April~May 2012 April~May 2012 National Executive
President: David Patten 156–160 New York Street, Martinborough 5711 Ph: 06 306 9006 E-mail: [email protected] Vice President: Bert Empson 8 Byrd Street, Levin 5510 Ph: 06 368 0696 E-mail: [email protected] Secretary: Mike King 21 Millar St, Palmerston North 4410 Ph: 06 357 1237 Fax: 06 356 8480 E-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: Peter Mackie P.O. Box 8446, Havelock North 4157 Ph: 06 877 4766 E-mail: [email protected] Club Captain: Winston Wingfield 7 Pioneer Crescent, Helensburgh, Dunedin 9010 Ph: 03 476 2323 E-mail: [email protected] Patron: Pauline Goodliffe Editor: Mike King Printer: Aorangi Print (Penny May) 125 Campbell Rd, RD 5, Feilding 4775 Ph: 06 323 4516 (wk), 06 323 4698 (hm) E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Website: www.daimlerclub.org.nz
All membership enquiries to the Secretary.
Contributions to the magazine
Please send all contributions for inclusion in the magazine directly to the Secretary via fax email or mail by the TENTH day of the month prior to publication.
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are purely those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Daimler and Lanchester Owners’ Club. April~May 2012
Contents Page From the Driver’s Seat – National President’s Report...... 2 Getting Up to Speed – National Secretary’s Report ...... 3 National AGM & Mini Rally, Rotorua April 21–22 2012...... 5 Round the Bazaars – Daimlers on the Run ...... 6 Articles of Interest: Royal Daimler Invalid Car...... 10 Photo Gallery...... 14–15 The Daimler Saga – Joe and Sarah Price...... 16 Daimler in New Zealand before WWI...... 18 DB 18 Steering...... 24 Hitting the Road – Daimler Events Diary...... 26 Members’ Market...... 28
V8 Carburetor gauze I have just carried out a carburetor service on the V8 and found it was fitted these spacers with a metal gauze. I believe these were marketed years ago as an economy device, supposedly to improve atomising of the fuel and to improve economy. Does anyone know about or had experience of these? Any information would be interesting! Mike King
April~May 2012 From the Driver’s Seat ... A Message from your National President
I mentioned recently that 2012 looks as though it’s going to be an interesting year for the older car motoring enthusiasts starting with the Vero International Rally, well I attended the open day held at the Wanganui Race Course where around 750 cars had gathered and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. On display was a huge range of cars some early weird and wonderful makes and models through to 1960’s and ’70’s models that we are more familiar with. Unfortunately only a few Daimlers on display the oldest being a 1938 DB17 (I think). There were also other activities to entertain the crowd such as old Military cannons being discharged, vintage car spare parts auctions, craft stalls, model trains on display, traction engine rides and time trails with teams to see who could strip a Model T Ford down to the chassis then rebuild and drive it over a measured distance. Two teams and two, Model T Ford’s a very entertaining day I must say. I also attended Dannevirke “Wheels with Attitude”, another great day out with several of our Daimler members with cars on display. The oldest Daimler and probably the oldest vehicle on display was a 1918 Heavy Truck owned by Paul Gleeson (not a member unfortunately) of Pahiatua, beautifully restored with a working, hand crank hoist, solid rubber tyres and sleeve valve motor. I had not been at this event for a couple of years and was pleasantly surprised to see the how much this event had grown over this time. On to my own projects, I have been working on getting my 1954 Regency back on the road after experiencing over-heating troubles. I have had the head crack tested, skimmed and valves ground. I extracted a large amount of sludge from the block by making an attachment for an old Vacuum Cleaner, a tube that I was able to stick into the water jacket of the block. There would have been about 25 to 30 millimetres of sludge in the bottom of the block that I sucked out including iron filings, sand, rust and pieces of silicon from gaskets. I sent the Radiator away for the tank to be removed and core cleaned. The core was in good condition but 60% blocked. Put all this back together to find the water pump leaking, so sent this off for machining and new gland and bearings. All this done to find that the aluminium Thermostat housing was so thin and rotted that I did not want to take the risk of it leaking and letting me down on the road. I have not been able to find replacement housing, so have machined a transition plate and now in the process of fitting a Conquest housing and a Consort top water outlet elbow. The angle of elbow for the hose connection is different and if I used the Regency elbow the hose connection would have been higher that the Radiator hose outlet. Hopefully I will have the car up and running this coming weekend. If any member should have a spare Regency or 104 thermostat housing for sale I would be very interested. Our very own Daimler Club Mini Rally is drawing near so hopefully those of you who have not yet registered will do so shortly. Rotorua is a great location with lots to see and do. Paul and his team are working very hard to make this event a very enjoyable experience. Dave Patten
in New Zealand Inc Getting up to Speed ... A Word from your National Secretary
A warm welcome to this months new members. • Laurence and Vivienne Ferguson of Dannevirke. They have owned their Consort for the last 18 years, they have also owned other Daimlers over past years. • Kevin and Inge Chappell of Puhoi. They have a recently purchased Daimler Sovereign 420. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Daimler V8 which was introduced in 1962. We hope to have a good representation of V8s at this month’s Rotorua Rally. Registrations are still arriving, if you haven’t done so yet, complete your form NOW and send to Paul. Ensure you have a working FM radio in your car (even a portable radio will do the trick). We will (hopefully) have an informative commentary on our Saturday run! It promises to be a great weekend. Have you paid your subscription? If not, it is OVERDUE, please renew now, or if you wish to relinquish your membership, let me know. Further to our financial affairs, our Treasurer Peter Mackie and Auditor Doug Brown who have both given long and valued service, wish to stand down. If you have some skills in these areas and have a little time you could allocate to these tasks, we would like to hear from you. I’m sure Peter can fill in any details you may require. Have a look at your address on this magazine, if you have a “0” or membership number where the post code should be, let me know (your postcode) and I will include on the database. Also of course changes of address, phone no., cars owned etc. Ta. There is one topic vital to all of us. By now, we have the “new” right hand rule in place. If you still don’t understand it fully, go towww.giveway.govt.nz . The new rules are explained and you can test yourself on all aspects of the changes. The right hand rule was changed over 30 years ago, why I’ll never know, so now we’re changing back! Took ’em a long time to figure it out!!! The last couple of months have been a bit trying, an operation on my left eye has been successful and it is now starting to work well – right eye to be done in May. My V8 now has new carburettor diaphragms, the old ones had gone hard and brittle. The water pump also came in for some attention, it has had a slight leak and a little play in the bearing for a number of years. It is the first time I’ve had the cooling system apart, it was a surprise to find someone had previously left the thermostat out! Now sorted! Also had occasion to move the Consort only to find the front brakes would lock on. Pulled them apart to find the linings had un-bonded themselves from the shoes. Just as well it didn’t happen at the last Rally! A brake overhaul is currently in progress! See you at Rotorua! Mike King ______
April~May 2012 Attention All Club Members We can now advise that we now have stocks of Daimle r Jacket Badges, “D” Key Rings and our Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club in N.Z. Custom Grille Badge. You will see from the photo that the Grille Badge has been reproduced from our original Die but has been cast in a lighter Alloy (originally Brass), with a Chrome Enamelled Centre section as opposed to the earlier Resin finish, some of which were subject to crazing and fading over the years of exposure to the elements. The unit cost, including postage is • $6.60 for either the Jacket Badge or Key Ring • $55.00 for the Grille Badge. Please forward your requirements and cheque to:- DLOC in NZ Peter Mackie PO Box 8446 Havelock North 4157
Daimler Jackets, Caps & Banners for Sale Manawatu Branch have stocks of Daimler Jackets and Caps. We now have a new stock of Jackets ranging in size from M to XXXL. They are very reasonably priced at $50.00 plus p&p. Daimler caps are in stock at only $18.00 plus p&p. Windscreen Banners are $20.00 plus p&p. All enquiries to Lew Clinton, phone 06 3235526. or email [email protected]
in New Zealand Inc National AGM & Mini Rally, Rotorua April 21–22 2012
Planning is well under way for next year’s national event so here is a brief synopsis of what to expect:-
• Our rally home base will be the RSA in Haupapa St which is very close to the city centre, Lake Front and accommodation. I am currently negotiating accommodation rates with the Ibis Hotel and the Ambassador Thermal Motel. • There is limited parking in front of the RSA however there are parking facilities at the Government Gardens which are close by away and this where we will park on Saturday for photos and ‘tire kicking’. • Lindsay Donoghue is planning a scenic drive for Saturday afternoon with time for a stop and a ‘cuppa along the way.
The Annual Dinner is to be held at the RSA
• Sunday morning 10:00am we plan to visit one of Rotorua’s premier attractions – Rainbow Springs. Rainbow Springs has undergone a very significant transformation recently and is well worth visiting their website www.rainbowsprings.co.nz to see what is on offer. We are able to offer a concession entry price of 20% off the normal price for groups of 20 or more. The discounted price will be $28.00 per person. • The BOP All British Classic Car Club will be joining us at Rainbow Springs and we hope that we will all be able to park together and enjoy looking at a variety of cars. There is a Café on site or if you prefer there are plenty of areas to picnic within the complex. • More details will be available with the Registration Form at a later date. The Waikato/BOP members look forward to welcoming you all to Rotorua.
Any enquiries please contact: Paul Edginton 07 549 4569 or e-mail [email protected]
April~May 2012 Round the Bazaars ... Daimlers on the Run
Auckland Amblings Ellerslie Concours 2012 Thank you to all those members who supported our Club at this event. Getting there early was the aim but not as early as Richard and his helper who were already erecting the marquee as I arrived together with the rest of the team. The Marquee did an excellent job in keeping us dry all day as the weather alternated between rain and sun shine. Nine cars were in attendance and ranged from Conquests right to Joseph and Sarah, our new members’ 1993 Daimler Double Six. Relatives of a deceased member donated car parts to our Club which were gratefully received and rapidly sold. A new member was signed up and the subscription paid on the spot, must be a good keen man! An interesting and varied collection of cars was able to be viewed. Some ofthe show cars looked as if the had never been driven but ‘loverly’ to look at anyway. A wide selection of car books were on sale and refreshments such too: tea, coffee, hot chocolate, sandwiches and takeaway food. Meguires had their products displayed and of particular interest were a wire wheel cleaner and a spray on invisible corrosion inhibiter – good for stone chips as well perhaps. Underneath the Marquee all was well, table and chairs were set up enabling interesting conversations and food to be consumed in comfort during the day. The general impression of our gathering was that it was an enjoyable day and well worth the effort. Bryan Davis Galaxy of Cars Western Springs A good showing from our Club enabled a range of Daimlers dating from the fifties to nearly the present day. This event was organised by the Lions to raise money for a worthy cause so a big thank you to our members who participated and to the Lions Club for giving us the opportunity to display our cars. Richard and Dave turned up as usual with the marquee only to find that our site was a tarmac one, oops sorry about that Richard my apologies. Lexi, Richard’s daughter, entertained two of our most senior members by sketching them as they chatted away in the sun. The show was well supported by the Car Clubs with a variety of cars equal to other years. The Minis and Jags were the most numerous amongst the British Cars and it was nice to see the rarer Marques, such as the Rileys, Wolseleys and Morgans in good numbers. The Swap Meet was allocated a bigger area this year and being placed at the front gates gave everyone better access.
in New Zealand Inc Our site was by the front gate, separated by a moveable wire fence which came in handy for our late arrivals because it provided a short cut. We also had the advantage that there was a veranda which provided a welcome shelter from the elements. The change of venue to Western Springs this year was a boost for morale, park like surroundings replacing the warehouse and lawn of Motat. I have provided feedback to the organisers and they have promised more entertainment for the young and the inclusion more events of interest for adults next year. Bryan Davis ______Hawke’s Bay Highlights Saturday 4th February In conjunction with the British and European Car Club, there was an outing to the Southwards Classic Car Show, in particular the workshops. There is no report for this trip. Sunday 4th March We held our AGM at Graeme and Ann Bowes home in Napier, with 16 members present. Sadly we had news of the death of our patron Reg Kilbey who was a foundation member of our first Branch Meeting in 1979. The meeting was followed by a barbeque and a very enjoyable get-together. Sunday 11th March The Wheels on Windsor Classic Car Show is an annual outing that we all look forward to and this year we had 7 V8’s and 2 Sovereigns in our Daimler line-up. It was a beautiful day and a big crowd enjoyed gazing and drooling at the many makes and models from, Vintage to the newest. It is a credit to the British & European Car Club who organizes this event in Hastings on the lovely Windsor Park. Margaret Duncan ______Manawatu Meanderings Our January picnic at Ashhurst Domain was an off/on affair with the weather being rather threatening. The right call was made after consulting the Metservice Rain Radar and we
April~May 2012 ended up with a fine and warm day sheltered by the trees. The Domain’s electric BBQs worked a treat and their facilities were excellent. Faye produced an interesting basket of goodies for a raffle which was won by one of our Rover Club guests. We all enjoyed a laid back social afternoon in the sun. Our main event for February was the Dannevirke Wheels With Attitude hosted by the local Lions Club. We had a good muster of members at the Aokautere meeting point, V8 motorcycle! our route being the Pahiatua Track as the Manawatu Gorge is still VERY closed by an enormous slip. There was the usual large display of vehicles (everything with wheels) to inspect. A Daimler of interest was a 1912 Sleeve Valve truck, restored to a very high standard (see photos). Also an American motorbike with a 350 Chevy engine!!!! Several Hawkes Bay members joined us. We also recruited new members from Dannevirke, Lawrence and Vivienne Ferguson, welcome to our club. Other February events some members attended were the Wellington British car day and another at Shannon. Both attracted large numbers of cars. Members cars at Shannon. Mike King ______
125 Diana Drive, Glenfield, Auckland 0627 Ph/Fax: 09 444 9290 www.ksmjaguar.co.nz
Celebrating 26 years servicing Jaguar, Daimler and British cars. Supplier of Auto Glynn Products.
in New Zealand Inc “OUR CLUB MEMBERS’ CARS SECTION”
Our Webmaster and Host, Shane Gibson, has suggested that we could personalize our Web Site by including Photos and a Brief Description of our members’ favourite cars.
We think this is a splendid idea but to achieve it we obviously require your co-operation and input!
We would like you to provide us with a clear photo/image of your car together with a short description which can include, Your Name, Year/Model of your car together with brief comments on Years owned, Mileage, Present condition and Any Other Details you may feel are pertinent.
This information can be forwarded directly to Shane at [email protected] who will include it on our site progressively, dependant on the amount of input received.
Please support your Club by forwarding your contribution and perhaps encouraging and assisting other members in your Branch to do the same.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Peter Mackie [email protected]
April~May 2012 Articles of Interest ...
Royal Daimler Invalid Car By Martin Nutland (From The Automobile, December 1995)
The name of the doctor who told a dying George V, “cheer up, Your Majesty, you will soon be at Bognor again,” is probably lost to history. The response, of course, “Bugger Bognor,” became last words as famous as General Sedgewick’s, “they couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist….” And gave the Sussex town something approaching the opposite of a royal warrant. The King, of course, never got to Bognor. He had been there seven years earlier, in 1929, and the Daimler Company, if no one else, earned considerable accolades from that venture. All the more creditworthy, from a monarch who would have ‘buggered’ Bognor, asked not to meet any French on a tour of France and whose only comment on Naples was that it was full of dead dogs. Never before had a motor vehicle been frosted with a mission as grave as conveying the British ruler to a place of convalescence. The event captured the imagination of the public.
0 in New Zealand Inc On November 22, 1928, George V was stricken with a streptococcal infection of the chest which, by December 2, had led him to death’s door. After another automotive first, the mobilising of X-Ray equipment for delivery to Buckingham Palace on a lorry, the King lapsed into unconsciousness on the afternoon of December 12th. Without sulphonamides or penicillin, the situation was desperate. On the evening of the twelfth, Viscount Bertrand Dawson of Penn, heading the eleven-strong medical team, took radical action. Lord Dawson’s appointment was so controversial that supporters of a rival, threatened to demonstrate outside his house. The protests were unquestionably silenced when Dawson drained 16 ounces of pus from an abscess in the King’s chest and set him on the road to recovery. It was not Dawson who, those seven years later, prompted ‘bugger Bognor,’ but it was he who recommended the convalescence that led to the Daimler being required. It was one of at least two special invalid cars operated by Daimler Hire Limited, a company then separate from the Daimler Company. It had its origins as far back as 1907 and by the late 1920s was running everything from chauffeured and self-drive limousines to aeroplanes, luxury cruisers, coaches and horse boxes. Car operations continue to this day. At the time, Daimler marketed 23 separate models, nearly 60 if coachwork options are included. The invalid car that actually carried the King was an early 1925 model almost certainly from the 1919 45hp series and by the mid-20s designated TJ. Its 7,413 cc sleeve-valve engine would have benefitted from the post-war multiple plunger oil pump, driven from the sleeves’ eccentric shaft. But this Daimler was not originally fitted with the four-wheel brakes that became standard in mid 1925, and by the same token, would not have had the light steel sleeves that replaced the cast iron variety. The coachwork was built by Mann Egerton at their former aeroplane factory in Cromer Road, Norwich. Aircraft building had ceased at the end of the war and by now the company was well established, not only as a builder of luxury automobile bodies but also of specialist types, especially ambulances. They were so proud of the King’s invalid car, with its twin side-mounts and rather racy vee-windscreen, that it appeared in the 1929 catalogue. Overall the car weighed more than three tons, as opposed to just over two for the average Daimler limousine. Much of this extra weight was accounted for by special equipment like batteries to power electric interior heaters. The weight and performance of the car, however, add further credence to the belief that the chassis was that of a TJ 45hp rather than a more modestly endowed 30hp TS. The destination for the Mann Egerton Daimler’s epoch-making journey was Craigwell House, at Aldwick, just outside Bognor. It belonged to Sir Arthur du Cros. Founder of the Dunlop rubber company and a Tory MP, his link with the ‘Royals’ was that in about 1913, through an act either of amazing generosity or cringing sycophancy, he had paid a blackmailer £64,000 to prevent her publishing letters about an association with George V’s father, Edward VII. Craigwell has long been demolished, but it had also been loaned to prime minister Asquith as a summer retreat and can possibly be assessed by the reaction of his daughter,
April~May 2012 11 Violet: “Hideous house… Elsinor battlements to walk on.” Lord Dawson personally vetted Craigwell and had the water supply tested, a type of ‘health giving’ glazing fitted to the King’s room and, not least the carriage road levelled to receive the Daimler. So much public interest surrounded the convalescence that the week before the journey, a leading motoring journal published a photograph of the ‘Rolls-Royce ambulance’ to be used. Prophetic maybe, but misconceived! Five Daimlers in all, took part in the mission on the late Saturday morning of February 9, 1929. The Daimler Hire invalid car (registration YN3915) left Buckingham Palace first, with the King and his nurse in the rear compartment and the driver and royal valet in front. Two more Daimlers followed, one containing George V’s personal staff and the other, so momentous was the occasion, was a spare invalid car. The crowd which stood five-deep sombrely watching the entourage leave the palace, had not expected a glimpse of the King. But as the car drew away, the blinds that were fitted to all rear windows were temporarily raised to allow regal recognition. Turning right and proceeding along Buckingham Palace Road, a fourth Daimler joined the procession from the Royal Mews, to slot in ahead of the spare invalid car. This contained a Colonel Cole, the King’s private detective, and R.W. Cracknell of Daimler distributor Stratton-Instone, who clearly had a keen interest in the proceedings. The 64-mile route to Aldwick, followed the recently-opened Kingston by-pass out of London, then the main roads south through Dorking, Horsham and Billinghurst. At the junction of Merton Spur with the by-pass, a fifth Daimler appeared. This was Her Majesty Queen Mary’s car. It had left Buckingham Palace a few minutes behind the Daimler Hire procession, sped through Wandsworth and Mitcham to overhaul the convoy, which had taken the alternative route through Putney, at the Kingston/Merton intersection. The Queen was scheduled to arrive at Craigwell 25 minutes before the King so that she could receive him. At that time Her Majesty’s personal car was a 45hp Hooper limousine (body 6305) – the last straight-six she was to order before taking on a Double-Six 30. Back on the Dorking road the entourage was following the invalid car at a consistent 27mph with between fifty and sixty other motorists in tow, all observing the custom of
in New Zealand Inc never overtaking the royal car! This must have been a frustrating experience as the Daimler slowed to about 10mph when bumps in the roads were encountered, and to a crawl on two specific occasions when the King needed nourishment. Indeed, the invalid car only once had the opportunity to show its paces, leading the entourage powerfully away from twenty or so ‘proletariate’ vehicles on a third-gear climb of Bury Hill near Pulborough. The excellence of the engineering and the quality of the Mann Egerton coachwork were however, never in question. It turned a journey on which it was expected the King would repose in the heavily shaded rear compartment of the Daimler, into a venture where the blinds were seldom lowered and he was able to acknowledge his subjects and observe the winter landscape. But like most grave occasions, the journey was leavened by a touch of comedy. Near Putney a very small car became entangled in the procession and in the mode of Clarkson Rose, who sang in the music halls of the diminutively cheeky Austin Seven, took some time to extricate itself! As a tribute to the success of the venture, the King’s equerry wrote to Stratton-Instone at 27 Pall Mall, London on Monday, February 11, describing the journey as passing ‘without the slightest hitch’, and recording that the Daimler Hire invalid car had given ‘the utmost satisfaction’. Mann Egerton went on building this type of body on Daimler chassis into the ’30s and some magnificent examples were catalogued during the period. Daimler themselves maintained their interest in these exotic invalid cars until well into the ’40s. Coachbuilders Lancefield showed a particularly extravagant example at the London Motor Shows of 1948 and 1949 winning a bodywork award with it. The King? He stayed at Craigwell for more than thirteen weeks, leaving on May 15 for Windsor. But as is well known, and despite deteriorating health, he showed no inclination to return to Bognor.
Above: Non motorised transport for His Majesty after arrival at Craigwell House.
Left: Mann Egerton’s design provided every comfort for both patient and accompanying nurse. This beautifully upholstered revolving seat was positioned alongside the accommodation for the invalid in their later versions.
April~May 2012 13 Auckland members cars at Ellerslie Concours. Auckland Concours.
Clive Butler’s Conquest at Ellerslie. New Auckland members Joe & Sarah Price's immaculate 1993 Daimler Double Six.
Interior of Joe & Sarah Price's Daimler Double The Conquest of Christopher & Joan Field. 6. Note the Modern cellphone!
in New Zealand Inc National Patron Pauline Goodliffe (centre) and Manawatu Daimlers and Rovers among the Manawatu members enjoy a picnic in the sun. trees at Ashhurst.
New member Laurence Ferguson's Consort at 1912 Daimler truck at Dannevirke Wheel With Dannevirke Wheels With Attitude. Attitude.
Daimler truck with Sleeve Valve engine. Daimler truck at Dannevirke Solid tyres and HOIST!
April~May 2012 15 The Daimler Saga – Joe and Sarah Price Joe and Sarah Price have recently joined the club following what could only be described as a determined, persistent and heart-warming effort to enable them to import, treasure and enjoy a pristine 1993 Daimler Double Six with a story behind it. Sarah’s father, Stephen de Clermont, bought the Double Six new in England in 1993 and traded in both a 1988 Daimler 3.4 and a 1973 E type 2+2 to acquire one of the first Double Sixes sold in the South East. Stephen had retained the original invoice and it was ordered with the optional heated windscreen, custom cream leather and coffee piping. The number plate L10 SDC was secured, L being the 1993 UK registration year and SDC which stood for his initials. A Panasonic car phone was installed by the dealer for those crucial early nineties cellular calls. Whilst the phone sits in the console, the module which is the size of a VCR is bolted into the boot. The car had been laid up and stored in a heated garage since 2001. When Joe first met Sarah’s dad he was taken down to the garage and saw a large car under a larger white sheet. Being a fellow car enthusiast Joe immediately saw an excellent way to break the ice with his future father-in-law, and very quickly the sheet was removed to reveal what was the most expensive and powerful Daimler sold in 1993. Stephen was a member of the Jaguar Club in the UK and owned numerous Jaguars and Daimlers for over 40 years including no less than four E-types. Stephen was of the opinion it would become a classic being one of only 503 produced in 1993. Stephen had retained all the original documentation, from the first letter sent in 1993 from Jaguar Cars Limited inviting him to come to the upcoming launch of the XJ81 model (Jaguar XJ12/Daimler Double Six) to the service records, brochures, options sheets and all other documentation which records the car’s history and heritage. Sadly in December 2010, four months out from Sarah and Joe’s wedding in New Zealand, Stephen passed away after being diagnosed with cancer just a week beforehand but not before asking his wife to do all things possible to have the Daimler shipped to NZ, where he had visited Joe and Sarah six months earlier following their move to New Zealand. Joe and Sarah got married in April 2011 and after the wedding Joe set about carrying out his late father-in-law’s wishes. As the car was approximately 17 years old it fell between the new car importing rules and the 20-year exemption rules for importing foreign cars. After some substantial research all options were eliminated except for the submitting a special interest vehicle application to the NZTA, failing this the car would need to be stored for three years in England before being shipped out provided the law did not change in the interim. The NZTA only allows 200 special interest permits to be approved per year and as it was nearing July 2011, the assumption was that a number of these would have already
in New Zealand Inc been handed out as everybody raced to get in early. Following three months of research, correspondence and drafting, Joe had compiled a detailed 55 page written application with supporting evidence from four car clubs, six magazines and numerous independent sources around the world including Jaguar Heritage UK. Not knowing whether all the applications had already been allocated, this was submitted. Thankfully this was approved and knowing that this hurdle was crossed a mechanic was sent to the family garage in East Sussex to bring the Double six to life again after not having been started for ten years. A new battery was installed and apparently the engine kicked into life as if the twelve cylinders had only been switched off the night before, well the mechanic was sure at least ten were firing; a new set of NGK spark plugs later and they were running all twelve. The car arrived in New Zealand six weeks after leaving the UK on 8 December 2011 and was sent straight to North Shore compliance and Ken Stout Motors for a full service and compliance check. The brakes, tyres and suspension required replacement due to their age. An unforeseen issue presented itself in the form of the UK compliance plate which records the UN/ECE standards to which the car was built. Jaguar Cars stamped the chassis number on the inside guard and windscreen sill but not on the actual plate and according to the NZTA, this was not acceptable. The solution was a payment of $977.50 to a certain Jaguar importer for a one page statement of compliance to satisfy the NZTA that this UK-built car was safe enough to drive on the road. It was frustrating as identical models were sold new in NZ for $209,000 by Motorcorp in 1993/1994. The many thousands spent were starting to add up to these two young recently married accountants and the arms and legs were running out to pay for this project. So to save themselves another heavy shot to the wallet, Joe decided to write a further submission to his new friends at NZTA. He was advised by many sources that no one had successfully imported a Jaguar without getting a statement of compliance where the chassis number was not printed on the compliance plate. Essentially it was a war of detail and buoyed by his previous success Joe sat down to compose his next submission, 25 pages later and many hours of compiling an irrefutable argument supported with incontrovertible evidence, he stated his case to NZTA why he did not need a statement of compliance given the history could be proved beyond any doubt that the car was sold new in the UK and therefore was globally UN/ECE compliant in 1993. Two weeks later, NZTA responded and advised that the compliance plate could in fact be relied on and a MR2A entry approval and new WOF was issued the next day. Hard fought ground had now been broken for all individuals importing Jaguars. Joe and Sarah purchased a personalised number plate in Stephen’s memory, this matches the UK registration and the car was first registered on 26 January 2012 on plate L10 SDC. They would like to say thank you to Ian Hunt at Ken Stout motors and Ashley, Mike and Paul at the North Shore Compliance Centre, not to mention all the members of the club that provided advice and support over the last six months. Thank you to you all.
April~May 2012 17 Daimler in New Zealand before WWI By John Osborne FTC, DTT, PhD, MSAEA, MSAEI, MIAME Director Jaguar & Daimler Museum New Zealand Heritage Trust Gottlieb Daimler, a German gunsmith-mechanical engineer in 1886, fitted his 460cc 1.1hp four stroke single cylinder hot tube ignition petrol engine and transmission into a modified four wheel, four seater horse drawn carriage made by Wimpff & Sons of Stuttgart, thus producing the world’s first practical petrol engined motorcar. Previously in 1885 Daimler had installed his engine into a wooden frame “boneshaker” bicycle creating the world’s first motorcycle.
Image 1 (Left). 1886 Gottlieb Daimler relaxes in the rear seat whilst his son drives the world’s first petrol-engined 4-wheel motorcar. Image 2 (Right). Painting on a dish made by Sandland, Handley, Staffordshire, England, c1907.
In 1891 Frederick Richard Simms, a young mechanical engineer in Warwickshire England, acquired all the Daimler patent rights for Britain and colonies (except Canada). In May 1893 Simms formed the Daimler Motor Syndicate Ltd and the first German Daimler-engined car was imported into Britain in the summer of 1895. Simms is recognised universally as the father of British motoring.
Image 3. 1895, Frederick Simms (Top Hat) takes a ride in the first Daimler imported into Britain.
in New Zealand Inc On 14th January 1896 The Daimler Motor Syndicate Ltd was formed and in February 1896 English entrepreneur Harry Lawson acquired the Daimler name and in Coventry the Daimler Motor Syndicate Ltd which shared a factory with the Great Horseless Carriage Co Ltd who made some of the early British Daimler car coachwork.
Image 4. 1896 First prototype British Daimler produced in Coventry setting the British car standards.
Although advertised in may 1896 (refer below Image 5) British Daimler car production did not commence until early in 1897 using Panhard and Levassor designed chassis and British made Daimler engines made under licence to German designer Gottlieb Daimler, who was a director of the British Daimler Motor Syndicate until 1898 after which the British and German Daimler concerns went their separate ways. Gottlieb Daimler died in 1900 age 67.
Image 5. 1896 Advertising the 4-seater British Daimler Wagonette, particularly for the nobility & gentry. In the first 8 months of production 89 complete vehicles were produced.
April~May 2012 19 The first royal car was a British Daimler, bought in 1900 by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, marking the start of a long period of royal patronage. New Daimler vehicles appeared in quick succession. Between 1897 and 1903 twelve different engines 2 and 4 cylinders 1.1 to 4.5L and many body types coach-built to suit the customers’ requirements.
Image 6. 1903/1904 the Howick Motor Bus Co. Ltd, Auckland, Daimler powered Motor Bus. Quality transport for passengers.
British Daimler soon earned a reputation for high-quality and luxury and in 1904 the Company name was changed to Daimler Motor Company Ltd and British Daimler adopted the distinctive fluted radiator cowl.
Image 7. 1906 model Daimler, 35 hp (8,462cc) cost approx £2400 ($4800) in NZ (photo taken in 1910 in front of the Grand Hotel, Auckland). In 1909 Thomas Cook Tourist Guide rated the “Grand” Auckland’s Best Hotel. It had commanding views of the city, and was close to Albert Park and the Museum. This Daimler was one of a fleet of the Grand Hotel’s courtesy cars that transported guests from and to the railway station and wharves.
0 in New Zealand Inc In 1908 British Daimler acquired the manufacturing rights to the sleeve-valve engine designed by American Charles Knight which was developed by British Daimler in England under the supervision of Dr Frederick Lanchester who had produced in 1895 the first practical all-British petrol-driven car and founded the Lanchester Car Co. in Olton, Solihull, Warwickshire. In 1910 the Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited (BSA) took over and amalgamated with the Daimler Co Ltd but allowed Daimler considerable self- determination. The new Knight (Silent) double sleeve valve engine and quality coach built bodies, often crafted by outside specialists such as Hooper and Barker who had been Royal coachbuilders for over 200 years, put Daimler far ahead of the competition, with few rivals.
Image 8. British Daimler (Knight) Double Sleeve Valve Engine. A. Inner sleeve. B. Outer sleeve. C. Link controlling inner sleeve. D. Link controlling outer sleeve. F. Slots for exhaust. G. Exhaust port. H. Slots for intake. I. Intake port. J. Wide rings sealing intake & exhaust slots. K. Separate cylinder head. W. Half speed crankshaft controlling sleeves. X. Lugs for control links. Y. Ignition distributor (note twin spark Plugs)
In 1854, the first New Zealand volunteer fire brigade was formed in Auckland. With buckets to start with, but soon upgraded to horse drawn manual pumps these were provided by the Auckland City Council and insurance companies. In 1906, the Auckland Brigade took possession of a Merryweather self propelled Steam Fire Engine, then c1909 a high speed Daimler Fire Engine Images 9 and 10 below.
Image 9. Auckland Fire Board’s high speed Daimler Fire Engine ci 909? Image 10
April~May 2012 21 Image 11. Two Daimlers “on tour” outside the Waiwera Hotel, North Auckland 1909.
Image 12. Front Page Advertisement, Auckland Weekly News, 14 July 1910.
Image 13. Edward Prince of Wales with the Royal Daimler during his visit to New Zealand April/May 1920.
in New Zealand Inc Image 14. Image 15. Image 14. Walter Shrimpton (wearing a hat) owner of Matapiro Station, Hawkes Bay seated in his 1911 model Daimler 12 hp (early model with carbide lamps) at the Taupo Car Rally, outside the Terrace Hotel 1st February 1913.
Image 15. Daimler 12 hp (with electric lamps) on the opening day of the Auckland Industrial Exhibition, December 1913.
Image 16. Living history; New Zealand Heritage Daimler 1913 owned by Colin Trevelyan, proprietor of the Millenium Museum, Hawkes Bay. This was one of the cars in 1970 which participated in trans Australian car rally, Perth in Western Australia to Sydney in New South Wales.
April~May 2012 23 DB 18 Steering From David Beales in the UK (From Fluid Driving, 1 January, Vol 43, No 1, pp10–12) I picked up on your emails regarding your problems with the steering on your Special Sports and it sounds like a familiar problem which I have come across many times in the past. The main problem with excessively heavy steering on the DB 18’s is that if the car has had replacement king pins and bushes, the 2 thrust buttons (1 located in the lower end of the king pin and the other, larger thrust button is located in the threaded nut which is fitted under the bottom king pin bush on the stub axle), may have been wrongly set up, or even omitted altogether, which then allows the stub axle to contact the vertical link face just below where the king pin cottar pin is fitted. If these 2 faces meet, the surface area is too great which causes excessively heavy steering. The whole frontal weight of the car rests on the king pin thrust buttons which are extremely hard but give a very small frictional area, thereby making the steering fairly light for a car of that period. I have even had cases where the steering wheel has been damaged due to brute force in trying to park the car at low speeds. The correct method of setting the thrust buttons when replacing the king pin assemblies is to fit the king pin, ensuring that it is located against the side of the cottar pin, and then frilly drive home the cottar pin in the stub axle. Fit the thrust button into the bottom nut ensuring that the locking grub screw has been removed. Then screw the bottom nut into the stub axle until the stub axle locks up solid due to the 2 thrust buttons contacting each other. The nut has a flanged face which butts up to the bottom face of the stub axle, at this stage there should be a gap between the nut flange and stub axle and using feeler gauges to determine the gap faces, increase this by 2 thou of an inch. Unscrew the bottom nut complete with the bottom thrust button and punch out the thrust button via the small 1/8’ hole drilled through the end of the nut, which is there for this reason. Measure the thickness of this thrust button and grind off the amount of the feeler gauge thickness plus the 2 thou and replace the nut and thrust button which will fully tighten up onto its flanged face. Replace the small 2BA grub screw to lock the bottom nut. The thrust button is designed, due to its hardness, to be ground down in thickness to give the required 2 thou end float of the stub axle on the king pin. This now means that all the frontal weight is now correctly set on the thrust buttons and not on the broader faces of the stub axle and vertical link. This is how it was done at the factory. The correct components on a king pin assembled on a car, starting at the top of the pin, are as follows: Lubricator or grease nipple Cap washer Cork washer Stub axle top bush Cottar pin Felt washer Cap washer Stub axle bottom bush
in New Zealand Inc Small thrust button in the end of the king pin Large thrust button Flanged nut (this supports the large thrust button) Small grub screw (this locks the flanged nut) And of course the king pin runs through most of the above items. If all the above has been done per these instructions, there is no reason you should have heavy steering. There is no problem with the original steering geometry specs. If anyone is doing work on the front suspension, it is always a good point to check the steering is working as it should e.g. steering box is ok and filled with the correct lubricant and also that the centre steering idler pin is not seized or badly worn (there should be no ‘lift’ on the idler arm). I think the situation with the tyres has been well discussed by the emailers although if anyone has fined radial ply tyres, this will make the steering heavier. There are 2 parts that are different on the early DB 18s and Special Sports chassis. These items are the 2 steering arms which have the track rod end taper holes in a different position to the Consort Saloon steering arms. Although they look the same the Consort steering arm has the track rod end hole machined nearer the end of the arm whereas the Special Sports/DB 18 Saloons have the track rod end hole 3/4’ further along the arm nearer to the king pin axis when the arms are fitted and although this give slightly quicker steering it makes the steering slightly heavier whereas the Consort steering arms have a bigger distance regarding king pin axis to the track rod end hole, you actually get greater leverage when cornering but may have to move the steering wheel a little further than when driving a Special Sports. After having driven lots of DB 18s over the last 40 years the steering effort does vary from car to car, due to many of the above reasons and apart from my own Special Sports the lightest one of the lightest DB 18s I’ve ever driven was a 1939 model of which all the suspension and steering had been fully rebuilt to factory specs and some years ago I drove Dave Adcock’s Hooper Special Sports which was also nice and light. Hope this is of some help to you guys down under and if you wish to publicise any of this in your magazine feel free to do so. We have been in communication with David Bion who lives in Victoria and owns a Special Sports which I believe originated from Castlemaine. Perhaps you would like to make contact with him. His email address is [email protected]. I spoke with him on the phone today and said I would be emailing you and he said he would like to join in with the ‘gang’. Can you send me an entry form to join your club it would be much appreciated. Hope all the above makes sense and you result in a Special Sports with nice light steering which you can park without trouble! Best regards David Beales 71 Main St Shadwell Leeds LS17 8HL UK
April~May 2012 25 Hitting the Road ... Daimler Events Diary
Auckland April 21st/22nd DLOC AGM and mini rally at Rotorua. May 13th Visit the Hauraki plains and Lower Coromandel. Meet BP Papakura 10 a.m. Confirm to Bryan at Ph. 630 5172 May 24th Technical evening. Details to follow. June 23rd/24th Provisional dates for Mid-winter dinner. Details to follow. October 27th/28th Coast to Coast run with o’night at Raglan. ______Waikato BOP April 21st & 22nd National Mini Rally at Rotorua. To date (11/03/12) there have been 18 registrations. If you have lost your pink registration form please email me (Paul Edginton [email protected]) for another one. May 27th The Triumph Stag Club in association with British Cars BOP run. More details at a later date. June 24th Mid Winter Christmas Lunch. ______Hawke’s Bay Weekend 21st & 22nd April National AGM and Mini Rally at Rotorua. Sunday 20th May An outing with the British and European Car Club. A flyer containing details will follow when the run is decided. ______Manawatu April 7th & 8th We have a display of members’ ’50s and ’60s cars at Destination Manawatu’s Easter event “Square Affair”.
in New Zealand Inc April 21st & 22nd National AGM & Mini Rally at Rotorua. We hope to see many of you there. If you have any new ideas for events for the coming year, please talk to one of your Branch Committee!
April~May 2012 27 Members’ Market ...
For Sale Members’ advertisements are at no charge. Fully reconditioned C14845 Standard ratio steering box, incorporating improvements on original specs. Carefully set up to finest tolerances. Suit Daimler V8, Jaguar Mk2 or1960’s “S” Type. $700. Professionally refurbished C18758 steering wheel, as new, Suit Daimler V8, Jaguar Mk2 and others. $280 Daimler V8 “T” hose deletion conversion kit. $170 Contact Colin Campbell, 1008 Reka St. Akina, Hastings 4122, Ph. 068785969 Daimler Sovereign full Service Manual 1967-1972 4.2 litre. Contact Valmae or Wally Spence on 07 8886542 or email [email protected] for further information. Daimler Double Six 1993. This car is in Kawerau and will be available for sale shortly. Contact Mike 06 3571237 if you would like more details. Imperial wheel for XJ40. (Roulette type). Crank handle for Lanchester Leda. Contact Barry Cleaver, 06 3887871 or [email protected] Daimler V8 complete steering gear. Comprises bottom shaft with UJ’s, steering box complete, drag link, idler and tie rods. All in good condition as removed to fit power steer rack conversion. Asking $300 or near offer. Selling on behalf, contact Mike 06 3571237 Jaguar XJ40 4.0 litre NZ New 171,000km, Arctic Blue in mint condition. Spare engine included 141,000km. $4,500 MG Midget – 1962 Mk I midget, 948cc engine. Body has been professionally restored and painted. Rolling shell. Needs mechanical and trim to finish. $offers MGF – 1998 – 80000km. Engine and body good but need clutch needs repair. Second body available for spares. Hardtop also available $phone to discuss Jaguar XJ40 1989 3.6 litre NZ new. 113,000km. $1800 Jaguar 1989 XJ40 2.9 litre ex Singapore. Rust free body. Needs transmission replaced and spare trans included. $1000 Metric tyres. 2 x Michelin and 3 x Dunlops. All with good warrantable tread. XJ40 parts. Have a shed full of XJ40 parts. Let me know what you need as I may have it. Contact Bruce Manning for all or any of the above. 06-323-2111 (home) 06-952-6373 (work) or 027-230-1388 (mobile) e-mail – jagmanning@ gmail.com
in New Zealand Inc DAIMLER & LANCHESTER OWNERS’ CLUB BRANCH DIRECTORY AUCKLAND BRANCH President Bryan Davis, 28 Shackleton Rd, Mt Eden 09 630 5172 Vice President John Penman, 25A Fancourt St, Meadowbank 09 521 2011 Club Captain (Acting) Bryan Davis 09 483 6616 Sec/Treasurer David Watt, 14 Advance Way, Albany, Auckland 0632 09 415 1549 Committee Glenys Watt, Ed Hayhoe, John & Valerie Penman, Laurie Mckernan, John Marsden, Clive Butler National Delegate Bryan Davis, E-mail: [email protected] Branch Patron Ian Hill
WAIKATO/BAY OF PLENTY BRANCH President Steve Griffin, 136 Gloucester Rd, Oceandowns, Mt Maung 07 574 8474 E-mail: [email protected] Sec/Treasurer Paul Edginton, 35 Uretara Drive, Katikati 3129 07 549 4569 Club Captain Lindsay Donaghue, 46 Petrie Street, Rotorua 07 348 8796 E-mail: [email protected] Committee Colin & Maureen King, Fay Griffin, Cathy Donaghue National Delegate Paul Edginton, E-mail: [email protected]
HAWKE’S BAY BRANCH President Mike Boyce, 3 Northwood Avenue, Mahora, Hastings 06 878 9071 Sec/Treasurer Margaret Duncan, PO Box 8047, Havelock North 4157 06 858 4162 Club Captain Colin Campbell, 1008 Reka Street, Hastings 06 878 5969 Committee Ann Bowes, Graeme Bowes, Robyn Boyce, Graham Clare, Vaughan Cooper, John Duncan, Peter Mackie, Tim Shaughnessy National Delegate Peter Mackie, E-mail: [email protected] 06 877 4766 Branch Patron Reg Kilbey
MANAWATU BRANCH President Mike King, 21 Millar Street, Palmerston North 4410 06 357 1237 Vice President Pauline Goodliffe, 194 Green Road, Awahuri, PN 06 323 7081 Sec/Treasurer Bert Empson, 8 Byrd Street, Levin 5510 06 368 0696 Club Captain Lew Clinton, 16A Tui MIll Grove, Feilding 4702, 06 323 5526 [email protected] Committee Ray Watling, Brian Wolfsbauer, Barry Cleaver, Graydon Crawford, Des Symons National Delegate Mike King, E-mail: [email protected] 06 357 1237 Branch Patron Pauline Goodliffe
OTAGO BRANCH President Geoffrey Anderson, PO Box 1259, Dunedin 9054 03 477 8798 Sec/Treasurer Kaye Wingfield, 7 Pioneer Cres, Helensburgh, Dunedin 03 476 2323 Club Captain Kevin Phillips, 33 Gordon Road, Mosgeil, Dunedin 9024 03 489 5782 Committee Winston Wingfield Past President Alex Meikle National Delegate Winston Wingfield, E-mail: [email protected]