2015-11-21 13:51:41 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 3/16
classiccars.brightwells.com/viewdetails.php

Auction description:
Brightwells Classic Vehicles
Wednesday 25th November 2015
Lot number 50
Estimate £15,000 - £18,000
Description Daimler 2.5 V8 Saloon
Registration BHW 477A
Year 1963
Colour Opalescent Gunmetal Grey
Engine size 2,548 cc
Chassis No. P1A2550BW
Engine No. 7A1762
Documents V5C; original buff log book; MOT November 2016; 5 old MOTs; restoration and service invoices; handbook

THIS CAR WILL NOW BE IN OUR 2nd MARCH SALE

As the original buff log book shows, this Daimler was first registered to Matthew Hall & Co of Tottenham Court Road, London, on 6th November 1963, remaining in their hands until it passed to a new owner in Essex in February 1969. It then had two further Essex owners before being put into storage in 1977 where it was to remain for the next 25 years.

Rescued from storage in 2002, it was then partially recommissioned by another owner before passing to Kirby Cross Garage of Frinton-on-Sea who got the car up to MOT standard in December 2009. It was at around this point that the car lost its original number plate, 404 PF, perhaps the motive for getting it MOTd in the first place. Although many new parts had been fitted during the overhaul and it was now in good mechanical health, it still left something to be desired cosmetically.

The vendor bought the car in 2010 and set about a much more thorough restoration, having the bodywork professionally repaired with new sills, front wheelarch repair sections and n/s crows foot. It was then fully repainted in Opalescent Gunmetal Grey and all the glass and door rubbers were renewed.

The interior was carefully refurbished with a new headlining, new furflex, new carpets, re-polished woodwork and thorough cleaning of the original red leather upholstery which was far too nicely patinated to replace. The chromework is also original and, while no longer as shiny as it once was, it does add to the graceful 'lived in' character of the car.

Mechanically the Daimler was also further improved with new rear shock absorbers, fuel pump, water pump, belts, hoses, brake master cylinder, power steering high pressure hose, automatic transmission cooler pipes, wiring loom repairs plus numerous other items, all fully documented by many invoices and photographs in the history file.

By this stage a barn conversion project had got in the way and the Daimler was more or less put aside to concentrate on the building work, which is still ongoing and consuming ever more time and resources, hence the reason for the car being reluctantly put into this auction. Fully serviced shortly before the sale with new fluids and filters etc, the car also flew through its MOT in November, the tester commenting on how good it was underneath, the only advisory being that all the tyres are past their best due to age.

The car is now showing some 88,300 miles on the clock which is almost certainly genuine and is backed up by many service records and old MOTs going right back to the early 1970s. All it now needs is a fortunate new owner to reap the benefits of all the hard work invested in the car to date.

PS: This car also has a discreetly fitted iPod port; uprated Halogen headlamps; a battery isolator switch; a new battery; an owner's handbook.

Please note that not all the door rubbers were in place on the occasion of our visit to take these photos, but they have since been properly fitted, as have the original Britax seat belts.

2016-06-05 15:44:30 | pauls writes:

Auction result:
Lot number 91
Hammer value £12,500