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I'd join the club, if I owned a Daimler, and they weren't upset about me doing this. Or even grabbing something like this, and sledding it. But I suspect that it has to be a bone stock restoration because otherwise you've "destroyed the value" and "ruined a perfectly good car". In my experience, in-club owners want to preserve the car as it was from the factory, warts and all whereas out-of-club owners want people to enjoy the cars, however they go about that, and keep as many as possible on the road in any state of repair, stock or modified. To get new blood in, you've got to embrace new ideas and the uncomfortable knowledge that not everyone wants to have a car that's exactly as the factory dictated and I think that's a big problem for clubs.
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Last Edit: Feb 2, 2012 14:18:42 GMT by Deleted
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Or even grabbing something like this, and sledding it. To get new blood in, you've got to embrace new ideas and the uncomfortable knowledge that not everyone wants to have a car that's exactly as the factory dictated and I think that's a big problem for clubs. That's already modified - Hooper coachwork
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dbdb
Part of things
Posts: 821
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I've been asked to speak at the DLOC board meeting tonight on the topic of why the DLOC and Daimler/Lanchester ownership seems to be less attractive to a younger generation. I have a few theory's on this myself; - Cost of purchase
- Ability of car
- Availability
Cheers All of the above is true: any Daimlers from the pre-Jaguar era that are not dogs will be not be cheap cars. They were expensive cars new (some of the magnificent models exceptionally so) and never sold in great numbers. The newest are now over forty years old. My neighbour has one but his is the only one I ever see. Beautiful though many of them are, they’re not daily drivers. They’re garage queens to be taken out occasionally in the summer, or to a show. I suspect commuting in one would cost a great deal. I’m not a car club person so I could be wrong, but I have always believed that people develop an enthusiasm for genuinely old cars from exposure to them through their interest in the cars that manufacturer made more recently - in the ‘60s,‘70s and 1980s. An RX7 enthusiast may become interested in the Mazda Cosmo for example, but without his love of the RX7, he may never have heard of it. Similarly, a Mercedes enthusiast will be able to identify and admire a Mercedes 540K, but would he even recognise a Horch? Or this? I think most enthusiasts graduate to the old cars from newer classics when they’re at least 35 to 40. Very few have one as a first car, but develop a love for genuinely old cars gradually through a growing awareness which flows from deep interest in the company’s newer cars. Daimlers and Lanchesters have a problem here. Not only are they disconnected from the modern bloodline (Daimlers have been tarted up Jaguars since the ‘sixties – the Daimler Sovereign fan may look back to Jaguars), but Jaguars are themselves unfashionable. RetroRides reflects fashion. Some cars have a big following here: VWs, BMWs, Mercs and particularly old Japanese cars seem to be fashionable, highly prized and lavished with attention. There are plenty of British cars here too, but only a handful of Jaguars and very few Daimlers. If I’m right that a percentage of the enthusiasts of newer models will go on to appreciate and own the old cars, then where will the pre-Jaguar fans come from? – Probably just the odd son/daughter of a current owner, no one more. It must be like this for De Dion Bouton too… David
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Last Edit: Feb 2, 2012 15:12:38 GMT by dbdb
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EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,932
Club RR Member Number: 108
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The scene and DaimlersEmDee
@emdee
Club Retro Rides Member 108
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I'm probably a bit young to really appreciate them (33) but obviously you need to appeal to my age group and younger to ensure future success. I personally think of Daimlers as being a "last mile in style" sort of car. Not things like this: I think if there were more Daimlers like that ^ around then the awareness of people my age would rise and you'd have a better chance. As if anyone needed an excuse to build one ;D
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depends who "young" are. I'm more than the 28 years old my daughter thinks I am by a margin, but I bid on a Lanchester Leda and a Daimler Conquest Century in the last month or so.
Also when I was about 15 or 16 I tried to buy a Conquest Century from a local garage - it was a stalled resto project and quite WTF I would have done with it at that age I dunno
So I don't think its necessarily an age thing.
Certainly a lot of car folks on here are fashion led, we all are to some extent. And a lot of people bang on about handling, performance, economy, being able to buy parts for it from Halfords... People don't just appreciate that "quality". Look at the way furniture is made these days for a start. we don't love the quality in the way we used to.
When I was involved in the Vauxhall club scene back in the day (1990s) we were talking to the membership guy from the Victor F Type club. "My problem" he reported "is when I send out my membership renewals about 20% of them come back saying 'thank you for you letter but my husband has now passed on. Do you want to buy his car' and we can't find new members to replace them"
Also when the traditional core of owners start to die off prices fall. F type Victors were an easy £5K back then for a nice one. £2K will get the same car now.
I think that the older old cars will end up merging clubs to keep the critical mass of members. As these cars become more like "relics of a bygone age" than transport then the interest in them becomes more specialised.
The internet is hitting car clubs too. Why would I want to be a member? What can I get from the club I can't get from the internet? There is the "club scene" but if thats not what I'm into then thats no value to me. I joined the Rover P5 Guild when I had a P5B and went to like one of their meetings. Not for me.
I'd love a Magestic Major. When I was in Cornwall years ago, in Truro I think, one sped down the high street, stopped suddenly, it was scruffy and 2 tone blue, then out jumps this guy like a midget Freddy Mercury dressed in bright red spandex skin tight jeans and a muscle vest, little pencil moustache, runs across the road with the motor still running, posts a letter, runs back, jumps in and roars off.
In part *that* is why I want one LOL
I'd love a DB18 or Consort but might end up with a small block Ford in it...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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then out jumps this guy like a midget Freddy Mercury dressed in bright red spandex skin tight jeans and a muscle vest, little pencil moustache, runs across the road with the motor still running, posts a letter, runs back, jumps in and roars off. In part *that* is why I want one LOL that kind of dude would make me want whatever car he was driving - he sounds dreamy ;D
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He could hardly see over the steering wheel LOL.
But seriously. I don't own a "real" Daimler because I own a bunch of American cars. Simple as that.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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The internet is hitting car clubs too. Why would I want to be a member? What can I get from the club I can't get from the internet? There is the "club scene" but if thats not what I'm into then thats no value to me. I joined the Rover P5 Guild when I had a P5B and went to like one of their meetings. Not for me. Indeed, as demonstrated in some of the comments of this thread, car clubs often bring out worst sides of car enthusiasm. As a concept they are a bit of a relic as, like you say, the Internet mostly serves there purpose.
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Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed being in car clubs, am a member of one now (for the discount on parts mainly) and let's be honest this place is a bit of a club as well
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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I think cars such as Daimlers and old Jaags Have the pipe & slipper image, they're lovely pieces of machinery but I wouldn't want to own one. When I think of Daimler, I have visions of Hearses and wedding cars (I suppose this shows my ignorance/lack of knowledge) I'd even venture to say that a lot of youngsters (17-20ish) have no knowledge whatsoever of the marque.
I'm 32 by the way.
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1993 Mercedes-Benz 190e LE in Azzuro Blue.
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I'd love a Majestic Major. Ditto - wonderful cars. So much classier than a Jag 420G. And then there's that 4.5 hemi ;D ;D
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed being in car clubs, am a member of one now (for the discount on parts mainly) and let's be honest this place is a bit of a club as well Indeed but I would assume that Daimler clubs are a tad more traditional. You pay a membership fee, they have meetings, people appoint themselves import roles and call themselves chairman etc
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I'd love a Dart with wide steelies and side pipes, never even looked at prices though as I assumed they would be way out of my "under a grand please" budget. Something like this, but possibly more "lived in". www.britishv8.org/Other/SteveSanett.htm
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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There is one on ebay right now which us stripped down... £13,000....
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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smellyferret
Posted a lot
Back in a retro after 7 years!
Posts: 1,121
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image - It never really sunk in with me that there were sporty daimlers, I always thought "driving miss daisy" Price - I'd have thought they were expensive (and more for the badge rather than the quality) Choice - There is so much choice out there that there is a case for 'why pick a daimler'? Community - Consensus (at least in the above posts!) points to the daimler community being the more traditional restoration scene. On this forum you'll get people that like their cars to be unique! (and not just because it was limited in production although thats a good start!) Peer pressure - The growth of car blogs and shows etc - get some good fun builds featured in the right places and people will want a daimler! (that dart above, cambered on nothelles or something and then featured on speedhunters would get people talking.. The price of living - Possibly Older people have their house sorted and can afford the dosh for a daimler more easily than younger people, if you spend a lot on a car then I reckon you'd want to garage it.. (another cost) not saying this isnt possible but all the factors add up..
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My megawant would be a prewar Dsimler Straight Eight. I've only ever seen one for sale and that was a basket case.
The king drove one. Nuff said.
And I don't mean Elvis.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Daimler quality used to be better than Rolls Royce. They were once the absolute pinnacle of British motoring
Also I have to admit I've been lusting after an Armstrong Siddley.
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Last Edit: Feb 2, 2012 18:21:58 GMT by akku
1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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I'm 21, a car nut, and wouldn't know a pre-Jag Daimler if it slapped me in the face.
I dare say that even if I did, my typically 21 year old requirements of: 1. Cheap 2: Sporty (if not fast) 3. Cheap
...wouldn't be fulfilled in the cars I've seen in this thread. If they were cheap, then 2 out of 3 might swing it.
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I've got Rovers.
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86mike
Part of things
Posts: 453
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Image has to be the main thing surely. However for me a major reason is they are often cars that people were chauffeured around in or they had the same statley look, IMHO generally car people want cars that were designed around the "owner driver" idea. Who wants to drive a limo?
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with less than 3000 darts built (i think?) they will never be that popular, demand already outstrips supply.
I guess that pushed the price up like it has with old school Fords, 13 grand for a stripped down one is collector car money, rather than, "its a good car" money.
I am starting to think my mum in laws new boyfriend has more cash that i suspected though, he's a car dealer and has been showing me his yank car piccies, mixed in amongst which is a fully restored Dart. lol
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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