Coys Auction - Spring Classics
Royal Horticultural Halls
Elverton St
Westminster
London SW1
Tuesday 8 March 2011
Estimate: £18,000 - £22,000
Registration Number: XFN 976
Chassis Number: 102818
During the late 1950s Daimler, traditionally the transport of royalty and the carriage trade, were experiencing financial problems, and, in an attempt to improve business by diversifying into the newly fashionable sports cars market, launched the Dart at the New York Auto Show in 1959.
Renamed the SP250 after Dodge laid claim to the Dart brand name, the new model was impressively fast, mainly thanks to an Edward Turner-designed all new V8 2 ½ litre engine. With a relatively low weight and 140bhp on tap, the car hit 60mph in a very respectable 9 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 122mph. To reduce production costs and save money on metal stamping dies (Daimler didn't plan large scale production of the Dart), the body was made of glass-fibre over a metal frame. This was a fairly rare at the time