Following the purchase of Daimler by Jaguar in 1960, there was some pressure to produce a smaller saloon car to complement the larger Daimler Majestic model. The simple and cost-effective solution arrived at was to transplant the Daimler 2.5 litre V8 engine (as fitted to the SP250 sports car) into the existing Jaguar Mk2 bodyshell. Thus the 2.5 V8 saloon was born and launched to the public on October 8, 1962.

The Daimler is arguably a better vehicle than the equivalent 2.4 litre Jaguar Mk2, being powered by a smooth V8 engine, producing a claimed 142 bhp, achieving a top speed of 112mph and 0-60mph time of 13.8 seconds when tested by Autocar magazine in May 1963. In 1967, the Daimler 2.5 V8 was mildly updated and renamed the V8-250. The most noticeable change was that of fitting slimmer bumpers and over-riders (a move shared with the equivalent Jaguar models), but also brought benefits with a negative-earth electrical system and an alternator instead of dynamo. The interior of the car retained the more luxurious leather seating found on the earlier model (which the equivalent Jaguar cars lost). Production continued until 1969, when the model was replaced with the Jaguar XJ6-based Daimler Sovereign.

This 1967 V8-250 was first registered new, in Jersey, in November of that year and has remained in the island throughout its life. The 46,000 miles currently recorded could well be correct. We have no other early history for the vehicle, which was acquired by us as a dry-stored ‘barn find’ in 2023. Since then, we have returned it to a running state but have not undertaken any further work on the running gear, or bodywork and interior renovation, beyond a thorough cleaning of the car.