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Daimler Dart restoration

by Esmond Tearle

Going back what seems like a lifetime, before the children arrived, we were spending a holiday with friends in South Devon.

One evening we were taken to a little country pub well away from the beaten track, in one of those hidden villages where the locals try to keep their own little corner of that beautiful part of the world a closely guarded secret, the sort of place the tourist don't normally find.

We pulled into the car park and I was amazed at the sight that met my eyes. There in a corner, it's black paintwork shining in the fading sunlight sat a strange looking machine, with a weird nose like something from an aquarium even. It had fins at the back and looked so low to the ground. I had never seen anything like it before. The badge said it was a Daimler, but I always thought of Daimlers as those huge limousines. This was very different.

After a really good evening and a few pints of the local brew we left the pub and went back into the car park. Sadly the beast had gone. It was a while before I found out exactly what I had seen that night, certainly not a car that you often come across.

The years rolled by and the patter of tiny feet came along. I had started a business and was working fairly long hours, seven days a week, but life was good. I sat in my office watching the clock. The sun was shining, and it was May Bank Holiday, 1986. I was at a loose end and wandered up to the local newsagents and bought a copy of the Exchange and Mart.

There in the classic car section was an advert for a Daimler Dart. I couldn't believe it, the registration number matched my daughters initials and this car was only about twenty miles away from where I lived.

To cut a very long story short, I went to see the car, fell in love on the spot and money changed hands. I had become the very proud owner of a 1964 'B' spec Daimler Dart. It was a bit scruffy, but that soon changed.

The car played a very big part in my life for the next ten years. l spent a lot of money, but that didn't matter, l owned a car that people envied. It was simply fantastic.

Life moves on, kids grow up, and your family needs take priority. We loved to go up to the North Norfolk coast for weekends. It was then that we met a man who was to become a very close friend. We went into a small pub not far from Blakeney, and the whole place was a shrine to Jaguars. It was an incredible place. The man behind the bar was Charles Clark, very sadly no longer with us.

Charles was a Jaguar fanatic, he even installed a running E-Type engine in the inglenook fireplace. We became good mates and I loved to visit the Wiveton Bell and spend time with Charles. He loved to see the Dart and we had some really good times.

We had reached the point where the family required something a bit larger, a Dart isn't exactly designed for a family of five. It was then that the decision was reached that ten years is a long time, and I had been selfish for too long. I sold the Dart.

As I watched it disappear around the corner on it's way to a new home in rural Leicestershire I realized that I had made one hell of a mistake. I knew the chap I sold it to would cherish it as I had, but I should never have sold that car. Part of me went with it.

I still have the many photos and the fantastic memories, but that's all.

Anyway, I dabbled with a few other classic cars, but nothing came close to the Dart. I had managed to find a beautiful 1964 Daimler 2.5 V8 Auto, finished in old English white with red leather interior, and still with that fantastic engine. I have owned it for five years now and it's part of the family. We could all fit inside which is a bonus. I was given the nickname Morse the first time we drove up to Norfolk in the car, and Charles reminded me that it wasn't in the same league as the red Dart. Happy days.

Over the last few years, I fancied adding to the fleet as it were, and along came three Morris Minors; very cute and good fun but not really quite the same. I yearned for the wind in my hair again, and something a bit quicker. The truth is, I had never really got over selling my Dart.

Earlier this year, I decided that the time was right to get another sports car. I had made up my mind that I would this time look for a nice E-Type, but my budget restricted me to the late more bulbous models, I really wanted the earlier one. I had a look at a very nice MGA roadster for sale in the town, then a Triumph TR4A which could have been a super car after spending some time and money on it. I didn't really fancy owning either of them.

Then, a few weeks ago as I sat surfing the net, I found the website for Loot magazine. I never expected to find a Daimler Dart for sale in there, but sure enough there it was. They say lightening never strikes twice, but it does. This Dart was about twenty miles away from me.

I went to see it, and it sat in a large open garage shared with many house martens who had made the place their summer home, and who had used it for target practice.

It fired up from cold, didn't seem to smoke, and just burbled as only a Dart can. I took it for a test drive and was glad to get it back. It knocked as if something was trying to come through the bonnet. Basically the car was a good basis for a restoration, but it certainly needed some work. The usual stress cracks on the bodywork, a dirty but fairly usable interior, a filthy hood and a tatty back bumper. On the good side, it still had it's original registration number and came with a really good hardtop.

The price was fair and what needs doing was well within the scope of my capabilities. I certainly couldn't drive it home as the engine wouldn't have survived. After agreeing a price, I paid over a deposit and arranged to go back the next week with a borrowed trailer to bring the car home.

I really couldn't believe that I was once again the owner of a Daimler Dart, it took a few days to sink in.

It wasn't long before I had the seats out for cleaning and reconditioning, the carpets came up like new, and the hood was unbelievable. Once the bird mess had gone, and the grime was removed, it looks brand new.

The bodywork responded really well to a cut and polish, as did all of the chrome except for the rear bumper which will need to be re-plated.

The car looks quite presentable now, but I will have the bodywork attended to as and when. I am in a bit of a dilemma whether to have it painted red, like my previous Dart, or perhaps I should keep it ivory as it's the original colour. It is virtually identical in colour to the MK2, they look good parked next to each other.

Once the engine is sorted, and any other jobs needed to gain an MOT certificate, we are back to having some very serious fun. The cosmetics can come later.

I have reached a personal ambition! a pair of Daimler V8's. A beautiful luxurious saloon, and now a sports car that represent as much fun as you can have with your clothes on.

As and when things progress, I would like to share my experiences, and will no doubt be glad of any advice from those of you who have already carried out restoration work on your own cars. The plan is to have the engine sorted, sooner rather than later, until then, I'm unable to drive the car, and that is causing me great frustration.

In the meantime, anyone out there looking for a really nice Morris Minor? Watch this space, when you read this the work will hopefully be well underway.

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