c1948 DAIMLER 2 ﾽ LITRE BARKER SPECIAL SPORTS DROP HEAD COUPE PROTOTYPE

The first Daimlers produced post World War Two were the DB18 Series, essentially a continuation of the pre-war cars, although re-styled and with a bigger boot space. The other immediate post war models were the DE27 six cylinder and DE36 eight cylinder cars, mostly clothed in formal coachwork, the DE36 being the largest production car in the world.

Some DB18 cars were produced in drop head coupe form by Tickford, however a new version was fitted with a higher power output engine, retaining the well proven Daimler fluid flywheel and pre-selector gear box. The Barker body fitted to this chassis had very smooth lines and was usually supplied with 2-tone paintwork, and with an overdrive fourth gear was capable of over 80 mph together with effortless high-speed cruising.

Considerable research has been done on this example offered and indications are that it was the early prototype, most of the 500 or so cars were sold in 1950 and 1951. The history of this car is available for inspection by interested parties, and indicates the differences between this car and later production models.

This Daimler Barker Special Sports is in the custodianship of just its third owner, the second having had the car for over forty years. It is believed that #53751 was the Earls Court Motor Show car in October 1948 and subsequently the Melbourne Motor Show car in March 1949. We are told that it was first registered in June 1949 and has never been restored though it has been repainted and the hood fabric renewed. All steel work in the engine bay including even the dip stick were chromium plated to show off the car at its best at the Motor Shows.

It is not known if the other early car #53750 exists. An early owner’s handbook accompanies #53751

CHASSIS NO: 53751

ENGINE NO: 15726

UNREGISTERED