Footnotes

• The 2½-litre Daimler V8 is such an assured sports saloon that it seems remarkable that it was created almost by chance. Jaguar's principal motive in purchasing Coventry neighbours Daimler had been the acquisition of much needed production capacity without the expense of constructing on a distant 'green field' site. The fact that the purchase also included Daimler's splendid, Edward Turner-designed, lightweight V8 engines was entirely incidental from Jaguar's standpoint, yet would result in the creation of one of the finest sports saloons of the 1960s.
  
  First seen in the rapid, if controversially styled, SP250 sports car, the 2.5-litre version was judged superior to Jaguar's 2.4-litre XK six, and so the opportunity arose to create an medium sized, upmarket model based on the Mark 2 saloon, something Daimler's leading distributor, Stratstone, had been crying out for. The job was made relatively easy by the V8's compact nature and the generously sized Jaguar engine bay. (A similar exercise was undertaken with the 4.5-litre unit, which was installed in a Jaguar Mark X prototype, but despite the Daimler engine's superiority the latter was introduced with the 3.8-litre XK six).
  
  Launched in 1962 as the '2½-Litre V8' (later 'V8 250'), the new Daimler came with Borg Warner automatic transmission as standard and boasted the marque's traditional fluted radiator grille. More refined than the equivalent Jaguar, the Daimler turned out to be a fine performer to boot, its 110mph top speed exceeding that of an overdrive-equipped, 2.4-litre Mark 2 by a wide margin. Autocar's S C H Davis, a former Daimler apprentice, declared 'This is not a Jaguar with a Daimler radiator grille and name plate. It can stand on its own.' Not surprisingly, the V8 was soon outselling its Jaguar rival and in due course became the most successful Daimler of all time with more than 17,600 sold up to the end of production in 1969.
  
  The car offered here is the only Daimler of its kind to undergo convertible conversion by renowned Jaguar specialists Vicarage, although the firm has converted 15 of its close relative, the Jaguar Mark 2. Updating 1960s Jaguars with the best of modern technology has long been a Vicarage speciality, and this car incorporates air conditioning; push-button central locking and alarm; power operated hood; electric windows; and a bespoke interior featuring electrically adjustable front seats, Derrington steering wheel (remanufactured by Vicarage) and tinted glass.
  
  The 2.5-litre V8 engine has been left standard, apart from conversion to 'unleaded' compatibility, and drives via a ZF four-speed automatic gearbox with 'J-gate' shifter (from a modern Jaguar) while the convertible body was been re-engineered to be torsionally stiffer than that of the original saloon. Running gear upgrades include Vicarage's own coil-sprung independent rear suspension; up-rated front suspension; adjustable shock absorbers; power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering; four-pot front brake callipers; up-rated brake servo; aluminium radiator and 6" chromed wire wheels. A modern electrical system, halogen headlights and stainless-steel exhaust system are among other noteworthy features.
  
  Costing an impressive £135,000 when new (plus the cost of the donor car), the Vicarage convertible was delivered in August 2004 to its first post-conversion owner: Prince Faisal, son of King Khalid of Saudi Arabia. It was kept in the UK and subsequently passed, via a classic car dealer, to television and radio presenter Chris Evans in December 2006.
  
  Purchased in 2008 by sports food entrepreneur and land speed racer, Zef Eisenberg, the car was returned to Vicarage where it was completely retrimmed in the finest red leather, with extensive upgrading in all areas to ensure complete reliability. No expense was spared.
  
  The car has covered a mere 6,500-or-so miles since conversion and is offered in good working order, with current MoT certificate and a V5C registration document. An extensive file of receipts and history is included, dating from the original conversion work.