1963 Daimler SP 250
A luxury manufacturer’s financial crisis led to one of Britain’s most unusual sports cars. Daimler, facing challenges in the late 1950s, created a fiberglass-bodied roadster aimed at American buyers. Originally called the Dart, Chrysler’s legal objections forced a name change to SP250.
The car’s distinctive fiberglass bodywork earned it the nickname “catfish” and kept weight to about 2,290 pounds (1,039 kg). However, the separate chassis, unique to the SP250 but with similarities to the Triumph TR series, proved too flexible for the powerful engine, causing handling problems in early models.
Power came from a 2.5-liter hemi-head V8 producing 140 horsepower, developed by Edward Turner after his move from Triumph to Daimler. This combination achieved 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds with a 120 mph top speed.
Jaguar’s 1960 acquisition of Daimler brought structural improvements and suspension revisions. Despite racing success on both sides of the Atlantic, production ended in 1964 after just 2,654 examples were built.
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