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Daimler Dart SP 250 V8 from 1960 - plastic sports car from a traditional manufacturer

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Created on July 15, 2012

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Balz Schreier

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv

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Balz Schreier

14

Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - aus tiefer Perspektive wirkt der Sportwagen richtig bullig

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Front- und Heckgestaltung scheinen sich styling-mässig nicht ganz zu verstehen

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Kurbelfenster deuten an, dass hier ein komfortables Cabrio steht und nicht ein minimalistischer Roadster

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - angedeutete Kotflügel zeugen vom Traditionsbewusstsein des Herstellers

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - nur 154 cm breit ist der Sportwagen

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Heckansicht des Briten, ohne Stossstangen

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - das Design kam nicht so gut wie erwartet an

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - wirkt so friedlich, doch sobald der Motor läuft, ist Ende mit der Gemütlichkeit

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - macht vor allem auf Landstrassen viel Spass, nicht zuletzt dank des elastischen und wohlklingenden V8-Motors

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - man sitzt sehr offen im Daimler

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - die Sitzposition ist aufrecht

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - locker und angenehm zu fahren - etwas Kraftaufwand ist natürlich schon nötig

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Wohnliches Interieur, auch das Armaturenbrett ist mit Leder eingefasst

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Zusatzinstrumente für Tankinhalt, Wassertemperatur, Öldruck, Ladeleistung

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Klassische Kippschalter

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - die gelbe Farbe ist wohl nicht original, steht dem Wagen aber hervorragend

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - das V im Kühler deuter auf den V8 hin

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Ohne Stossstangen (aufpreispflichtiges Zubehör) sieht der Daimler sportlicher aus

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - der Wagen baut vorne trotz V8 recht tief

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Angedeutete Kotflügel auf der Polyster-Haut

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Die Flossen hinten waren ein Tribut an den amerikanischen Zeitgeschmack

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Charakteristischer Kühlergrill

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Massive, verchromte Türgriffe

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Aussenliegende Scharniere an der Kofferraumklappe

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Daimler SP 250 (1959) - das in New York gezeigte Vorserienexemplar

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Daimler SP 250 (1959) - Titelseite des Verkaufsprospektes von 1959

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Daimler SP 250 (1959) - Interieur eines Linkslenkers - aus dem Verkaufsprospekt

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Daimler SP 250 (1959) - der neu entwickelte V8-Motor

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Daimler SP 250 (1959) - enge Platzverhältnisse im Motorraum

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Daimler SP 250 (1961) - Zeitungsinserat in der Automobil Revue

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Daimler SP 250 (1962) - hier ohne die aufpreispflichtigen Stossfänger

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Daimler SP 250 (1962) - Sportwagen mit Kunststoffkarosserie

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Daimler SP 250 (1963) - Interieur eines Rechtslenkers

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Daimler SP 250 (1963) - mit aufgesetztem Hardtop

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Daimler SP 250 (1959) - Interieur eines Rechtslenkers, am Autosalon von Paris 1959

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Daimler SP 250 (1959) - ursprünglich hiess der englische Sportwagen "Dart", aber diesen Namen hatte Chrysler schon verwendet

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Daimler SP 250 (1960) - Interieur, gesehen an einem Treffen im Jahr 1980

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Daimler SP 250 (1962) - mit aufpreispflichtigem Hardtop am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1962

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Daimler SP 250 (1964) - gezeigt am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1964, weiterhin mit Kunststoff-Karosserie

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Ogle SX 250 (1963) - basierte auf dem Daimler SP 250, sah aber sehr viel besser aus

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Daimler SP 250 V8 Roadster (1963) - an der Ennstal Classic 2011 (EP4 132)

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Daimler SP 250 V8 Roadster (1963) - an der Ennstal Classic 2011 (EP4 132)

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Summary

When Daimler presented the Dart, later renamed the SP 250, in 1959, the traditional British company was breaking new ground. For the first time, a sports car was produced with a plastic body and aimed at the American market. Despite the universally praised V8 engine and competitive driving performance, it did not work out. After just five years and 2,648 units produced, it came to an end. Today, the rare sports cars with their somewhat quirky appearance are popular classic cars and entice with their driving pleasure and beguiling openness. This report describes the brief history of the Daimler SP 250 and shows an example from 1960 in detail, supplemented with historical images and an original brochure.

This article contains the following chapters

World premiere in New York
From the Dart to the SP 250
The first British V8 engine for eight years
Conventional chassis design
Full-blooded sports car with weaknesses
Not a special offer
No sales success
Rough but hearty
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Combining tradition and innovation is basically a good thing, but when Daimler presented the Dart sports car, many critics thought the mix was wrong. Although the engine and body technology (plastic) were at the cutting edge, the design was all too reminiscent of the past and was definitely not to everyone's taste. In the spring of 1959, Daimler presented a new sports car that was radically different from its Daimler brothers. Described as "pre-production", the details of the car did not yet correspond to the production version, but it was only a few months away from market launch. Edward Turner was responsible for the new product and the design attempted a balancing act between upholding tradition and American contemporary taste.

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