Daimler v-8

[pinsx3]

How much would that weigh and what cars does it come in? Crazy!

[LotuSport]

--- In ***@***.***, Peter Steilberg
<psteilberg@m...> wrote:

Crazy indeed. It was the Daimler SP250, a genuine "lead
sled." The SP250 was a fiberglass car of a size between
a triumph Spitfire and a Stag, IIRC. One of the ugliest
cars in history, it had fins like a fifties US car
(picture a TR-3 where the rear wings came straight back
on a horizontal level from above the rear wheel arch,
then chopped of at a slight reverse cut to the bumper).

The engine weighed a positive ton; it was a hemi of 2-1/2
liters (litres) and had weight (because of the monstrous
heads) that was disproportional to the engine's size/
displacement.

Terminal understeer accompanied by tires going up in smoke
from power/torque, but couldn't induce power oversteer with
any modicum of control (open diff). Loads of fun in autocross/
trials, if you didn't mind looking a bit silly trying to get
through tight gates. Forgettable on a racetrack (unless you
ran out of [marginal] brakes =8^0), sort-of OK on the road --
but about as reliable as a Fiat-powered Lotus! And, did I say
ugly?
8^)

Best regards,
Bob
_________________________
***@***.***

[Elan45]

Come on Bob, You've really got a problem w/ this piece of history. IIRC, Spitfires are about the same size as en Elan. The "Dangler", as my dear wife fondly referred to them, was more the size of a big Healey , maybe even a little larger, but not as big as a Jag 120-150. And probably the reason theylooked like they were late 50's is because that is when they were built.
I've driven a couple of them, not far, but don't remember them being that bad, since they were pretty much a Triumph clone underneath. And, IIRC, Logan Blackburn won an SCCA national championship in the early 60's in one. I'll agree the looks were not endearing to everyone, hence my wife's inventivename.

Roger


<psteilberg@m...> wrote:

Crazy indeed. It was the Daimler SP250, a genuine "lead
sled." The SP250 was a fiberglass car of a size between
a triumph Spitfire and a Stag, IIRC. One of the ugliest
cars in history, it had fins like a fifties US car
(picture a TR-3 where the rear wings came straight back
on a horizontal level from above the rear wheel arch,
then chopped of at a slight reverse cut to the bumper).

The engine weighed a positive ton; it was a hemi of 2-1/2
liters (litres) and had weight (because of the monstrous
heads) that was disproportional to the engine's size/
displacement.

Terminal understeer accompanied by tires going up in smoke
from power/torque, but couldn't induce power oversteer with
any modicum of control (open diff). Loads of fun in autocross/
trials, if you didn't mind looking a bit silly trying to get
through tight gates. Forgettable on a racetrack (unless you
ran out of [marginal] brakes =8^0), sort-of OK on the road --
but about as reliable as a Fiat-powered Lotus! And, did I say
ugly?
8^)

Best regards,
Bob
_________________________
***@***.***














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[lotusnut]

At 05:53 PM 10/16/2003 +0000, Bob Metz wrote:

Bob's description is accurate. The hood was shaped like a clam shell with
two eyes sticking out.
The one I saw looked like a grumpy Sunbeam Alpine on steriods.
Very unique. Very odd by most standards. But folks love them. [even nudists.]
http://www.angelfire.com/film/auto_phot ... _sp250.htm
See http://www.jdch.nl/nl/alge/model/gr_daim-sp250.jpg
The steering wheel kept driver from hitting the glass:
http://www.britbits.com/html/sales/62_D ... 0/dash.jpg
There are even models at: [third down on the right]
http://mikecoupe_1.tripod.com/Default.htm
many other oldies there also.

[tvacc]

I have to agree with Roger....I drove a few Damilers...and they we not that
bad...they were about the size of a big Healey...and were quite
heavy...both in weight and the feel...

They were quite quick as I recall....kind of like a heavy and over size
Sunbeam Tiger...(which I owned for 3 years and drove extensively).....

To me they always looked like something jules verne would have designed...

Tony Vaccaro
http://www.lotusowners.com
http://www.drivingclothes.com

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email from this address please email ***@***.***

-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Sieling [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 2:13 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Daimler v-8


Come on Bob, You've really got a problem w/ this piece of history. IIRC,
Spitfires are about the same size as en Elan. The "Dangler", as my dear wife
fondly referred to them, was more the size of a big Healey , maybe even a
little larger, but not as big as a Jag 120-150. And probably the reason they
looked like they were late 50's is because that is when they were built.
I've driven a couple of them, not far, but don't remember them being that
bad, since they were pretty much a Triumph clone underneath. And, IIRC,
Logan Blackburn won an SCCA national championship in the early 60's in one.
I'll agree the looks were not endearing to everyone, hence my wife's
inventive name.

Roger


<psteilberg@m...> wrote:

Crazy indeed. It was the Daimler SP250, a genuine "lead
sled." The SP250 was a fiberglass car of a size between
a triumph Spitfire and a Stag, IIRC. One of the ugliest
cars in history, it had fins like a fifties US car
(picture a TR-3 where the rear wings came straight back
on a horizontal level from above the rear wheel arch,
then chopped of at a slight reverse cut to the bumper).

The engine weighed a positive ton; it was a hemi of 2-1/2
liters (litres) and had weight (because of the monstrous
heads) that was disproportional to the engine's size/
displacement.

Terminal understeer accompanied by tires going up in smoke
from power/torque, but couldn't induce power oversteer with
any modicum of control (open diff). Loads of fun in autocross/
trials, if you didn't mind looking a bit silly trying to get
through tight gates. Forgettable on a racetrack (unless you
ran out of [marginal] brakes =8^0), sort-of OK on the road --
but about as reliable as a Fiat-powered Lotus! And, did I say
ugly?
8^)

Best regards,
Bob
_________________________
***@***.***















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This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
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This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
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[LotuSport]

--- In ***@***.***, DAve <lotusnut@b...>
wrote:

Thanks Dave. I have to take exception to Roger's remark,
mainly because he failed to take note of my size comparison
at the other end of the scale, the Triumpg Stag -- a _much_
larger car -- and I believe the SP250 slotted in between
them.



LOL! Great simile. Thanks for the wonderful links. I hadn't
set eyes on one of these things in, probably, thirty years
(oddly, none show for our Colorado English Motoring Conclave
each year).

What a hoot! Brought back a lot of memories. A great friend
had one of these which he autocrossed (unsuccessfully, but
still had a load of fun). I got the chance to drive it a couple
of times and aside from the embarrassment from the looks, had
fun with the car.

Best regards,
Bob
__________________________
***@***.***



_________________________________________________________________
Never get a busy signal because you are always connected with high-speed
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[LotuSport]

--- In ***@***.***, "Tony Vaccaro"
<tvacc@l...> wrote:

AHA! Yes, absolutely perfect!
8^D

Best regards,
Bob
________________________
***@***.***
(and now back to our regularly scheduled drudgery...)

[ddddumas]

--- In ***@***.***, Peter Steilberg <psteilberg@m...>
wrote:

No one has mentioned that the Daimler SP250's V8 engine was derived
from a pre-existing motorcycle engine; I think a Royal Enfield, I'm
but not sure. It had a new block, crank and heads, but otherwise the
motorcycle rods pistons, valve train, etc. were used.

In addition to being ugly, its chassis was said to be weak and
twisty. I never heard bad things about the engine though.

I remenber them being fast in their day, and there were two racing at
Lime Rock this past weekend; these weren't slow either.

[tvacc]

Well...as I am in third spot here.....I guess my chances are low...

could you at least tell me the cost...that will tell me if I should wait....

Tony Vaccaro
http://www.lotusowners.com
http://www.drivingclothes.com

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email from this address please email ***@***.***

-----Original Message-----
From: ddddumas [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 6:48 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Daimler v-8


--- In ***@***.***, Peter Steilberg <psteilberg@m...>
wrote:

No one has mentioned that the Daimler SP250's V8 engine was derived
from a pre-existing motorcycle engine; I think a Royal Enfield, I'm
but not sure. It had a new block, crank and heads, but otherwise the
motorcycle rods pistons, valve train, etc. were used.

In addition to being ugly, its chassis was said to be weak and
twisty. I never heard bad things about the engine though.

I remenber them being fast in their day, and there were two racing at
Lime Rock this past weekend; these weren't slow either.

[tvacc]

Whoops....sent to the wrong place

Tony Vaccaro
http://www.lotusowners.com
http://www.drivingclothes.com

To unsubscribe from this mailing or to request you no longer wish to receive
email from this address please email ***@***.***

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Vaccaro [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 6:56 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] Re: Daimler v-8


Well...as I am in third spot here.....I guess my chances are low...

could you at least tell me the cost...that will tell me if I should wait....

Tony Vaccaro
http://www.lotusowners.com
http://www.drivingclothes.com

To unsubscribe from this mailing or to request you no longer wish to receive
email from this address please email ***@***.***

-----Original Message-----
From: ddddumas [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 6:48 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Daimler v-8


--- In ***@***.***, Peter Steilberg <psteilberg@m...>
wrote:

No one has mentioned that the Daimler SP250's V8 engine was derived
from a pre-existing motorcycle engine; I think a Royal Enfield, I'm
but not sure. It had a new block, crank and heads, but otherwise the
motorcycle rods pistons, valve train, etc. were used.

In addition to being ugly, its chassis was said to be weak and
twisty. I never heard bad things about the engine though.

I remenber them being fast in their day, and there were two racing at
Lime Rock this past weekend; these weren't slow either.

[lotustony]

Someone wrote:


but not sure. It had a new block, crank and heads, but otherwise the
motorcycle rods pistons, valve train, etc. were used.<<<<<

Another reference I "googled-up" said the motor was derived from mating two
Triumph Dolomite 4 cylinder engines into a V8. I _think_ I remember that a
Daimler was SCCA-campaigned very successfully by Duncan Black as in "Black &
Decker" tool company.

Tony

["John Harrison"]

In the late 60`s early 70`s the Met Police used them to catch the "ton up Boys",who`s meeting place was the Ace Cafe on the North Circular Rd ,Which was also their race way Regards John 1969 S4----- Original Message -----
From: ddddumas
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 11:48 PM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Daimler v-8


--- In ***@***.***, Peter Steilberg <psteilberg@m...>
wrote:

No one has mentioned that the Daimler SP250's V8 engine was derived
from a pre-existing motorcycle engine; I think a Royal Enfield, I'm
but not sure. It had a new block, crank and heads, but otherwise the
motorcycle rods pistons, valve train, etc. were used.

In addition to being ugly, its chassis was said to be weak and
twisty. I never heard bad things about the engine though.

I remenber them being fast in their day, and there were two racing at
Lime Rock this past weekend; these weren't slow either.

[jeff wolfson]

It was designed by Edward Turner, who also designed Triumph motor cycle
engines. Its qualities have been widely praised, both by contemporary
writers and in more recent classic car magazines. Even the very ugly
(to my eyes) Dart/SP250 seems to have achieved a new lease of life with
people buying them because of their looks, not in spite of. There is no
accounting for taste!

Jeff
1966 S3 FHC