The February Newsletter
It has been most encouraging with the excellent help in sourcing the parts needed to bring the old Met Police SP back to its original specification. One rare part not required being the (police) observer’s foot brace, this was still in the car when the interior was stripped out. The correct (police) speedo, radio & bell, have been offered, it will sit on original steel wheels. This was the last SP in active service and was ‘off service’ in Sept 1969 having carried out a tour of duty spanning 4 years 10 months and one of the most photograph of all the Met cars.
Recently a ‘surplus to requirements’ SP250 engine was offered for sale, however, the seller who had had it in his possession for ages gave us time to see if we could locate the car from which it originated. From the formidable set of records we have built, we were able to unite the engine with its rightful car. We have carried out this task on a number of occasions, however, what made this find all the more interesting is that it was from an Ex Met Car. Now the engine in the ex-Met Car was a factory replacement unit from early 1964, so we have surmised that after some two years (hard) work the engine needed replacing. The old engine being rebuilt and fitted into yet other Met Car, this we traced out to Switzerland and as yet no response from that owner. Therefore given the factory had supplied a spare engine this then gave the Met Police the opportunity to rebuild engines as and when required and that is how engines were switched around the Met garages and cars.
This is an interesting clip sent over by Dennis Taylor from Arizona concerning the 1961 New Zealand Grand Prix, it demonstrates the gentlemanly aspect of Motor Racing 60 odd years ago. The bonus for us is an SP coming in at 45 seconds with its Le Mans Start. I found looking at the entire historic video captivating.
I keep an eye on this American web site: ‘bring a trailer’ https://bringatrailer.com/daimler/?q=daimler as it’s a most rewarding site to see trends and what is up for sale and sold, as on occasions find an unknown known.
‘Bring yer own Trailer’ UK style!
I have been asked to help sell a ‘Barn Find’ SP. It’s a LHD ‘B’ spec ex USA, been here for some 25 plus years. It’s currently lying at rest in Gloucestershire, imported some 25 years ago and on a recent inspection was seen fitted with rack & pinion steering. It will need full re-commissioning. Price is £16,500 please email me as above for more information.
We have taken an entire hotel to accommodate the 17 SPs that travel out to the SPA Classic in May https://www.peterauto.fr/en/events/spa-classic/ although there is a reserves’ list please let us know if you also wish to attend, just in case of a ‘drop out’
The dream is fading fast…………
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-ive-pulled-the-plug-on-my-electric-car-dwgs9l9hl
And finally……
Surely we are all entitled to a ‘T’ break!
Thought for the day:
“What’s a Sun-Dial in the Shade” – Benjamin Franklin (US Statesman)
