Non stop restoration: 1937 Daimler 15

Letter to the editor

Owner Dave Bennett reports: Daimler manufactured the fully functioning powered rolling chassis, the customer then chose a suitable "body" from a choice of coach builders such as Mulliner, Hooper, Tickford, etc. The car I own is a 1937 Daimler 15 with a Mulliner Sports Saloon body.

The engine is a straight 6 cylinder 2166cc unit feeding a Wilson pre-selector gearbox and a fluid flywheel. She runs on 17 inch spoked wheels (5.25 / 5.50 cross ply tyres). Zero to 60 takes for ever because I don't drive her above 50 mph!

In previous years the Daimler 15's had been produced with hydraulic brakes. The 1937 models reverted to a superior Girling mechanical braking system.
Fitted with a fully functioning sun roof and a windscreen that winds open (hinged at the top) the Mulliner Sports Saloon is a joy to drive on warm days.

I have resisted the temptation to fit flashing indicators, relying instead on a combination of the semaphore arms and appropriate arm signals. Note the two sets of headlamps; one pair for main beam & the other for dipped beam!

In October 2011 she passed her MOT with no advisories, so I'm looking forward to another year of (hopefully) trouble free motoring and non-stop restoration (she is a running restoration project). Next enhancements are interior headlining and replacing the lower part of the door cards.

Publié:

lundi mars 8th, 2021

David Scott

10 Mars 2021, 09:08

I can understand the owners reluctance to fit flashing indicators, but they are, to my mind, essential today as almost nobody under 60 understands hand signals! Especially as I live in Normandy!!! So many people make a dogs breakfast of what really is a very simple job nowadays with the ready availability of coloured LED bulbs, a pair of faux reversing lamps of period style, fitted with a yellow LED "bulb" looks perfectly acceptable and at the front the sidelights can usually be converted using the MGA type double bulb holder, if not a pair of period spotlights or sidelights can be fitted with a yellow LED, but absolutely no need for cheapo Halfords yellow trailer lights or those horrible cheap Lucas indicators used on Land Rovers, it's not harc and ypu will be a lot safer on the road!!!!

Geoffrey Pidd

05 Mars 2021, 09:36

Hi Dave,
My father briefly owned a similar car around 1958/9....
I was 14 at the time so my memory is rather hazy.
It had beige Bedford cord seat coverings and the tappet clearances were something like 54 and 56 thou"........very wide by most standards.
I can't remember the reg but it was very similar to yours with only 6 diggets.
It also had a small advance/retard button in the centre of the steering wheel.
And I 'think' the spare wheel was housed in the boot lid (but that could have been in a Triumph Renown) which he bought later.
It's amazing what detritus you remember when young!
Great car well done for keeping it going.
Regards,
Geoff

Inconnu

02 Juillet 2012, 20:09

Hi,I once owned a 1947 Daimler, did not complete the rebuild but did rebuild a 1962MGA. In their wiring diagram you will see how they have a circuit to flash the parking lights eliminating the need for additional lamps. Best of luck - Carl

Inconnu

25 Janvier 2012, 05:11

I am glad that efforts are taken to preserve our cars for the future generations to see.

Inconnu

08 Décembre 2011, 21:10

The road test published by Autocar of this particular model showed a measured top speed of 72 mph. The reason that I keep the speed down to 50mph max is down to the higher burning temperatures of modern E5 and E10 fuels (5% ethanol added as a matter of course today, with 10% due in a couple of years). Even with a lead replacement additive I have heard of several incidents of the head gasket blowing between cylinders 5 and 6. Running with a slightly rich fuel mixture(to reduce combustion temperature) and keeping the revs down avoids blowing the gasket.

Inconnu

31 Octobre 2011, 16:44

In the 1930's there was some similarity between Daimler in England and Packard in the USA. Packard was saved at that time by the economically priced 120 and Daimler by the 15. In 1937 Daimler sold 2850 of them, but only 1,000 (exactly) of their four other models. Mr bennett is wise to limit himself to 50mph- like my Talbot (which competed with it but sold less), this model managed about 65mph flat out when new, 0 to 50mph in 23 seconds. The chassis cost Â£350, the fine Mulliner body a mere Â£125. The car gave buyers Daimlers prestige image plus the (almost) foolproof 'Daimler tranmission' for half the price of most other Daimler models. Unfortunately, however, the proliferation of cheaper cars depreciated the image of the company, which, as in the caes of Packard, proved disastrous post- war.

Non stop restoration: 1937 Daimler 15

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