Daimler SP250 1959

The Daimler Dart name was used only briefly. Chrysler objected because Dodge already marketed a Dart, so Daimler adopted the SP250 designation instead. A 1959 prototype, chassis 100002, survives in the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust collection. It served as a factory press car, was tested by Autocar and Motor, and later appeared on the cover of Vogue’s November 1959 issue. The car’s early publicity history reflects Daimler’s attempt to give its unconventional sports car a strong international profile.

The Daimler SP250 was produced from 1959 to 1964, with a total commonly recorded as 2,654 chassis or cars, depending on the counting method used. This result fell well short of Daimler’s original expectations of 1,500 cars in the first year and 3,000 annually thereafter. Production included both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive examples for the British, North American and other export markets. Specialists generally divide the model’s development into A-Spec, B-Spec and C-Spec phases, while noting that the changes were introduced progressively and that some earlier cars were later upgraded. Its modest production volume, combined with a comparatively high survival rate, makes the SP250 an uncommon sight today and gives the earliest 1959 examples particular historical interest.

Press reaction to the SP250 was mixed. Its highly distinctive styling ensured immediate attention, but it also divided opinion among journalists and potential buyers. Early road tests identified insufficient chassis rigidity as a significant weakness, helping to shape the mixed reputation of the first cars. The later B-Spec benefited from a more favourable assessment because its structural revisions improved steering accuracy and road behaviour. At the same time, reviewers recognised the V8’s flexibility and the performance available from a relatively light sports car. Road tests listed by the Daimler Lanchester Owners’ Club show that the model received sustained coverage in British and international motoring publications. Its engineering interest was clear, even though the commercial response never matched Daimler’s original ambitions.