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Docker's Daimlers

JohnRidley
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Re: Docker's Daimlers

Post by JohnRidley »

Ah, I remember the meal well - she had quite a presence! JohnR

JohnRidley
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Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2016 11:23 am

Re: Docker's Daimlers

Post by JohnRidley »

Richard's books arrived today - great service. It's a good introduction to "our" cars of the period. I still find the Empress line the height of elegance, particularly in 2-door 3L guise, but then I may be a touch biased. JohnR

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John-B
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Re: Docker's Daimlers

Post by John-B »

I got my copy today which included a rear view of my Dart and Richard's comment is that it was "SP250's least striking aspect" which means he thinks it's ugly. However, I agree. It's why many people think the Dart is ugly.

It was picked as number 9 out of 10 in the top ten ugliest cars ever created: This American roadster was launched in 1959, it was powered by a 2.5 liter Hemi V8 engine and 2,645 were produced in total. This car was picked for the top 10 because of its ugly front end, it looks like the designers had modeled it on a thick lipped fish. http://dailynewsdig.com/top-ten-most-ug ... r-created/

So it's ugly back and front! Never mind, it's an individual and controversial design which people either love or hate. The Americans hated it and sales slumped.

As a general comment on Richard's book, for some sections, notably SP250, I would like more, perhaps a sequel or a book entirely for SP250s covering adaptations, racing, police use, etc. is required. It's a commendable effort and I've learnt a lot. Lovely photos, too.

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theoldman
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Re: Docker's Daimlers

Post by theoldman »

Strictly speaking, the SP was not produced during the Docker period and therefore should not really be in the book, if you adhere to the title!
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John-B
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Re: Docker's Daimlers

Post by John-B »

theoldman wrote: Wed Aug 02, 2017 7:57 pm Strictly speaking, the SP was not produced during the Docker period and therefore should not really be in the book, if you adhere to the title!
... but the V8 engines were designed when Sangster brought in Edward Turner.

JohnRidley
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Re: Docker's Daimlers

Post by JohnRidley »

And in case you were wondering what happened to the Conquest/Century DJ258/9, that model was going to be the Century with a Hobbs Box. I know because I met the Hobbs, father and son, but I don't remember them saying one was ever completed. JohnR

Bonzodog
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Re: Docker's Daimlers

Post by Bonzodog »

Very gratifying to see the book can broadly please even a specialised audience.

Addressing a number of comments in no particular order...

Yes, I agree that the V8 engines (and therefore the cars that contained them) would presumably not have come into being had Sir Bernard not been replaced by Jack Sangster. I wanted a 'snappy' title to sell a book on a marque hardly anyone under thirty has heard of but it isn't perfect because of course the scope is a bit wider than it would suggest.

On the subject of the SP250, I wanted to avoid passing judgement on its looks because that really is a subjective matter. I actually like it and one point I have tried to make is that it isn't actually as off-beat as it seems at first glance. I should clarify that by 'least striking' I meant to say that the rear end is, in the context of its time, really very conventional almost to the point of bland.

The point about the DJ258/9 is noted for the second edition!

I entirely concur about Hoopers Empress designs - quite the most elegant cars ever produced from a coachbulding industry which died out producing its best work ever.

The Dockers and the cars they commissioned really do merit a properly researched and objective book to themselves. Just about everything written about them is largely recycled from a couple of sources and totally divorced from any context with the facts selected to fit a particular story. It is a book which I have made a start on so expect to be on here pestering for information, pictures and who knows what all over again.

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John-B
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Re: Docker's Daimlers

Post by John-B »

The book says that the Gold Car and Golden Zebra had the gold removed and chrome added as export of gold was prohibited, and also a re-paint, which is a terrible shame. I'm surprised an American thought it worth buying one after such mutilation.

It must have cost a lot to do that, so did the buyers pay for that too?

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theoldman
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Re: Docker's Daimlers

Post by theoldman »

V8s excepted and knowing that the last Daimler under the Docker regime would have been the One - 0 - Four, I've bought a copy anyway!!!!
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