Drivetrain
Chassis
Body
Dealer Info
tel: +44 207 937 8487Graeme Hunt Ltd.
1A The Garages
Coppock Close
Battersea , SW11 2LE
1978 Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas - LHD & 32.000 Kms ONLY
This immaculate, and exceedingly rare, Double Six Vanden Plas was originally supplied via British Leyland, Switzerland to her one and only owner, in Lugano
She stayed registered there until 1987, when she was taken back to London, UK registered, and kept in the car park of the famous and exclusive Barbican Apartment block in the City of London.
She was used annually to go back to Switzerland, as attested by the motorway Carnet stickers for 1993 , 1996 & 1997 still in her history file
Her owner was obviously a well to do Lady and as can be expected with a car as expensive as this was when new, and having homes in Central London and Lugano, her lifestyle was rather luxurious. Indeed she didn't have one Grand Piano but two!!
The Daimler is finished in Morello Cherry with Chamois hide interior. As the top of the range Leyland car in it's day finishing was carried out by hand using the coachbuilding craftsmen of Vanden Plas. Special hides, carpets and veneers were utilised and the standard specification included a radio / stereo with electric aerial and 4 door mounted speakers, chrome pressed steel wheels, chrome side strip and hand finished coach lines, everflex roof covering, special paint colour choice (this colour as used on the Vanden Plas brochure cover vehicle), 2 door mirrors adjusted internally, electric windows x 4, individual reading lights to the rear compartment, over rugs, sundym windows, central locking and last but not least automatic air conditioning.
Within the history file there is an original instruction manual, a separate brochure for the then new GM400 gearbox, electronic fuel injection system diagnostic aid, fuel consumption addendum and an air conditioning wiring diagram. There is also, nicely, an original sales brochure from period too and a Heritage Certificate issued in January 2011 confirming production date of 1977 & first despatch date of January 1978.
Fully serviced and recommissioned after storage within the Barbican since 1999 she is now running wonderfully and it is easy to see how these wonderful express saloons were voted The Best Luxury Car In The World by Car Magazine and also Autocar & Motor in period - quite an achievement when they were up against the Silver Shadow II, Mercedes 450SEL 6.9 and the BMW 3.3LiA.
Research shows that only 507 series II LHD VdP were made, between 1973 and 1978. This example is rarer still with the GM400 gearbox, produced for the last 2 years of the 6 year production run. Logically therefore we can surmise that only 1/3 of the production run had this later gearbox, so in effect only 169 and of which we wonder how many survive, especially in this condition too.
1978 Daimler Double
Story and History
1978 Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas - LHD & 32.000 Kms ONLY
This immaculate, and exceedingly rare, Double Six Vanden Plas was originally supplied via British Leyland, Switzerland to her one and only owner, in Lugano
She stayed registered there until 1987, when she was taken back to London, UK registered, and kept in the car park of the famous and exclusive Barbican Apartment block in the City of London.
She was used annually to go back to Switzerland, as attested by the motorway Carnet stickers for 1993 , 1996 & 1997 still in her history file
Her owner was obviously a well to do Lady and as can be expected with a car as expensive as this was when new, and having homes in Central London and Lugano, her lifestyle was rather luxurious. Indeed she didn't have one Grand Piano but two!!
The Daimler is finished in Morello Cherry with Chamois hide interior. As the top of the range Leyland car in it's day finishing was carried out by hand using the coachbuilding craftsmen of Vanden Plas. Special hides, carpets and veneers were utilised and the standard specification included a radio / stereo with electric aerial and 4 door mounted speakers, chrome pressed steel wheels, chrome side strip and hand finished coach lines, everflex roof covering, special paint colour choice (this colour as used on the Vanden Plas brochure cover vehicle), 2 door mirrors adjusted internally, electric windows x 4, individual reading lights to the rear compartment, over rugs, sundym windows, central locking and last but not least automatic air conditioning.
Within the history file there is an original instruction manual, a separate brochure for the then new GM400 gearbox, electronic fuel injection system diagnostic aid, fuel consumption addendum and an air conditioning wiring diagram. There is also, nicely, an original sales brochure from period too and a Heritage Certificate issued in January 2011 confirming production date of 1977 & first despatch date of January 1978.
Fully serviced and recommissioned after storage within the Barbican since 1999 she is now running wonderfully and it is easy to see how these wonderful express saloons were voted The Best Luxury Car In The World by Car Magazine and also Autocar & Motor in period - quite an achievement when they were up against the Silver Shadow II, Mercedes 450SEL 6.9 and the BMW 3.3LiA.
Research shows that only 507 series II LHD VdP were made, between 1973 and 1978. This example is rarer still with the GM400 gearbox, produced for the last 2 years of the 6 year production run. Logically therefore we can surmise that only 1/3 of the production run had this later gearbox, so in effect only 169 and of which we wonder how many survive, especially in this condition too.
