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Jun 12, 2020 11:15:19 GMT
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Edward Turner & Dr John Tait's masterpiece, the Daimler 4½ litre V8 hemi. Belgian online auction.  RARELY AVAILABLE! During development trials in the late '50s this engine topped 130mph at the MIRA track in a Mk X Jaguar. William Lyons suppressed the engine to a certain extent because it outperformed his XK straight 6. It was rated at 220bhp but, purportedly, this was as high as the Jaguar Works' dynamometer would go. In 1960 it could propel the 2-ton slab-fronted tank that was the Daimler Majestic Major from standstill to 60mph in under 10 seconds and top 120mph - that's 60 years ago!  If you were an image conscious bowler-hatted gentleman in the '60s, this was the dragster to own. This engine was very highly thought of at the time, Lyons was worried it would put the XK6 in the shade, but due to the fact it was only ever used in this one staid luxury saloon (with limousine & hearse variations) production was poor with only 2,000 units produced over an 8 year run. Sleeper potential: With a bit of tinkering it fits in this replacing the 2½ litre V8;  If you could mate an appropriate period gearbox with overdrive onto this V8 I reckon it would bring the 0-60 time down to about 7 seconds with a 140mph top end. One of these engines, attached to a Jaguar manual gearbox with overdrive, was advertised a couple of years ago in good order at £6½K. I feel this Belgian auction might be low-key enough for this lot to be largely overlooked. Currently no bids with 18 days remaining. |
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Last Edit: Jun 13, 2020 21:50:07 GMT by MkX
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Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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Jun 13, 2020 11:55:30 GMT
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Calling goldnrust - goldnrust to the white courtesy phone so we can continue to spend your money.... P.  |
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,872
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Jun 13, 2020 21:07:51 GMT
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Mmmm now that would be cool!
But being realistic, it's gonna need a lotta work, and parts for the 4.5L v8 are fairly non-existent... not to mention pickup only from Belgium! Hopefully it can go to a good home, but sadly it wont be coming home with me.
Not trying to be a pedant, but I believe it was the 2.5L Daimler V8 in the Glacier Grenade making 4 figure horse power!
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Last Edit: Jun 13, 2020 21:08:03 GMT by goldnrust
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Jun 13, 2020 22:01:43 GMT
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Mmmm now that would be cool! But being realistic, it's gonna need a lotta work, and parts for the 4.5L v8 are fairly non-existent... not to mention pickup only from Belgium! Hopefully it can go to a good home, but sadly it wont be coming home with me. Not trying to be a pedant, but I believe it was the 2.5L Daimler V8 in the Glacier Grenade making 4 figure horse power! Not being a pedant; you are of course correct, on further investigation I found I'd followed an erroneous link to that conclusion, (now amended). I appreciate you're managing your project on a shoestring, learned skills and elbow grease - it's a compelling thread! OK, the engine looks as though it's been stood in someone's leaky shed for 20 or 30 years but it was tootling around in a hearse for decades before that so there's a chance it's barely run in. Parts: If / when the engine was worn you'd have to get white metal bearings made up but Yes, everything else would be virtually unobtainable and would require specialised manufacture. If anyone bought this engine unseen they would have to instruct an appropriate courier in the current climate. If the 2.5 litre hemi can be tuned up to 1,400bhp with a supercharger, I wonder what the 4.5 litre could be tuned to without??! |
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Last Edit: Jun 13, 2020 22:07:58 GMT by MkX
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Jun 14, 2020 10:32:31 GMT
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I am really interested to see what this sells for, I have been looking out for one for years. I know from experience that a rebuild on something as rare as this could easily hit the £10k mark if it needs cams, valves, pistons and bearings. From a casual glance online even basic parts like pistons and bearings are not readily available so bespoke pistons would likely need to be manufactured and suitable bearings sourcing, with potential re-machining of the block to suit.
I am not trying to be a pessimist at all (although I am trying to talk myself out of bidding), I just thought it was worth pointing out that while a rebuild is completely possible, even on a 1 of 1 engine, the cost and time increases dramatically.
On a separate note, does anyone on here live near Zutendaal who can pick up a large parcel and store it for a few months?
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Last Edit: Jun 14, 2020 10:37:51 GMT by metroman
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Jun 14, 2020 11:02:55 GMT
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I am really interested to see what this sells for, I have been looking out for one for years. I know from experience that a rebuild on something as rare as this could easily hit the £10k mark if it needs cams, valves, pistons and bearings. From a casual glance online even basic parts like pistons and bearings are not readily available so bespoke pistons would likely need to be manufactured and suitable bearings sourcing, with potential re-machining of the block to suit. I am not trying to be a pessimist at all (although I am trying to talk myself out of bidding), I just thought it was worth pointing out that while a rebuild is completely possible, even on a 1 of 1 engine, the cost and time increases dramatically. On a separate note, does anyone on here live near Zutendaal who can pick up a large parcel and store it for a few months? It's disappointing that they haven't mentioned the mileage at the point of removal, there's a good chance this is quite low although it would probably have involved many years of short journeys with repeated cold starts. As it powered a hearse it's very unlikely to have been hammered. Unless the pistons have seized in the bores it could potentially just require a stripdown & clean up & probably needs a decoke. I think that if anyone had more than a passing interest in this lot, probably the first thing to do would be to ask the auction house what the mileage was and if it turns over. |
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,872
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Jun 14, 2020 11:32:40 GMT
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OK, the engine looks as though it's been stood in someone's leaky shed for 20 or 30 years but it was tootling around in a hearse for decades before that so there's a chance it's barely run in. It’s the 20 years in a leaky shed that would worry me with this engine, having first hand experience of my Daimler v8. My engine turned freely, had reasonable compression and made good oil pressure on start up. But internal corrosion had done it’s damage. When the auction site says “ We believe the best way to assess the condition of the engine would be to tear it down and inspect it before attempting to start it.” You have to consider why they are saying that. It is still super cool though! And as you say, could be a good bargain for someone if the auction is fairly low key. metroman as I’m not in a position to, I think you should definitely buy it... haha |
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The Doctor
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 3,434
Club RR Member Number: 48
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Jun 16, 2020 15:05:50 GMT
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On a separate note, does anyone on here live near Zutendaal who can pick up a large parcel and store it for a few months? About an hour ish away from where I live and I've got a big barn.... Just saying.... |
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Tick tock tick tock . . . .
Countdown to end of auction today, current bid €1,000.00.
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Last Edit: Jul 1, 2020 9:16:17 GMT by MkX
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Auction closed at €1,000.00.
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