1939 Daimler DE27 Limousine

Please note we have had confirmation from the Owners Club that the car is fitted with the 4-litre straight-six engine.

• Given the fact that many records of the time were lost due to WWII, and the Daimler factory lost during the Blitz of 1940, much of the history of this car is shrouded in mystery
• In 1938, Alvis, BSA and Morris were competing for a War Office contract to build a number of Scouting Vehicles. BSA were eventually successful and were awarded the lucrative contract in early May 1938 to build 172 'Scout Cars' with the actual production being carried out by Daimler (part of BSA). Coincidentally, Daimler began construction of a prototype limousine, the DE27, which used an enlarged version of the scout car engine and when it was finished in July 1939 it was sold, or possibly gifted to the War Office, perhaps as a bit of a 'thank you'. #51291 was subsequently allocated to the Admiralty for the use of Sea Lords and senior personnel and carried the Naval registration, RN 01 08.
• In a somewhat controversial decision, Winston Churchill returned to the Admiralty as First Sea Lord when war was declared on September 3rd and would remain there for eight months until he became Prime Minister on 10th May 1940
• As the First Sea Lord, he would undoubtedly have used the most prestigious vehicle from the Admiralty 'pool' when on official business, however, we understand that senior Naval Officers and politicians were always chauffeured
• An historical file prepared for our vendor confirms that #51291 was sold in 1947 to the Iranian Embassy in London (reg. LLT 422) and was later purchased by the Irish Fine Gael Party for their Deputy Leader
• It subsequently changed hands in Ireland, registered as ESU 148, where it remained until its sale at auction for £12,500 in late 2016, returning to England
• Daimler commenced production of the DE27 in 1948 with #51291 appearing to be the only pre-war example
• In running and driving condition, the car itself could do with a thorough body restoration
• Our vendor has unfortunately seen a change of circumstance and so what commenced as a full restoration has to be passed on to the next owner
• With in excess of £20,000 invested in mechanical works, including internals, suspension and much more, the car now requires external bodily restoration
• Offered with a guide price of £15,000 to £20,000 and with No Reserve, our vendor hopes that the buyer of the car can finish off the restoration of this significant car in the history of Daimler, and potentially significant car in the history of the Royal Navy and her most significant Statesman