1975 Daimler Sovereign Double Six Coupe

First registered in mid-June 1975, this 5 owner Daimler is a Sovereign Coupé with the 5.3-litre “Double-Six” V12 engine and Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic transmission.

All five previous owners were reportedly Jaguar Enthusiasts or collectors who spared no expense on meticulous maintenance. One of the most recent owners - a wealthy collector who lived in Switzerland and had it registered to a friend who stored it for him in the UK - spent over £20k restoring the car to take to rallies and events when he came over.

Among his collection of rare classics was the one-off Aston Martin GT4 Coupe "Jet" built by Giugiaro at Bertone, which sold at Bonhams auction following his death in 2013 for a record £3.25m. This gives an indication of the standard of quality he sought in all the cars for his collection - including this Daimler.

Unfortunately, the large history file for the Daimler was left behind in Switzerland after his death, but its potential whereabouts are being looked into by the specialist Jaguar dealer who is selling the car.

The exterior of the Daimler is finished in Pale Primrose (Colour code FDB) - a very rare special order colour (for which read “extra cost”). Production data for these coupés suggest that only one Double-Six left the factory in this shade, so in that sense it is a “1 of 1”.

A popular styling addition in the 1970s, all of the Coupes sported a black vinyl roof. Some say it was to hide a vulnerable weld which sometimes caused the paint to crack on the roof, but others refute this and declare it purely aesthetic.

The bodywork is in generally good condition, with really good panel fit, but we note that the paint is generally micro-blistered and there is variation in shade across some panels. The flanks sport a red coach line under the chrome-plated side strips. These and all the other chrome brightwork show in good order too.

The Double-Six sits on 15-inch chrome-plated steel wheels, fitted with chromed and D-monogrammed hubcaps. All the wheels look well presented and have recently been shod with Rapid P309 tyres.

The interior upholstery is understood to be Olive-coloured leather (code HDB), which leans more toward the brown than green but is pleasantly complemented by the more green than brown carpeting.

The seats have a beautiful patina and light creasing, as befits their age, with no undue wear or damage evident, except perhaps a slight looseness to the leather on the headrests. The almost unseen and now irreplaceable factory original carpets are largely in good order aside from wear and a little tear on the driver’s footwell - roughly where your redundant left foot would rest.

Up front, the padded dash top is covered in black vinyl and the instrument panel and fascia trimmed with a cherry-lacquered wood veneer. There are a few cracks here and there, more so on the glove compartment door, but it is still a pleasing contrast to the black and brown, and sets off the Smiths gauges nicely.

The stereo in the centre console is a Philips AC860 radio and cassette player - one of the seven different units originally offered to UK buyers by the Browns Lane factory.

No one ever said that Jaguar’s V12 was a thing of beauty to behold - unless you’re a plumber maybe. The writhing mass of serpentine pipework and HT leads sitting between the heads does make it look rather untidy, but it is what it is and this one starts well and runs as smooth as a sewing machine - albeit one producing enough torque to make the whole car twitch when revved.

In case you’re wondering what the strange orange bloom is here and there around the car - and particularly in the engine bay - it is apparently the residue from some kind of rust inhibitor spray treatment.

The undersides and wheel arches look to have been treated with a liberal coating of Waxoyl/underseal to most surfaces and components. The twin exhaust appears to be stainless at the rear and is in good condition.

The inside of the large boot is lined and carpeted in black nylon fabric. A small tool roll is present and underneath the floorboard is a full-size spare wheel, fitted with older Avon rubber.

Interested bidders are encouraged to scrutinise the detailed photos to satisfy themselves of the car’s condition - or, better yet, arrange a personal inspection at our Oxfordshire HQ by using the ‘Contact Seller’ option.

The Double-Six Coupé has a current MOT, valid until February 2024. Of course, as an historic vehicle, annual testing isn’t mandated but we always like to see classics consigned with an independent assessment of roadworthiness.

There are a few recent invoices for parts, but the main history file for this Daimler was reportedly getting on for two inches thick, now sadly is missing. Should it resurface, it will be forwarded to the new owner.

The vendor’s business recently carried out a full refurbishment of the suspension with new springs, shock absorbers and ball joints. The brakes have also been done, reconditioning the rear callipers and fitting new discs and pads, pipework and fluid. The rear differential has also been upgraded to a later 2.88 Powr-Lok unit with an aluminium cover. This ratio improves performance and also has better cooling.

The engine has also been serviced - plugs, oil and oil filter, a new thermostat and four new tyres.

The Daimler also comes with an owner’s handbook.

Sir William Lyons personally insisted that the pillarless coupés be built and he had a hand in the design, although he retired before production began.

There aren’t that many of the XJ Coupé variants around now, and fewer still of the V12 Daimler badged Sovereigns like this one survive. As we understand that there was only one Daimler Double-Six Coupé leaving the factory in Pale Primrose, it’s a pretty sure bet you won’t find yourself parked up alongside another one - even at a marque gathering.

We know that rarity doesn’t always mean desirability, but we are confident that this older restoration but highly original, low-mileage example will sell for £25,000 to £35,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.