by Brian Long Today very much part of the classic car scene around the world, the Daimler SP250 sports car has a fascinating and eventful history. The idea of staid and traditional Daimler building an open sports car is surprising enough in itself: that the car should be fibreglass-bodied, V8 engined and have a daring futuristic appearance stretches credibility to the limit ... but that's exactly what the company did produce between 1959 and 1964. A bold new design, the "Dart" as it was originally to be called, should have been struggling Daimler's saviour and a springboard to a range of new models, including saloons and coupes. Things didn't quite work out that way and Daimler was acquired by Jaguar, which led to the SP 250's Edward Turner-designed V8 engine being used in a Daimler-badged version of the Jaguar Mkll saloon. This book tells the full story of the SP 250 including concept, development and production history. Also covered are related models, specials, buying and restoration, chassis numbers, production numbers, colour schemes, clubs and specialists. Altogether a source book of essential information for SP 250 and Daimler enthusiasts. Contents: - The Daimler story
- The DN 250 project
- Birth of the SP
- The first production models
- Hooper's close-coupled saloon
- The cat pounces
- The B-Spec cars
- The C-Spec cars
- The SP 252 story
- V8 saloons
- Competition history
- SP specials
- Appendix I - Buying and restoration advice
- Appendix II - Factory modfication data (courtesy Bryan Purves)
- Appendix III - Rivals when new
- Appendix IV - Chassis numbers and production figures
- Appendix V - Owners' clubs & specialists
Hardcover, 26 x 26 cm, 192 Seiten, 50 farbige und 200 s/w-Abbildungen, englischer Text
|
