Daimler Vanden Plas Double Six Serie 1

For sale Daimler Vanden Plas Double Six in the wanted Series 1 version of which only 432 pieces have been produced. This Double Six, in the exterior colour Garnet, was built on 5 October 1972 and sold by the London dealer Stratstone Ltd and registered for the first mail in England on 7 February 1973. This car has chassis number 2B1021BW and is the 21 car of this model which is produces in 1972.

In 1960 Jaguar bought the Daimler company to re-establishing the marque, initially with the 2.5 litre V8 engine clothed in a Jaguar MK 2 body shell and later with a badge engineered 420 dubbed the Daimler Sovereign.

Then, in 1969 the new XJ6 was Daimlerised with the ‘crinkle cut’ grille and revised trim. Model expansion moved apace when, in August 1972 one month after the launch of the Jaguar XJ12, came the Daimler Double Six. Both these cars utilised the superb 5.3 liter V12 power unit seen a year earlier in the last incarnation of the E-type SerieIII. The inclusion of the 12-cylinder engine in the Saloons (along with other minor changes in mechanics and trim) resulted in the XJ12 and Double Six becoming the fastest production saloons in the world at that time with 145 mph.

The launch of the Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas was to porv ide an Ultimate, top-of-the-range XJ with special by “Vanden Plas”handcrafted trimming and finish all of which justified a premium on the road price to match.

The Vanden Plas cars started life on Jaguar’s Coventry production lines as a standard V12 powered Daimler Double Six. However, the floorpan was extended by 4 inch (long wheel base), behind the centre pillar to provide extra rear compartment legroom, along with wider rear doors. After assembly the Vanden Plas cars were shipped to the Vanden Plas Coachworks in Kingsbury, London for the final finishing. This work involved a range of changes to enhance external and internal trim. There was a bespoke range of exterior metallic paint finishes, the addition of chrome side trims and even a black vinyl roof, plus of course new Vanden Plas badging on the boot lid. Internally the cars benefited from the finest burr walnut veneers inlaid with contrasting boxwood, revised door trims in leather, redesigned seats, extra sound deadening, better quality carpeting, nylon over-rugs and discreet individual reading lights in the rear passenger compartment.

The Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas Serie I was in production for a little after 12 months, because in 1975 came the Series 2 XJ. As a result of this short life span the total built amounted to a mere 351 cars, making it one of the smallest production runs ever for the company. The first serie Vanden Plas cars must be one of the rarest and most collectable of all Jaguar and Daimler saloons, for any era.

The Daimler we offer is still registered in the UK and there is a huge file present about the history of the car, all previous owners are known and many old documents and invoices from servicing and maintenance are present. The current owner bought the car in 2015 and brought the car in this very good condition. It was maintained by Jaguar specialist in the Netherlands and in the UK and is in a very good condition, all invoices are present. The interior is complete original and in a fantastic condition. The original “Daimler Passport to Service book” are present and also the original Daimler instruction book as the plastic holder for the books. Also old letters from previous owners and valuation reports from the past.

 

This Daimler has driven in total 70.104 miles and there is a complete milagefile with the car, hereby some of these milages:

1972  Pre delivery inspection                                    216 miles

1973  Service Stratstone Ltd London                     1.059 miles

1976  Service Stratstone Ltd London                   20.986 miles

1977  Service Lex Motor Ltd Essex                     29.878 miles

1986  MOT test certificate                                   42.950 miles

1990  MOT test certificate                                   50.837 miles

1995  MOT test certificate                                   55.989 miles

2000  MOT test certificate                                   61.458 miles

2015  MOT test certificate                                   64.346 miles

2020  Current milage                                            70.104 miles

 

The car has the following options, tinted glas, airconditioning, electric windows, Vanden Plas interior, two foglamps in front, two outsite mirrors, power steering, Eighttrack radio, remote controlled drivers door mirror, alumium wheels and also the original chrome wheels are present.

This is a unique change to buy a Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas Serie 1 in a very good condition. This Daimler is not in our showroom. If you want more information or want to make an appointment, please contact Lex van Lammeren through lex@wheelsbylex.nl or 0031-611-508738. I look forward hearing from you.