A surprising departure from Daimler’s renowned lineup of luxurious limousines, the SP250 sports car marked the brand’s swan song before its acquisition by Jaguar.
Originally named the ‘Dart’ upon its 1959 debut for the North American market, the SP250 showcased a distinctive design with fiberglass coachwork crafted in-house, sitting atop a separate ladder-type chassis. Noteworthy for its era, the car featured four-wheel disc brakes, yet its most remarkable attribute lay in its 2.5-liter V8 engine.
This engine, the smaller of Daimler’s V8 offerings, generated 140bhp, enabling the SP250 to reach a top speed of 125mph. Catering to the preferences of its target audience, automatic transmission was available as an option.
Despite Jaguar’s acquisition in 1960, the model persisted, benefitting from enhancements under its new ownership, culminating in the significantly improved ‘B’ version introduced in April 1961. The SP250 ‘B’ boasted a reinforced chassis and more robust fiberglass construction. Its successor, the ‘C’ model launched in April 1963, brought about only minor alterations.
Source: Bonhams
