1991 Daimler DS420

Jaguar handled the engineering, giving the DS420 the engine, transmission, and suspension from the Jaguar 420G. The car was produced at Austin’s Vanden Plas factory in Kingsbury. D stands for Daimler, S was part of an alphabetical naming scheme sequence, (previous car being the DR,) and 420 referred to the 4.2L Jaguar XK engine inside the vehicle. The DS420 was built on the floor pan of the Jaguar 420G, though for the Daimler, the wheelbase was elongated by an extra 21 inches. The front features the traditional Daimler fluted grille and headlights from the Jaguar 420G. The car also featured the same twin ten-gallon fuel tanks from the 420G as well. Smaller than the competing Rolls-Royce Phantom of the time in every aspect, the Daimler DS420 came under half the price of the Rolls.

The exterior to this DS420 is finished in a deep shade of blue. However, this paint is not perfect. A large portion of paint is missing on the passenger side front quarter panel. There was likely a sizable crack in the paint at first, and then large pieces have chipped away from it ever since. The paint also features yellow pinstriping down both sides. There are much smaller chips in the paint around the doors, and some bubbling is occurring around the driver’s side rear door and subsequent rear quarter panel. The fluted grille and chrome bumpers are clean. The soft top looks to be in good condition.

The inside of this Daimler is clean, but it does look a little tired. A healthy coat of polish would really liven things up inside. The wooden inlay for the driver’s door panel has come off but it is still with the car. The two front seats are clean and in good condition. The wooden dash looks fantastic, and all gauges are clean. The floormats on both sides are tidy although it seems like some sound-deadening material is falling down from the top of the passenger side footwell. The carpeting at the bottom of the door panel on the passenger side rear door is coming apart. The passenger compartment is in fantastic shape. The center box and all of the wooden inlays surrounding it are great and shine brilliantly in the lights. The velour rear bench looks fresh from the upholsterer, no wrinkles, stains, tears or holes to be seen. The rear facing seats fold up nicely into their respective positions and the exposed bolts show no corrosion.

The underside of this DS420 is clean for the most part. There is no major damage whatsoever, and there is really no corrosion except in one area. One section of the exhaust system is corroding, but it hasn’t spread to any of the surrounding components and is mostly surface level.

Not much is known about the original owner of the vehicle, but we do know some about the second owner. We know for certain that the vehicle was in Kent in 1998, and 4 years later in January of 2002 the vehicle was purchased by the seller, and then the DS420 was exported to the seller on June 30th, 2002. The Daimler has been on static display ever since.

The Daimler DS420 is an obscure car, even among limousines. However, the DS420 is a joint project between Daimler and Jaguar, two companies with vast experience in the luxury car segment, and it shows. The DS420 is supremely comfortable no matter what seat you choose to sit in. The paint issue near the hood needs to be addressed, and the sound deadening in the passenger seat could use a cover, but after those two things are dealt with, an excellent example of the DS420 will remain.

The Market by Bonhams is excited to offer this Daimler DS420 for online auction with no reserve and an estimate between $7000 and $10,000.

It should be noted that this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

Please note that the title for this vehicle is in transit.

NOTICE TO ALL BIDDERS