Daimler Regency

Daimler Regency
Production period:	1951-1958
Class :	Upper class
Body versions :	Limousine , cabriolet
Successor:	Daimler Majestic

The Daimler Regency are luxury vehicles from the British automobile manufacturer Daimler , which were built from 1951 to 1958 with a break of one and a half years. The Regency series consists of three series, the last of which is called Daimler One-0-Four . In addition to the standard versions, there were also special versions, including the Sportsman and various Empress models with Hooper bodies. Over the years, a wide-ranging, nested range of models with different structures and engines was created. Despite this diversity, the Regency range was unsuccessful. Taken all the variants together, fewer than 1,000 cars were built.

History of origin

Daimler Motor Company

The Daimler Motor Company, founded in 1896, was one of the most exclusive British automobile manufacturers in the first half of the 20th century. The company, which has been part of the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) since 1910 , regularly supplied vehicles for the British royal family . The company's position changed after the end of World War II , when competitor Vanden Plas gradually took on a leading role in the large sedan segment. Daimler then tried to serve lower-priced market segments with the smaller models in parallel with the representative vehicles that were still being produced.

In the immediate post-war period, the DB18 and its further developed Consort version , which had small six-cylinder engines, served as the entry-level model . In order to close the gap to the large DE27 and DE36 state cars , Daimler also introduced the Regency in 1951, which was technically derived from the DB18 / Consort. The Regency made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 1951. After production had ceased in early 1953, it was restarted in October 1954 with a revised version. Overall, the Regency series was largely unsuccessful. Taken all versions together, fewer than 1,000 vehicles were built in seven years. The smaller Daimler Conquest, on the other hand, which replaced the DB18 as an entry-level model in 1953, was built almost ten times as often. The Regency was the technical basis for the Regina representative limousine, which replaced the DE27 and DE36 in 1955 and was basically an extended Regency. In August 1958, the Majestic took on the role of the Regency series.

The individual models

Overview

series	model	Chassis designation		production
		Right hand drive	Left hand drive
Regency Mark I.	saloon	DF 300	DF 301	7th
	Special Sports Convertible	DF 302	DF 303	3
	Hooper Empress Mark II			33
Regency Mark II	Saloon Mark II 3.5 liter	DF 304	DF 305	approx. 320
	Saloon Mark II 4.5 liter	DF 400	DF 401	approx. 25
	Hooper Empress Mark IIa	DF 306	DF 307	58
	Hooper Empress Mark III	DF 308	DF 309	14th
	Sportsman Saloon			33-69
Series 3	One-0-Four Saloon 3.5 liter	DF 310	DF 311	559
	One-0-Four Automatic	DF 314
	One-0-Four Saloon 4.5 liters	DF 402	DF 403
	Four Lights Saloon (Sportsman)	DF 310	DF 311

First generation: Regency Mark I.

→ Main article : Daimler Regency Mark I.

Regency Mark I.
Empress II based on Regeny Mark I
Production period:	1951-1953
Body versions :	Limousine , cabriolet
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.0 liters (67-75 kW)
Length:	4851 mm
Width:	1803 mm
Height:	1651 mm
Wheelbase :	2896 mm
Empty weight :	1830 kg

The first generation of the Regency is referred to in retrospect as the Mark I. It was built from 1951 to early 1953. Daimler offered three different body versions, each based on the same technical basis. The series was largely unsuccessful. All versions taken together, a maximum of 50 vehicles were built by the beginning of 1953, probably fewer. A major reason for the failure of the first Regency series was British tax policy. When the Regency Mark I was launched, the purchase tax rate payable on the car was 66.6%. An announced, but repeatedly postponed tax cut caused many interested parties to wait and see.

Common technical characteristics

The Regency has a ladder frame with cross-shaped bracing, which was derived from the frame of the Daimler DB18 / Consort. All Mark I variants have an in-line six-cylinder engine with 3.0 liters (2954 cm³) displacement. The basic version has an output of 90 bhp (67 kW; 92 PS), which occurs at 4100 revolutions per minute. In 1952 a more powerful version appeared with a cylinder head made of cast aluminum and a maximum output of 100 bhp (75 kW; 101 PS). Power transmission is carried out as standard by the preselector gear that was still common at Daimler at the time .

Versions

• The base model is the Saloon (chassis designation DF301 for the right-hand drive and DF302 for the left-hand drive version), a six-seater notchback sedan with four doors and three windows on each side (so-called Six Light) , the structure of which was ascribed to the traditional body manufacturer Barker , but actually in Daimler's own plants in Coventry were created. With the 90 bhp version of the in-line six-cylinder, the saloon reaches a top speed of 131 km / h. The purchase price was £ 2,334 including tax at launch. This made it significantly more expensive than a similarly sized, but much faster Jaguar Mark VII . By the time production was discontinued , only seven Regency Saloons had been built , three of which still exist in the 21st century. One of the saloons belonged to the British Queen Mother .

• In 1952, the two-door convertible known as Barker Special Sports (DF302 / 303) made its debut, the body of which has no relation to that of the saloon . It is equipped with the 100 bhp engine. The car was priced at £ 2,661 when it was launched. The Special Sports was "extremely rare"; some sources believe that only three vehicles were made. One, like the later Sportsman, has a hardtop with a three-part rear window in panorama style.

• Also in 1952 the Empress II (DF302 / 303) appeared, a special version with a Hooper structure, the shape of which follows the so-called Hooper Empress Line . With it, Daimler continued a tradition of special models that began in 1950 with the smaller DB18 / Consort under the name Empress Mark I. The Empress II models based on the Regency are usually (but not without exception) so-called six-light sedans with three windows on each side of the vehicle. 33 Empress IIs had been built by 1952.

Second generation: Regency Mark II

Regency Mark II
Daimler Regency Mark II Saloon
Production period:	1954-1955
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engines : 3.5–4.5 liters (80–97 kW)
Length:	4978 mm
Width:	1791 mm
Height:	1593 mm
Wheelbase :	2896 mm
Empty weight :	1860 kg

More than a year and a half after the first series was discontinued, Daimler launched the Regency Mark II in October 1954. Once again, several bodies and engines were available that were combined in different ways. The second series of the Regency stayed in the program for a year.

Common technical characteristics

The chassis of the Regency Mark II was largely unchanged from the Mark I. Two differently sized engines were new. A version of the well-known six-cylinder in-line engine, enlarged to 3.5 liters, was available in output levels from 107 bhp (80 kW; 109 PS) to 114 bhp (85 kW; 116 PS) to 130 bhp (96 kW; 132 PS). In addition, Daimler offered a 127 bhp (95 kW; 129 PS) variant with 4617 cm³, which - not exactly - is also known as "4.5 liter".

Versions

• The standard model was the Regency Mark II Saloon , which was available as the DF 304/305 with 3.5 liters and the DF 400/401 with 4.6 liters ("4.5 liters"). Its six-seater six-light body is derived from that of the Mark I, but is 10 cm longer and has a different design in the area of ​​the flanks: the front fenders now run less towards the rear and the rear fenders close vertically. The purchase price for a saloon with a 3.5 liter engine was £ 2,324 in 1954 and the “4.5 liter” version was £ 2,775. Daimler built a total of 345 Mark II Saloon vehicles , around two dozen of which had the larger engine.

• As a sporty alternative to the saloon , the four-door Sportsman (DF308 / 309) with four-lights body (two windows on each side of the vehicle) from Mulliners of Birmingham was available from October 1954 . The Sportsman has a rear panoramic windshield, strongly curved rear fenders with covered wheels and small tail fins. Chassis and power transmission were slightly revised. The Sportsman was available with the 3.5 liter (96 kW; 132 hp) engine at a price of £ 2,650 or the 4.5 liter version for £ 3,103. The sportsman is rare. Depending on the source, there is talk of a total of 33 or 69 vehicles.

• On the basis of the Regency Mark II, Hooper built another Empress variant, which is called the Mark IIa (DF306 / 307). Stylistically it is completely identical to the Empress Mark II. A 114 bhp (85 kW; 116 PS) version of the 3.5-liter engine serves as the drive. The gearbox and the rear axle correspond to that of the Sportsman. 58 vehicles were built from this Empress variant.

• From 1955 the Hooper sedans were built on the chassis of the previous Sportsman (DF308 / 309). The outwardly unchanged, now called Empress III cars have the 130 bhp Sportsman engine with 3.5 liters as standard; a single vehicle was equipped differently with the "4.5 liter" engine of the One-0-Five. By 1957, Hooper had built a total of 14 Empress IIIs.

• Individual Regency chassis were ultimately given individual bodies at the customer's request. This included a coupe from Ghia-Suisse .

gallery

• 

  Daimler Sportsman

• 

  Daimler Sportsman

• 

  One of 14 Empress Mark III on Sportsman chassis

Third generation

One-O-Four
Daimler One-0-Four
Production period:	1955-1958
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.5-4.5 liters (124 kW)
Length:	4978 mm
Width:	1800 mm
Height:	1595 mm
Wheelbase :	2896 mm
Empty weight :	1845 kg

A year after the introduction of the Regency Mark II, a further developed version appeared in October 1955. It was not factory designated as Regency Mark III; instead, the individual models were given individual names. The main changes concerned the engine. The output of the still 3.5 liter in-line six-cylinder engine has been increased to 137 bhp (102 kW; 139 hp); the "4.5 liter" version now had an output of 167 hhp (124 kW; 169 hp). Outwardly, the six and four light sedans remained unchanged. In parallel, there were still Hooper sedans in the Empress style (Empress Mark III); however, they are based on the older Sportsman chassis and do not have the new, more powerful engines.

One-0-Four Saloon (DF310 / 311/314 and DF402 / 403)

The Six-Light Saloon with Barker body, previously sold as Regency Mark II, was renamed One-0-Four (for 104) after the introduction of more powerful engines (internal DF310 / 311). The new name refers to the top speed of 104 mph (167 km / h) that a pre-production model had reached during test drives with the new 3.5-liter engine. However, this was a specially prepared car. The top speed of the production models was around 100 mph (161 km / h). The power transmission continued to take over Daimler's well-known and now obsolete pre-selection gear as standard. From 1956, a fully automatic system from BorgWarner was available as an alternative . The chassis equipped with them are called DF314. The purchase price for a 3.5 liter saloon with a pre-selection gearbox was £ 2,670.

As with the Regency Mark II, the One-0-Four was also available with the 4617 cm³ "4.5 liter" version of the inline six-cylinder engine. Its output was increased to 167 bhp (124 kW; 169 PS) from 1956. Of this variant, internally designated DF402 / 403, only individual vehicles were built, which also caused considerable problems for the plant. In practice, the power turned out to be too strong for the Daimler gearbox, so the plant gradually took back all 4.5-liter vehicles and retrofitted most of them with conventional 3.5-liter engines.

A special feature was The Lady's Model , introduced in 1956 , which was based on a 310 chassis. The model initiated by Norah Docker featured a “galaxy full of typically female equipment details” such as a cosmetic case, a picnic box and sunglasses. In contrast to the production models, all switches and lights on the dashboard were labeled in full words. Only “very few” cars were ordered with the full equipment package. Daimler quickly switched to offering the utensils individually as accessories that are subject to a surcharge.

Four Light Saloon (DF310 / 311)

When Daimler introduced the One-O-Four in 1955, the Sportsman remained largely unchanged in the range. However, the name Sportsman was omitted. Instead, the car was named Four Light Saloon. The Four Light Saloon normally has the 3.5-liter in-line six-cylinder engine. The 4.5 liter version was also part of the range. It was on sale for £ 3,103. However, it is doubtful whether it was actually produced.

Individual structures

Individual chassis received individual superstructures. This includes a two-door, four-seater convertible with a stretched pontoon body from Beutler .

literature

• David Culshaw, Peter Horrobin: The Complete Catalog of British Cars 1895-1975 , Poundbury, Veloce Publishing, 2013, ISBN 978-1-845845-83-4
• Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019
• Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, David Burgess-Wise: Daimler Century . Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1995, ISBN 1-85260-494-8
• James Taylor: British Luxury Cars of the 1950s and '60s , Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016, ISBN 9781784421878
• Richard Townsend: Docker's Daimlers. Daimler and Lanchester Cars 1945 to 1960 , Amberley Publishing, Stroud, 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6316 6

Web links

Commons : Daimler Regency  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Commons : Daimler One-O-Four  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Commons : Daimler Sportsman  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, David Burgess-Wise: Daimler Century . Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1995, ISBN 1-85260-494-8 , p. 272.
2. ^ Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, David Burgess-Wise: Daimler Century . Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1995, ISBN 1-85260-494-8 , p. 259.
3. ↑ Roger Gloor: All cars of the 50s: 275 car brands from 32 countries with 1070 contemporary photos , Motorbuch Verlag 2007, ISBN 978-3613028081 , p. 119.
4. ↑ James Taylor: British Luxury Cars of the 1950s and '60s , Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016, ISBN 9781784421878 , S: 27.
5. ^ Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019 , p. 246.
6. ↑ James Taylor: British Leyland: The Cars, 1968-1986 , The Crowood Press, 2018, ISBN 9781785003929 .
7. ↑ The information on this is very different.
8. ^ Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, David Burgess-Wise: Daimler Century . Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1995, ISBN 1-85260-494-8 , p. 263.
9. ↑ ^{a b} Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, David Burgess-Wise: Daimler Century . Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1995, ISBN 1-85260-494-8 , p. 261.
10. ^ Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019 , p. 216.
11. ↑ Milo Kelly, Dave Philpot: A Unique Passion - Regency 3-Liter , in: The Driving Member, December 2012 / January 2013 edition, p. 32 ff.
12. ^ Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019 , p. 217.
13. ↑ Image of a Barker Special Sports (accessed on March 3, 2020).
14. ^ Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019 , p. 220.
15. ^ Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, David Burgess-Wise: Daimler Century . Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1995, ISBN 1-85260-494-8 , p. 257.
16. ^ Richard Townsend: Docker's Daimlers. Daimler and Lanchester Cars 1945 to 1960 , Amberley Publishing, Stroud, 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6316 6 , p. 43.
17. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Richard Townsend: Docker's Daimlers. Daimler and Lanchester Cars 1945 to 1960 , Amberley Publishing, Stroud, 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6316 6 , p. 60.
18. ^ ^{A b c d} Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019 , p. 230.
19. ^ ^{A b} Richard Townsend: Docker's Daimlers. Daimler and Lanchester Cars 1945 to 1960 , Amberley Publishing, Stroud, 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6316 6 , p. 46.
20. ^ Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, David Burgess-Wise: Daimler Century . Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1995, ISBN 1-85260-494-8 , p. 266.
21. ↑ ^{a b} Roger Gloor: All cars from the 50s: 275 car brands from 32 countries with 1070 contemporary photos , Motorbuch Verlag 2007, ISBN 978-3613028081 , p. 120.
22. ^ The Daimler Sportsman on the website www.jaguarheritage.com (accessed on February 24, 2020).
23. ^ The Daimler Sportsman on the website www.motorbase.com (accessed on February 24, 2020).
24. ^ Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019 , p. 229.
25. ^ Richard Townsend: Docker's Daimlers. Daimler and Lanchester Cars 1945 to 1960 , Amberley Publishing, Stroud, 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6316 6 , pp. 43 and 46.
26. ^ ^{A b c} Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019 , p. 234.
27. ^ ^{A b} Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019 , p. 233.
28. ^ ^{A b} Richard Townsend: Docker's Daimlers. Daimler and Lanchester Cars 1945 to 1960 , Amberley Publishing, Stroud, 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6316 6 , p. 48.
29. ↑ James Taylor: British Luxury Cars of the 1950s and '60s , Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016, ISBN 9781784421878 , p. 26.
30. ^ Richard Townsend: Docker's Daimlers. Daimler and Lanchester Cars 1945 to 1960 , Amberley Publishing, Stroud, 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6316 6 , p. 47.
31. ^ Brian Long: Daimler & Lanchester. A Century of Motor History , Longford International Publications, 1995, ISBN 1899154019 , p. 135.