Beschreibung:

The highly esteemed Daimler Motor Co. Ltd. of Coventry, England introduced its superb DE36 ultra luxury-car chassis in 1946. The firm was at the time just returning to automaking, after a six-year hiatus brought about by World War II. The model designation for the new 146.5-inch wheelbase DE36 was derived from its 5.4L straight-eight engine's 36 RAC (taxable) horsepower rating. The big eight was actually good for 150 brake horsepower and could propel a three-ton DE36 to more than 80 mph. It was the last straight-eight engine introduced by a British automaker. The DE36 was equipped with Daimler's pre-selector- controlled Fluid Flywheel transmission. Daimler set aside 216 chassis numbers for DE production and offered the model into 1953. The majority of DE36 cars carried finely wrought and exceedingly formal closed coachwork, crafted by England's finest builders. Enclosed DE36 cars were typically equipped with dual side-mount spare tires—these massive vehicles were among the last built with such equipage. There were also some DE36 open cars, including a small number of spectacular convertibles. British royalty used several DE36 cars, as England's Daimler had long been the motorcar of choice for the nation's Royal family. According to the DE Registry website, additional royal first owners included the King of Thailand, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, the King of Afghanistan and the Prince and Princess of Monaco. According to Daimler factory records, the chassis of the offered DE36 was produced in April 1946 and was among the first five of its type built. Fitted with an 8-passenger limousine body, it was retained by Daimler for use as an executive fleet vehicle over the next ten years. Following a period of service in Scotland, the car was obtained by American Navy Commander Jack Jennings, in 1968. He would later bring it into the U.S. The stately limousine was donated to a museum in 1998. It passed again into private ownership in 2001, having been obtained by the late DE36 expert John Sweeney, it was acquired from his estate by the present owner. The Daimler DE36 Limousine is presented for sale in unrestored estate condition, with a clear State of Washington title. The title indicates that the 21,100 miles showing on the odometer is the actual mileage. In preparation for the auction, the car has been at Scott Sargent's famed restoration shop and has been worked through to put into running order. Without reserve