Daimler · 1951–1958

Daimler Regency

The Daimler Regency series was a luxury car made in Coventry by The Daimler Company Limited between 1951 and 1958. Only an estimated 49 examples of the three-litre Regency chassis were made because demand for new cars collapsed just weeks after its introduction. Almost three years later in October 1954, a lengthened more powerful Regency Mark II (DF304) was announced but, in turn, after a production run of 345 cars, it was replaced by the very much faster, up-rated One-O-Four (DF310), announced in October 1955.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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Regency DF300/1

Displayed to the press on 26 September and the following week at the Paris Motor Show, it was first shown to the British public at the October 1951 Motor Show. The DF300 model designation was used for right-hand drive and DF301 for left-hand drive. The chassis included a number of new developments from the Daimler Consort which was still in production. The engine was moved well forward, the ground clearance increased by one inch and the chassis side members lowered. It was fitted with a new three-litre six-cylinder engine derived from the four-cylinder two-litre engine in the production Lanchester Fourteen. Twin SU carburettors were fitted to give 90 bhp at 4,100 rpm. The shape of the standard Barker saloon body closely resembled the much smaller Lanchester Fourteen, except that the headlights were fitted into the mudguards in the same position as the Daimler Consort. It was joined in 1952 by an Empress II saloon, limousine and convertible, all with razor-edge styling by Hooper. Only a small number of Regency Barker Special Sports were made, perhaps three. They were externally distinguished by having front-hinged doors, not the "suicide doors" of the smaller-engined version. The usual Daimler Fluid Flywheel coupled the engine and its Wilson pre-selector four-speed gearbox. All new car sales collapsed in 1952 while the nation waited for the removal of a "temporarily" increased purchase tax, finally eased in April 1953. Including Empress models, an estimated 49 three-litre cars were produced before production stopped. DF300/1 chassis numbers. Source: Of the DF300/1 chassis produced (excluding DF302/3), it is believed that only three have survived into the 21st century. As per company policy at the time, pre-production chassis were either dismantled or retained as factor

DF302/3 – Empress Mk IIs and Coupes

A Hooper Empress Mark II was first exhibited at Earls Court in 1952 (chassis 82002). Hooper produced 33 examples, plus one on a standard 3-litre chassis (80002). Power was boosted to 100 bhp at 4,400 rpm by using an aluminium cylinder head and a higher 7.5 to 1 compression ratio. Note that Lady Docker's October 1953 Earls Court Motor Show car Silver Flash was listed in Hooper records as a three-litre chassis, but with chassis number 85001. This was a Lanchester Fourteen chassis modified to fit a Daimler six-cylinder engine. Chassis numbers. Source: It is thought that about half of all 3-litre Empress Mk II models survive. Both 2-door examples survived into the 21st century.

Regency Mark II DF304/5

The revised Regency DF304 labelled Mark II was announced in October 1954. Left-hand-drive cars used the DF305 designation. The new more flowing body was slightly longer with a much longer boot and mudguards and was lower-set. It could now be purchased with a 3½-litre or 4½-litre engine. Again there was a Hooper version, the Empress IIa and III but now also the Sportsman four-light saloon with coachwork by Mulliners (Birmingham). The (at first only) 4½-litre Sportsman with three-piece wrap-around rear window and extra interior luxury features was announced a few days later Introductory pricing including tax: 3½-litre / 4½-litre engine Regency Mark II saloon: £2,324 / £2,778 with the new Tubeless Tyres fitted as standard equipment Regency Sportsman saloon: £2,650 / £3,104 The revised chassis was again made of box section steel and was cruciform braced. The side members rose over the rear axle and were not underslung like the Consort. The suspension was independent at the front using coil springs but retained traditional leaf springs and live axle at the rear. Automatic chassis lubrication continued to be fitted, operating "thermostatically every time the engine warm(ed) up", and the propeller-shaft centre bearing was "prepacked with grease" so did not require lubrication. However, the propeller shaft itself was not served by the system and four grease points required "attention every 1,000 miles". Marles worm and double roller steering was used. Brakes were Girling hydro-mechanical – hydraulic at front, mechanical to the rear – as was standard Daimler practice at that time on the Consort, Conquest and Lanchester Fourteen. 4½-litre chassis. These examples had a chassis designation of DF400 (DF401 for LHD). The 4½-litre engine was offered as an option on the Regency Mark

Daimler One-O-Four

Announced in October 1955 the 3½-litre engine was given a new cylinder head and compression ratio of 7.6:1 generating almost 30% more power (137 bhp (102 kW; 139 PS) @ 4,400 rpm) to push the same two-tonne Mk II to 104 m.p.h. With upgraded brakes and interior, branded with a fluted boss bearing a large D in the centre of its back bumper, it was advertised as the 100 m.p.h. Daimler One-O-Four, when there were no open-road speed limits. The One-O-Four name refers to a prototype reaching the speed of 104 m.p.h. during testing. During 1956 a Borg-Warner fully automatic gearbox became available. A One-O-Four Lady's Model was produced, finding only 49 customers. The special accessories in the Lady's Model inspired by Lady Docker became optional extras the following year. In July 1958, the One-O-Four with an automatic gearbox was replaced by the Daimler Majestic. However, if a customer wanted the pre-selector gearbox, they could still buy the pre-selector One-O-Four until production ended in late 1958. In October 1958, the car did not appear at the 1958 Earl's Court motor show. During a three year production run, no more than 559 One-O-Fours were produced. Chassis numbers. === One-O-Four Upgrades === Numerous upgrades to the Regency Mark II were incorporated into the Daimler One-O-Four. The following is a summary of the major changes. In addition, many minor changes were introduced.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Daimler Regency Series
Manufacturer: The Daimler Company Limited
Production: 1951–1958
Assembly: United Kingdom: Coventry, England
Class: Luxury
Body style: Four-door saloon bodies by Barker or, Empress body by Hooper or, Special Sports DF302 convertible by Barker
Engine: 2952, 3468 or 4617 cc inline six-cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed preselector gearbox with fluid flywheel (all models 1951-58) or optional automatic gearbox (One-O-Four 1956-58)
Length: 195 in
Width: 70 in
Height: 62.5 in
Kerb weight: 2000 kg
Wheelbase: 114 in
Predecessor: Daimler Consort (1949–53)
Successor: Daimler Majestic (1958–62)
sp: uk