About Quiz # 252.
Daimler Double Six and....
no winners !
UPDATE: ex Jack Jeffery Collection
Quiz # 252 prooved to be very difficult. Competitors came up with Bucciali TAV Double Huit, Bugatti Type 41 'Royale', Hispano Suiza H6B, Isotta Fraschini 8 ASS. Not one of them was on the right track, however 2 jury members Jonathan Baker and Dick Trenk did.... Spain built the Hispano-Suiza J-12, Germany built 3-Maybach 12's and Mercedes Benz 770K's, while France produced 6 Bugatti Royales. What was England's contribution for their largest automobile? The Daimler Double-Six Model 50 of course! What is so special about this car? In 1927 the magazine Autocar commented on the cars size “ It is not until one comes close to the car that the Great size is realized the well proportioned bonnet is nearly level with the chin of the observer, one glance into the coachwork is enough to inspire a desire to enter.” Mr Steven Campbell the pre war register of the Daimler –Lanchester club of Victoria Australia recently emailed the car was sold new to sir Frederick Stewart of Sydney and was assigned registration plate # 1 . The car moved on to various owners including Bill Harah. In the 80's it was part of a significant Japanese Collection and was repatriated to the US by Ed Fallon Of Cave Creek Classics (who advertised the car in these pages; you could have known...!) In 2007 Bob Lorkowski saw the car, was awestruck with the commanding presence and the restoration was started. After a 12,000 hour concours quality restoration it is now invited to compete this August at the Pebble Beach Concours. Most Double Six Model 50's did not survive the metal drives during WWII in England but being safe in Australia #30652 survived as the largest British motor car ever. It is believed to be the only correct 1st Series with original body, chassis and engine. The incredible 164 1/2" wheelbase is fitted with the 7.136 litre 12 cylinder Double Six engine which runs whisper smooth and clean. All colours and fabrics are authentic, all plating is nickel. If you ever dreamt of doing Pebble Beach in high end vintage luxury, it may be worthwhile to have a chat with Mr. Bob Lorkowski, tel. (+1)715-458-2277. ( photos by Jodee)
UPDATE by Jonathan Baker: "The Daimler Double Six was part of a wonderful automobile collection belonging to the late Jack Jeffery of Rose Bay, a suburb of Sydney. I'm still pretty convinced that...
Read more:
...when I saw it, this gargantuan automobile was painted black. Alongside the Daimler were such vehicles as a Delaunay-Belleville with double rear wheels, a Bentley (I'm almost certain it was a "blower"), a bright yellow Spyker with a brass spotlight mounted on a pedestal on the running board, a Locomobile Raceabout and a 38/250 Mercedes. I'm sure that there were more but I am relying on memories of about 50 years ago
- others might have records of a collection that now would be worth many millions of whatever currency you like to select. To a teenager at the time it was like being in Aladdin's Cave. When the Double Six was advertised in the pages of PreWarCar, it was accompanied by a black & white photograph of the vehicle taken in the driveway of Sir Frederick Stewart's house at Dundas in Sydney alongside two other vehicles displaying New South Wales numberplates #2 & #3.
Again, if memory serves me correct, the car as advertised had been the victim of a very strange "restoration" indeed. It was painted white with the upholstery in the rear embroidered with the British Royal Coat of Arms. All brightwork had been chrome plated to within an inch of its life and disc wheels of an extremely odd pattern fitted. Please tell the current owner that the rear numberplate is mounted incorrectly on the vehicle. New South Wales regulations at the time were that It should be displayed either on the off side or in the middle, and in either position should be illuminated at night by a white light. My understanding is that the original #1 numberplate is still in the possession of the Stewart family and continues to be fitted to family vehicles."
|
|
Editor's Choice:
Front Wheel Drive vintage racing is a rare-rare delight: 1928 Alvis TT Replica. Private sale, Australia.
go
Solid weekend planning: Model A Pick-Up. Private sale, UK.
go
|
