1977 Daimler Double-Six Coupé

To many, these seventies' pillarless coupés were the most beautiful ever to leave Jaguar. This Daimler Double-Six, the flagship of the entire Jaguar / Daimler range, was 309th built of a worldwide production of just 407 cars and with just over 33,300 miles indicated this is potentially the finest example of a Double-Six it is possible to own. Originally registered as an 'S' Suffix, XPE 808S on 26th October 1977, BXI 22 is finished in the very best colour combination of Regency Red with Biscuit Leather and Black Vinyl Roof.It was shown at the Regent St. Motor Show in November 2016 by its current owner, who acquired the car in 2015 to go with his extensive collection of Jaguars and Daimlers. He sought the very best money could buy, and this was it. Almost entirely original it reflects the ownership it has enjoyed for most of its life. Its last two owners have maintained it with minimal use, and its longest custodian owned it for 26 years during which time it was cherished, dry stored and never taken out in the rain. During this owner's usage, the car covered less than three thousand miles in over a quarter of a century.This Daimler has a substantial history file, which includes a large file of MOTs, as well as various communications between owners and interested parties. From studying these we have established that the car was originally the property of a wealthy London family, from whom the car was purchased by Devon Car Sales of Ashburton in 1983. Specialists in the supply of prestige and executive motor vehicles, it had a mileage of 12,500 with history to support. During the following three years, it was sold by DCS to a number of local Devon owners including to a local Barrister, showing just 22,000 miles. DCS then sold it for their final time in 1986 to a purchaser with 28,000 miles registered.The Mot at the time showed just 27,437 miles. Upon acquiring the car in 1986 Mr Griffith established all of the above via DCS and has noted their comment "Absolutely genuine and exceptional car. Short of one never used, it is as fine an example as one is ever likely to find"Mr Griffiths, having searched for the Holy Grail of Double-Sixes, finally found this one through a renowned classic and historic dealer in Hertford Heath, having rejected many others previously. The mileage was supported with an MOT in September that year of 29,227 miles. In 1989, the car was taken to a Jaguar specialist in Leicester, with the task of bringing this nine-year-old car back to showroom condition, "correcting anything that you find wrong". There is a supporting invoice showing 30,551 miles and it was at this time the BXI22 number plate was attached to the car. Before parting with the car, the owner acquired a thorough Independent Inspection and Report, which contained only a few advisories and the purchasers attended to these as shown in the file. This owner had kept the car for 26 years before it was acquired by its penultimate owner in 2012. Our vendor acquired the car in 2015 as part of a similar search to Mr Griffith almost 30 years earlier.This car, showing just 33,361 miles, has not been through a total restoration as is the case in most similar cars but is presented as almost certainly one of the most original cars still in existence.