1897 Daimler Grafton Phaeton

‘When Jaguar Bought Daimler’ is a new exhibition at the British Motor Museum, from the  Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT), telling the story of when Jaguar bought the Daimler Company from BSA in 1960.

The exhibition will run from 10 October 2020 to the end of January 2021.  It starts by detailing Sir William Lyons’ requirement for additional factory space, which fortuituously concided with BSA’s desire to divest themselves of the loss making Daimler Company.

The exhibition explains the background behind the deal that was struck between Sir William and Jack Sangster of BSA, without the knowledge of Jaguar’s board of directors.  This is exemplified by the opening headline of the exhibition:

“While shaving on May 26th 1960 , Jaguar Engineering Director, William Heynes heard an announcement on the BBC radio news that Jaguar was to buy Daimler from BSA.  This came as a complete surprise to Heynes and the rest of the Jaguar Board.”

The exhibition covers 100 years from the Daimler Company’s beginnings, its history of Royal patronage, superb engineering, efforts supporting both World Wars and then Daimler’s ‘post Jaguar’ life.  A series of period advertisements provide a snapshot of Daimler’s social history.

The following Daimlers from the JDHT Collection are included in the exhibition:

• 1897 – Grafton Phaeton AD 1897 – the oldest surviving Coventry built Daimler
• 1907 – TP 35 – a sister car to the Daimler that set fastest time of day at the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb
• 1911 – TA23 – owned by a serial inventor who was responsible for many of the innovations that made pneumatic tyres practical. (The car wears registration number DU 1 the first one issued by Coventry).
• 1950 – DE36 ‘Green Goddess’ – one of only 7 built – bought in New York by James Melton – ‘America’s Favorite Tenor’
• 1963 SP252 Prototype – Sir William Lyons’ proposal for re-styling the Daimler SP250 Sports Car
• 1964 Majestic Major Limousine – the standard limousine of the 1950s and 1960s – powered by the 4.5 litre version of the Edward Turner designed, Daimler V8 engine
• 1966 V8 Saloon – Daimler version of the Jaguar Mark II compact saloon
• 1995 Daimler Six Double-Stretch Limousine – built for Sir Nick Scheele – Jaguar Cars Chairman
• 1996 Corsica – built by Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations to commemorate Daimler’s centenary

1996 Daimler Corsica Convertible

Most people know very little about the early history of the Daimler Company in the UK, or when it became part of the Jaguar Group, and the 60^th anniversary of Jaguar’s purchase of the company from BSA provides the ideal opportunity for us to tell the story.

The exhibition is included in the normal British Motor Museum admission.  Museum entry is £14.50 for adults, £12.50 for concessions, £9 for children (5-16 years) and under 5s are FREE.  There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and get an Annual Pass in return, at no extra cost.