Footnotes

Founded in 1896 as part of Harry J Lawson's motor manufacturing empire, the English Daimler Company built cars derived from the French Panhard-Levassor in its early years, fitted with German Daimler engines. Following Lawson's resignation in 1897, the company's stewardship passed first to Sir Edward Jenkinson and then to Percy Martin, under whose guidance powerful multi-cylinder cars would be produced.

In their 1900 catalogue, Daimler proudly announced: 'We claim not only to be the pioneers of the industry in this country, but also to have kept the lead, thus placing Daimler Motor Carriages a long way ahead of all others.' They paid due respect to Gottlieb Daimler and the 'Daimler' system, and offered a range of twin- and four-cylinder cars and commercial vehicles. Conventional poppet valve engines were used throughout the early 1900s, but in 1909 the firm took the courageous decision to adopt the sleeve valve principle invented by Wisconsin engineer, Charles Yale Knight. Sleeve valves were both quiet and smooth in operation, though perhaps at the expense of increased oil consumption, and were adopted in response to Rolls-Royce's introduction of the refined Silver Ghost.

By this time Daimler enjoyed Royal patronage and the Royal Appointment from King Edward VII, while many other heads of state and dignitaries worldwide had espoused the marque. Daimler had a lot to lose, therefore, if the sleeve valve engine had proved unsatisfactory. Much of Daimler's own development was carried out under the direction of Dr Frederick W Lanchester, their Consulting Engineer, and to silence the sleeve valve's critics, two of their new engines were submitted to the RAC for independent scrutiny. No perceptible wear was found after 10,000 miles running, and the company was duly awarded the prestigious Dewar Trophy. By 1911 the adoption of the refined 'Silent Knight' sleeve valve engine had done much to turn around Daimler's fortunes. From 1911 until 1932, all Daimler cars were fitted with sleeve valve engines.

An example of Daimler's long running 30hp model, originally introduced in 1912, this car has the 4,962cc six-cylinder engine. It carries six-seat tourer coachwork by the Biggleswade-based firm of Maythorn, a coachbuilder mainly associated with Daimler, FIAT and Minerva, which also bodied other quality makes including Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
Previously owned by one C Walker of the Manhattan Corporation Ltd, the Daimler was acquired by the present owner, in May 1993. Got running for the sale, the car is offered with a V5 registration document (although it has not been in the UK for some years), an original Daimler instruction book and parts catalogue, and copies of newspaper cuttings and other documents concerning Maythorn.