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Daimler Dart restoration

by Esmond Tearle

Well last month, I didn't really have that much to report. Now that the holiday season is just a memory, and normal life has returned for most of us, things are starting to happen again.

I had a bit of a panic last month when I was tidying up the garage and realised that the inner steering column tube was not where I thought it was. I rang Brian and was told it was safe and well out of harms way at the workshop. That was a bit of a relief, as I would imagine that finding a new one may have proved a little difficult.

I called in to the workshop and things have started to progress. The fully restored shiny black chassis is still very well supported on trestles, but now the engine is actually bolted in place. Not only that, but so are the rear axle and the gearbox. Everything was thoroughly checked out beforehand.

Brian has made up most of the brake pipes and it's all starting to come back together again. The heads will be going on in the next week or two, and then my Dart will resemble one of those press photographs that show the car minus the bodywork.

I have ordered a pair of new gearbox mounts as the old ones had gone a bit spongy, and it also seemed like a good idea to order a repair kit for both the brake master cylinder and the clutch master cylinder. It's worth spending a few extra pounds at this stage and not leaving things to chance.

The parts may well be fine, but it would be annoying to say the least, to have to start changing things soon after the car is finished. I don't think it's wise to leave things to chance. That old saying springs to mind "Tis not worth ruining the ship for a ha'peth of tar".

I bought new front trunnions a few months ago, and Brian informed me that they have no rubber seals. I thought everything came as a kit, but obviously not. Anyway, trunnion seals are on their way as part of a kit. I was told that's how they came.

Another precautionary measure is being taken with the brake servo unit. When built, the Dart came without a servo assisted braking system, and the addition of one was an after thought. The servo is mounted low towards the front of the engine bay, and over the course of time, it has been subjected to fair mount of dirt and moisture. I thought that whilst it's removed form the car, it would be as well to have it checked out.

The servo was mounted on a piece of angle iron, and basically, it looked a bit Heath Robinson. The angle iron has already been destined to the bin, and Brian will make up a suitable bracket just to keep everything looking nice and neat.

My first Dart didn't have a servo, and whilst the brakes worked reasonably well, it was a case of apply a fair bit of pressure.

When you consider that a Dart is capable of exceeding 120 m.p.h. anything that can enhance the stopping power has to be done. Traffic conditions aren't quite the same as they were in 1960.

The last thing I want to do is take my pride and joy out when it's finished, give it some serious wellie and end up soiling the new leather seat because I have scared myself thinking I couldn't stop.

I could buy a new servo unit as they are readily available, but they aren't exactly cheap. I think a repair kit is a better and more practical solution. If I could find out what servo unit would do the job, then I may be able to pick one up for a lot less than the price of one from a Daimler specialist. As yet, I haven't a clue what I need, and also which other cars it would be common to. It's surprising how much cheaper it can be if you can actually cross-reference part numbers, or have the information you need to shop around.

Some detective work is called for.

Even though things are progressing on the mechanical side, I still face the major task of the bodywork at some stage in the future. I reckon that I will be spending a lot of time in the garage before that's done to the standard I want. Still, it's a way off yet. I'll cover that side of things at the time.

Incidentally, and I know this isn't anything to do with the restoration, I recently had my insurance reminder come through as my policy for the Dart needed renewing. I have the car insured on a collector's car policy with an agreed value and unlimited mileage. I suppose that seems a bit ridiculous when you consider it's in pieces and far from road worthy at present.

In reality, to have cover so that the car is insured for storage purposes didn't work out much cheaper, so I opted for the best policy I could get, just in case. It's fully comprehensive and has all the usual benefits included. It's hard to believe that the premium for a valuable (well it will be when it's finished) powerful sports roadster comes in at under £120 per annum.

More next month.

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