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Interesting V8 Saloon - post edited

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 4:40 pm
by KV8
Please see ebay item 264457742760
This car was obviously at a prototype stage when Jaguar took over. It is reminiscent of the Standard Vanguard Vignale and think I did read somewhere a few years ago that Daimler had explored a possible liason with Standard. However I did not realise this had gone as far as this leaflet indicates

Anyone with further details ?

This post has been edited as the pasted link to the ebay item would not work for some reason?

Regards

H

Re: Interesting V8 Saloon - post edited

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 6:08 pm
by John-B
see ebay item 264457742760 sales brochure £75
s-l225.jpg
s-l225.jpg (7.88 KiB) Viewed 1469 times
hideous :o

Re: Interesting V8 Saloon - post edited

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 7:26 pm
by Vortex O'Plinth
The brochure appears to be for the Hooper bodied monstrosity on the SP250 chassis, unveiled at Earls Court in 1959....
Capture.JPG
I didn't realise it had actually reached a point where a sales brochure was produced. An interesting piece of history!

Re: Interesting V8 Saloon - post edited

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:27 am
by Barrie
KV8 wrote: Sun Sep 08, 2019 4:40 pm Please see ebay item 264457742760
This car was obviously at a prototype stage when Jaguar took over. It is reminiscent of the Standard Vanguard Vignale and think I did read somewhere a few years ago that Daimler had explored a possible liason with Standard. However I did not realise this had gone as far as this leaflet indicates

Anyone with further details ?
Regards
H
Interesting post H.
It is fairly odd looking and no surprise that no one wanted one.
I’ve never seen a picture of the interior of the car – does anyone have one that they can post?
Hooper seem to loose their mojo in the latter part of the 50s with the Daimler Empress being the last of their attractive cars. There was subsequent shape called 'Empress' used for Bentley and RR which seemed to sell quite well. It’s this one:
bentley-empress-.jpg
It’s somewhat redolent of the ‘Daimler Continental’ which was another one-off.
65.jpg
I must say I’m having some difficulty in likening the Hooper SP250 to the Standard Vignale. Is this the one you meant?
Standard%20Vanguard%20Vignale%20front.jpg
The body of the Hooper SP250 was made of glass fibre which was odd for Hooper who more normally would have used aluminium and I think is probably indicative of the lack of funds/confidence in the product. It’s quite shameful really that before the Jaguar takeover Daimler were not seeking out body designs elsewhere, particularly Italy which was producing lots of really attractive bodies. Imagine what they could have produced with that lovely 2 ½ litre engine (or even the 4 ½! which surely would have rivalled Ferrari and Maserati) Maybe like this 1959 Lancia which is a bit more handsome than Hooper's attempt!
9979736Zagato_Lancia_Flaminia_2500_Sport_1959_09.jpg

Re: Interesting V8 Saloon - post edited

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 12:50 pm
by Vortex O'Plinth
It does appear that the DP250 - as the Hooper bodied car was designated - was based very closely indeed on the SP250. This rear view of the car (that to my eyes does nothing to enhance the lines) permits a view through the windows that shows what seems to be an almost standard SP dash......
Capture3.JPG
The description of the car in the brochure shares a lot in common with that of the SP too....
Capture1.JPG
and the list of optional extras is almost the same as for the SP....
Capture2.JPG
Shame that none survive - critics of the SP's shape would really have a field day!

Re: Interesting V8 Saloon - post edited

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 2:43 pm
by Christopher Storey
Barrie wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:27 am
It’s quite shameful really that before the Jaguar takeover Daimler were not seeking out body designs elsewhere, particularly Italy which was producing lots of really attractive bodies. Imagine what they could have produced with that lovely 2 ½ litre engine (or even the 4 ½! which surely would have rivalled Ferrari and Maserati) Maybe like this 1959 Lancia which is a bit more handsome than Hooper's attempt!
I rather thought that Daimler had approached Vauxhall with a view to using the body of the PB Cresta/Velox for a V8 saloon, but that in the end nothing came of it because Jaguar leapt in

Re: Interesting V8 Saloon - post edited

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 3:14 pm
by Barrie
Christopher Storey wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2019 2:43 pm I rather thought that Daimler had approached Vauxhall with a view to using the body of the PB Cresta/Velox for a V8 saloon, but that in the end nothing came of it because Jaguar leapt in
Although never built by Daimler here's the heroic story of someone who did http://www.daimler-dn250.net/index.htm (you'll have to follow links to find the step-by-step photographic record)
and here's the finished product.
Daimler Vauxhal.jpg