1979 Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas |

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1979 Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£7,420

Mileage~69,472
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine5.3L
LocationNorwich

SOLD

1979 Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Richard Gormley

Automotive Writer, Consigner and Photographer

It’s 1979 and the Double Six VDP is one of the most luxurious cars in the world – serene, opulent and effortlessly powerful, it has to be driven to be believed.

Launched in 1973, Jaguars Daimler Double Six was considered by many as one of the most luxurious cars in the world. In fact, in contemporary television adverts, Sir William Lyons referred to the original Daimler versions of the XJ6 as the “finest Jaguar ever". Based on the XJ6 floorpan the Daimler Double Six is powered by the Jaguar V12 unit which was developed by Claude Baily and intended for a Le Mans car. The Le Mans project never happened but this legendary engine went on to power other Jaguar icons including the E-type and the XJS.

The cars are both capable and luxurious. A 5.3L V12 engine delivering power through a silky smooth 3 speed automatic transmission is blended with an opulent leather and walnut interior to provide a serene, virtually silent, ride. As if being a Daimler isn’t enough these cars are given the famous Vanden Plas treatment. Originally high-end coach-builders with a heritage going back to 1870, Vanden Plas became the designation for the high-end products of British Leyland subsidiaries.

This series II car comes to auction presented in a stunning "Silver Sand Metallic" paint with a black vinyl roof. The interior is trimmed in beautiful brown and black leather. The walnut dash appears in immaculate condition and the ride is sublime, it really is a stunning example that’s covered fewer than ~1,000 miles in the last 10 years.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Richard after meeting Brian the cars custodian, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

People used to say these cars were as good as the Rolls Royce of their day and, in my view, they were not far wrong.

Having owned a Double Six previously, Declan couldn’t resist this one when it became available. Declan’s colleague, Brian, showed us the car and used to sell them himself a few years ago so knows them very well. In Brian’s view “This is a magnificent limousine –comfortable and quiet but with no shortage of power from that lovely V12”.

Brian goes on to say, “It’s a beautiful car, the paintwork is close to immaculate, and the interior is wonderfully appointed”. Declan feels he has too many classics to enjoy them properly. A nice problem to have, maybe, but is does mean the Double Six is available for a new owner to enjoy. Declan and Brian will be happy to answer any questions about this lovely car in the comments section below.

Brian

Vehicle Owners' Representative

Brian saved £1,260* when they
sold their Daimler with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Immediately recognisable feline stance, wonderful lines and Vanden Plas coachwork – this is, undeniably, an outstandingly beautiful car.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15-inch, pressed steel wheels with chrome hubcaps and trim are in generally good condition. The chrome is showing some signs of pitting and there are some places as shown in the photos showing corrosion.

These minor defects are really only visible on close inspection and overall, the wheels still look very good. The wheels are shod with recent tyres that have plenty of tread remaining.

Bodywork

This car looks stunning. With signature Jaguar curves it stands straight, all four doors, boot and bonnet open and close precisely and the manual closing mechanisms seem to be working properly. There is some minor corrosion on the lips of the wheel arches which is shown in the photos, although this appears to be limited to the surface.

Take a look at the high-resolution photos and videos to assess the condition of this lovely Daimler for yourself

Paint

Beautifully finished, the "Silver Sand Metallic" paintwork looks fantastic and suits the car perfectly. The quality of the paintwork is excellent and, except for the small areas of corrosion around the wheel arches mentioned previously, appears close to flawless. The finish is even and consistent with a deep shine right across the car.

The black vinyl roof is in great condition too with no visible tears or damage and a deep, even, black finish. The photos and videos show just how good the exterior finish on this car is. Do take a look and judge for yourself.

Glass and Trim

The chrome trim is in remarkably good condition for a car of this era with only occasional minor pitting. The signature, fluted grill looks great and the badging, while showing some ageing, still looks very good.

Windscreen is generally clear and unmarked although the laminate has fogged slightly in the corners. This is noted as an advisory on the MOT but does not affect the drivers view. All side windows, mirrors and lenses look in excellent condition

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

A heady mix of top quality black and brown leather, deep walnut and thick pile carpets - all the opulence and atmosphere of a Victorian drawing room.

Seats and Carpets

Sumptuous brown leather seats appear in great condition with no rips, tears or indeed major wear. The driver’s seat, while inevitably more “worn in” than the other seats, still looks wonderful. The leather trim elsewhere is excellent, and the headlining looks very good.

The beige carpets are in generally good condition with some signs of use as would be expected but no rips or tears. Check out the interior photos and videos to see this wonderfully opulent cabin for yourself

Dashboard

Well, it’s a Daimler! The dark, walnut dash is magnificent and appears free from the peeling or crazing sometimes found on these models.

It’s beautifully polished and simply stunning, framing the instruments, switches and controls perfectly.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The leather covered; Daimler badged steering wheel is in very good condition as is the drive selector lever set in it’s walnut surround.

These are controls perfectly styled for a limousine of this quality.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Driven by the tried and tested Jaguar V12, this car is almost silent yet delivers startling performance from its 5.3L engine when needed.

Engine and Gearbox

This iconic Jaguar, naturally aspirated V12 doesn’t leave a lot of spare room in the engine bay. Fed by Bosch-Bendix-Lucas D-Jetronic fuel injection and driving the rear wheels through a super slick, GM THM-400 gearbox, it’s no surprise this engine has an awesome reputation. This is not a small car so delivering 0-60 in a shade under 8 seconds and a top speed of 143mph is pretty impressive

Check out the cold start in the ‘On the Road’ video where you’ll see the car starts well from cold and quickly settles down to a steady, even, idle. There is excellent oil pressure showing on the gauge and emissions from the twin, stainless steel, exhaust system appear clear.

Suspension and Brakes

Brian assures us that suspension works exactly as it should and this was certainly apparent from the brief test drive, we joined him for. The car was smooth and compliant with very little road noise. Brakes are discs all round and, this being Jaguar engineering, will be more than a match for the V12 power.

The Drive

Serene, quiet, comfortable. The drive was smooth with effortless acceleration, slick, quiet movement through the auto box, precise steering and predictable, even braking – unadulterated luxury in fact. Check out the video to share in our experience.

Electrics and Other

All dials, lights and switchgear appeared in great condition. The car has a period Philips radio cassette player fitted. Brian advises that the central locking requires attention and that the Full Beam indicator light on the dash doesn’t work although full beam itself is fully functional. Brian also suggest the air conditioning, while working, would benefit from a recharge.

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History and Paperwork

This is a beautiful car – wonderful paint finish, stunning interior and the most luxurious drive you can imagine, a guaranteed head-turner at shows or ideal for some simple, indulgent classic summer motoring.

Owning a Daimler V12 provides a driving experience that is good for the soul! Serene and tranquil this car may be but it’s no slouch, offering performance that still very respectable today and would have been considered remarkable it it’s day.

These Series II Double Six Daimlers are getting harder to find and, in this condition, they are unusual indeed. The classic car world was a little slow to wake up to Jaguar’s world beating XJ6 formula but it’s now a firmly established and desirable classic. Presented in V12, Daimler, Vanden Plas form these are among the very best of the breed.

The Daimler comes with historic MOT certificates, original sales brochure featuring a Double Six in this colourway and an RAC membership folder containing some fantastic period paperwork.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
01.10.2021	MOT	69,429
15.09.2021	MOT	69,428
02.07.2020	MOT	69,331
28.09.2018	MOT	69,114
15.04.2016	MOT	68,918
25.09.2014	MOT	68,607
28.06.2011	MOT	68,523
28.06.2010	MOT	68,236
10.06.2009	MOT	67,876
08.05.2008	MOT	67,546
19.05.2007	MOT	67,436
22.06.2006	MOT	67,157
08.06.2006	MOT	67,156
05.05.2000	MOT	65.699
17.04.1999	MOT	65,130
07.03.1998	MOT	64,194

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Key Details

ModelDaimler Double Six Vanden Plas
TransmissionAuto
Reg. Date13.03.1979
CC5,343
Mileage~69,472
HistoryVery Good
ColourSilver Sand Metallic
Interior ColourBrown
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #DDRLW3BC103818
Engine #38099
RestoredNo
MOTValid Until 30.09.2022
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes
Former Keepers9
Tyre TreadGood
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~1 Year
Key FeatureCondition

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Vehicle Sold

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This vehicle has now been sold - click 'I Want One' below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

I WANT ONE

Ask Questions

Seller : DBrian Sale Date 27.04.2022

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

Member

vinnie

Hi
Got it thanks.

Author

DBrian

Hi Vinnie,
Sorry I didn’t come b as ck to you quickly, I see you have it now.

Member

vinnie

Hi
May I have the registration number please, I would like to do some checks, thanks.
Regards
Vince

Member

Barry

thanks for letting me know,unfortunately with no service history I am reluctantly withdrawing my bid on the car.
Regards Barry.

Admin

Kulraj Salh

Hi Barry,

With us running a public “English” auction, bids cannot be withdrawn after being placed. All the history the car comes with has been photographed just like we do on all of our listing.

Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

Member

Barry

does the car have a full service history, stamped book ?

Author

DBrian

Hi Barry,
The car does not have a stamped service book I’m afraid.

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Vehicle Location

Norwich

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