1992 Daimler DS420

This motor car is being sold as part of an overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to the lower rate 5% import tax if the car is to remain in the UK & purchased by a private individual. The 5% is calculated on the final selling price. For example, if the car sells for £5,000, then £250 is added, making the total amount payable of £5,250.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable.

Lastly, there will be a nominal administration fee of £250 for processing the NOVA application, and payable direct to the shipping company. A completed and processed NOVA will provide you formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK and thus allow you to register the vehicle with the DVLA

In common with the majority of cars in this collection, 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’.

It is available for view and inspection at our HQ near Abingdon and we will be delighted to show the car to you and/or your appointed engineer.

The 1992 Daimler DS420 limousine we have with us today has a landaulette body, which means it has a folding fabric roof at the rear section.

So, you can wave farewell to your wedding guests in fresh air as you head off on your honeymoon.

Or you can wave in a more stately fashion to your fans, subjects or disciples – depending upon who you are, obviously.

We can’t offer any judgement on the condition of the engine (the famous Jaguar XK 4.2-litre unit) or the car’s mechanicals as we haven’t been able to start or drive it.

That said, we have turned the engine by hand and can state that it is not seized.

As with the other cars in this vendor’s collection, our observations are necessarily limited to the car’s cosmetic and structural condition.

We have no history or service record for this car. We know that it was first registered in the UK on 1.2.92. We know that in December 2005 it was owned by Peter Jarvis, a classic car specialist.

And we know that the car was bought by the current vendor for his static display collection on 6.1.06. It has been there ever since.

The car is LHD. Our understanding of the VIN number codes for these cars suggests that it may have started life with the steering wheel and pedals on the other side.

We’re not sure.

You’ll no doubt want to do your own detective work.

Today, the odometer reads an impressive 293,553 miles, which tells us that the car was averaging around 21,000 miles per year between 1992 and 2006.

There are some corrosion issues that will need addressing in one or two places on the bodywork but, those aside, this car seems to us to be a solid example and is in generally decent condition, outside, inside and underneath.

The good news is that the bodywork is largely free of dents, dinks, warps, folds or creases.

The white paintwork is mainly good, too, with the finish retaining a good deal of shine.

The chrome work has held up well and there’s very little tarnishing, foxing or pitting to be seen, with the exception of the top of the rear bumper, where we think some sort of trim is missing and the exposed chrome and bodywork surfaces are now in need of remedial attention.

The o/s/f bumper is coming away from the body slightly.

The wheels look to be in good condition, as does the fabric landaulette hood.

The biggest issue is the area of bubbling and corrosion to the bodywork just under the windscreen. There is also rust visible in places where the roof meets the chrome surrounds to the windows. There is bubbling at the bottom of the o/s/f door.

The palatial interior is actually in pretty good condition. The front cabin, which is separated from the passenger compartment by a sliding glass screen, is smartly functional – in contrast to the unapologetic opulence reserved for the important people seated in the rear.

The black leather front seats are a little creased, but otherwise in decent nick and are both comfortable and supportive.

The door cards in the front cabin are good, as is the headlining. The wood veneers on the dashboard and the door cappings are rich and glossy. The steering wheel, handbrake and gear selector are in fine fettle, too.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t been able to start the vehicle.

Lifting up the carpets (which are in pretty good nick all round) here or elsewhere on the car reveals the usual bloom of rust dust, but nothing more serious that we’ve seen.

The rear passenger compartment is equally impressive. Again, the wood veneers on the door cappings are in very good condition, as they are on the beautifully made drinks cabinet that takes centre stage just below the partition screen.

The carpets and mats are good, if a little faded in places, and the headlining is good on both sections of the roof. There is a tonneau cover for the rear hood on the bench seat.

Either side of the drinks cabinet are two folding seats (cars without the cabinet would have had three folding seats), both of which appear to be functional and in decent nick.

As far as we can see, the undersides of the vehicle look to be pretty solid and possessed of a decent amount of structural integrity. Clearly, you’ll want to see for yourself.

The engine and engine bay appear to be clean and dry and, as far as we can tell, everything is in its right and proper place.

The car comes with no history, no service records and neither an MoT certificate nor a V5.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

We haven’t been able to start or drive the car so our understanding of it is somewhat limited.

Yes, the car has one or two cosmetic issues, but they are limited in number and nature and could, we think, be rectified without too much cost or effort.

Provided that the car’s legendary Jaguar XK 4.2 engine proves to be in good working order and the mechanicals are healthy and sound, this has the potential to be a very viable car for weddings, events or pretty much anything else you might have in mind for it.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £5,000 - £10,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £250 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.