Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024 - Cars on Saturday the 9th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. The Chairman of Jaguar at the time, ‘Lofty’ England, declared that the new V12 luxury saloon was to be baptized the Daimler Double-Six, and so it came to pass and a legend was born.
The Series III, the final derivative of the Daimler Double-Six, arrived in 1979 and like its predecessors benefited from the clean-cut, new body designed by famed Italian design house, Pininfarina. The new design featured more glass, slightly squarer lines around the roof area and up to date front and rear styling. The Series III soldiered on until the late 1980s, outliving the XJ6, the departure of which was delayed by problems installing the engine in the new XJ40 series. This was the flagship car in the Jaguar/ Daimler line and was produced until the very end of 1992. The term ‘XJ12’ is also inaccurate as this referred only to the base-trim model and the vast majority sold were the upscale V12 Sovereign or Double-Six models.
It would be hard to imagine news footage of the 1980s and early 1990s without a member of the cabinet or the House of Windsor ascending elegantly out of a Double-Six. No other car of that period epitomised brisk luxury travel like a Daimler, and in such a truly understated British fashion. This car was not concerned with the pomp and showmanship of a Rolls Royce, it was a Daimler and it meant business. The export market adored it - and so do savvy collectors now.
The car presented here is a 1992 Daimler Double-Six, the last of the Series lll ABS models. Like many of these late cars, it did spend some time in Japan, being barely used and cosseted whilst there (paperwork present in the car's history file relates). It was repatriated in 2019 and bought by our vendor 12 months later. Remarkably, he has only covered 600 miles in it during this time, it being part of his Collection of low-mileage and lavished classic cars. Despite this limited driving, he has bestowed much love and attention on it, ensuring it has always been garaged and thoroughly serviced, including changing all fluids and oils, ignition leads, distributor cap/ rotor arm, air/ oil filters, adding the correct specification spark plugs, new front brake calipers/ discs, new rear brake pads; the rear-end suspension has been serviced, with new front roll-bar links, everything re-packed with fresh grease and the bearings fully adjusted.
Both fuel tanks have been drained, with all three fuel change over valves replaced, with a new fuel pump and filter fitted. The British Racing Green paintwork has been professionally polished, all lights were removed, cleaned, and the original screws replaced. It has also benefitted from new (and correct) Kent alloys wheels, new Paul Banham-sourced interior parts, including a steering wheel and the factory-supplied lambs wool over-mats are described as ‘still brand new.’ The car is accompanied by 2x keys, much paperwork, invoices, book-pack and model-related literature (see images).
Jim Patten of Jaguar World Magazine, who featured this actual car, commented that it was in ‘time-warp condition.' A copy of this magazine accompanies the car.
This is a truly remarkable car, best-of-breed for sure; it is exceptionally well-preserved and maintained, with the kudos of being a last of the line model, with only 10, 000 miles and in a truly commensurate condition throughout. A Daimler Double Six is a special car, a point made clear by the fact that Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II chose one as her personal transport for many years, high praise indeed.
