Daimler DB 18 Consort
Car-ID: XT0082
Vehicle Description
It was in 1951, and in Britain, that the zebra crossing first found its way into the traffic regulations.
Also in 1951, in Britain, this remarkable luxury sedan was assembled. Some 65 years later, while every child knows zebra crossings, few people would recognise the Daimler DB 18 Consort. At its time, the massive luxury car – rocking the scales at over 1.6 tons – was really quite popular among wealthy customers around the world. The Maharaja of India is said to have ordered over 100 copies of this particular model. This DB 18 is a right-hand drive car which has reportedly only gone through two ownerships from new. The current owner held it since 2003. At some point in the past, the Daimler has been partially restored and displays a degree of patina in keeping with the age of the car. The chrome parts are good for their 65 years of age. On the inside, there’s 1950s luxury galore, with quilted red leather upholstery, thick red carpeting and finely grained wood on dashboard and door side panels, all in great shape. The odometer displays an unwarranted mileage of 75,100 mls. Both the straight six-cylinder engine as well as the special Wilson pre-selector 4-speed gearbox work well according to the consignor. The Daimler comes with German registration documents and historic plates.
Don’t miss your chance to enjoy early post-war splendour from Coventry at its very best.
In 1937, the Daimler Company Limited in Coventry, England, had started producing a large sedan powered by a 2.2 litre engine which was commonly referred to as the “New Fifteen”. Two years later, a larger 2.5 litre engine, originally developed for an armoured car, was installed into the sedan. The resulting car was named DB 18, but more commonly referred to as “Daimler 2 1/2 litre”. The outbreak of WWII prevented it from entering serial production, as Daimler was compelled to focus on producing military vehicles. After the war, production was resumed, and at the London Motor Show of 1948, a slightly modified version of the DB 18 was presented, now labelled “Consort”. Among the revisions, there were hydraulic brakes in the front, and the head lights which were now integrated into the fenders.
The in-line six-cylinder engine produced 52 kW (70 hp) of power and sent drive through the rear wheels via a 4-speed Wilson pre-selector gearbox. The top speed was claimed to be 76 mph (122 km/h).
The Consort remained in production until 1953, although its chassis continued to be used for the Daimler Regency until 1956. A total of 7,605 units were built.
