car will come with a new MOT and pre-sales checkover and our own standard 6 month mechanical warranty.

Car on display @ our showrooms in Mortlake, SW London.

NB: Classic Chrome Ltd make every effort to ensure that the information in this advertisement is accurate and all statements as to provenance and condition are given as opinions only. When describing any car that is more than 20 years old, we sometimes have to rely on the car’s history file and any information provided by the previous owner(s). This information in passed on in good faith and is therefore not purported to be a statement of fact. Any prospective purchaser must satisfy themselves as to the condition and fitness for use of the vehicle. This does not affect your statutory rights.