Lot Ended
Description
Interesting history from new; ex-Jaguar Land Rover; only 62k miles
with excellent service history; current owner since 2021; maintained regardless
of cost with various choice upgrades; one of the nicest you will
find
Just eleven
years after the launch of the E-Type, Jaguar stunned the world with another
machine capable of nearly 150mph, only this time the car was a four-door saloon.
Launched in July 1972, the XJ12 was heralded by
the motoring press as the ‘Best Car In The World’ with astonishing standards of
ride and refinement that have not been significantly bettered to this day. A
more luxuriously trimmed Daimler Double Six version was also available, easily
distinguished from the Jaguar by its fluted radiator grille and chrome side
strips.
In 1979 Pininfarina were tasked with
restyling the car for the new decade, the Series 3 receiving thicker rubber
bumpers, one-piece front door glass, and a higher rear roof line for more space
in the cabin. Build quality also went up markedly and the V12 gained fuel
injection and HE (high efficiency) cylinder heads which, combined with the
Digital P ECU and Lucas CEI electronic ignition introduced in the mid-1980s,
almost doubled the fuel economy.
The Double Six
S3 remained in production until November 1992 by which time around 3,600 had
been sold.
Supplied new by RA Creamer & Son
of Kensington in October 1992, this fabulous Westminster Blue Double Six Series
3 must be among the last few made. A rather special car, it comes with an
interesting history from new, being first owned by a Roderick Gilchrist of
Associated Newspapers Ltd, a well-known Fleet Street character who was a senior
editor on titles like The Mail on Sunday and The Sunday Telegraph.
The Daimler was his company car and was
specially fitted with a cellular phone, cutting-edge kit at the time and
essential for a journalist of his stature. He was to keep the car for 14 years,
using it regularly until October 1999 during which time it was always serviced
by the supplying dealer.
It was then put into
storage for five years before being recommissioned by RA Creamer in September
2004 at which point it had covered 45,465 miles. In May 2006 it was acquired by
Dr James Hull of Kensington to join his celebrated private car collection,
reputedly the largest in the world with almost 600 cars including over 130
Jaguars and valued at over £100m.
In 2014 his
entire collection was bought by Jaguar Land Rover (for an undisclosed sum) and
the Double Six was then retained by Jaguar Land Rover for the next
seven years. Released from JLR in March 2021, it then briefly had one
further owner before our vendor acquired it in December 2021 at which point it
had just been serviced and fitted with a new set of tyres, the mileage at this
point being 46,560.
Also the owner of an
impressive collection of cars (although not quite on the same scale as Dr
Hull!), our vendor has maintained the Daimler regardless of cost and
incorporated various choice upgrades to make it a reliable daily driver and long
distance continental tourer. Highlights include:
2025 – Independent rear suspension rebuilt with new bearings, brake
discs, calipers etc.
2024 – New rear wheel
bearing; hub pin kit; sway bar links; steering bushes; oil and filter
change
2023 – Fast road suspension kit supplied
by Jaguar specialists Simply Performance of Dorking which cost £1,160 plus
fitting (uprated springs and adjustable Gaz shock absorbers etc); new Radtech
aluminium radiator and new coolant hoses (£504); upgraded air con system from
Fen Air including more efficient compressor, dryer, condenser and hoses
(£1,164); reconditioned alternator and fitting (£508); four new Falken tyres
(£464)
2022 – New stainless steel exhaust system
with centre box delete from Simply Performance; Halogen headlamp bulbs; new oil
cooler assembly; four new Uniroyal Rainexpert tyres (£419) which are barely used
and are included if desired although they will need to be collected from the
Hereford area
2021 – New hydraulic bonnet struts
and ABS system overhaul
You get the picture –
this car has been loved and has covered some 15,500 miles in the current
five-year ownership, including taking the whole family down to the South of
France and back, during which time: “It never missed a beat and did not
overheat”. It has an MOT until June 2025 with just a couple of minor advisories
for slight play in the front wheel bearings.
As
you can see in the photos, this Daimler looks in great shape for its
age (above, inside and below) and we are told that the it drives as
well as it looks. It has certainly been starting instantly and running
beautifully as we have moved it around on site, with no warning lights and
healthy 60psi oil pressure.
Now showing just over
62k miles on the clock, this pampered and judiciously uprated Daimler V12 is on
offer here at a modest guide price and only needs an enthusiastic new owner who
can reap the rewards of all the good work so recently carried out.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 –
james.dennison@brightwells.com