1962 Daimler SP250 - Jay Leno's Garage
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- The two-year restoration is finally complete! The SP250 Jay got from Bob Brzozowski spent 40 years in the elements and hadn't run in 10 years... and just look at her now!
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1962 Daimler SP250 - Jay Leno's Garage
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Jay Leno's Garage
/ jaylenosgarage
This guy is national treasure. Even though he's extremely rich, he doesn't have an arrogant bone in his body. He not only loves cars but is very knowledgeable about them.It's a pleasure to listen to his relaxed but informative style.
Yea, if you’re a car guy. No one close to him. There may be others with perhaps even more valuable collections but no one with the variety or ability to reach not only normal but rich folks. He can talk about $20 mil car he owns and I don’t feel envious. It’s pretty awesome. It sucks that he is aging and it doesn’t seem like he’ll have a replacement on his level.
@@Fatboypeet Especially with all of the "Woke Hollywood Liberals", who are basically "Car Haters", but it's OK for them to own and drive Benzes and Ferrari's!! They're total "Left Wing Hypocrites"!!
@@turbinexman Notice Jay doesn't mix his politics up with his cars?
Agree that! He really knows his cars, and their history, even that the Cops here in the UK had them! I remember seeing them back in the day. Before sirens they had a Chrome Bell on the front bumper! Talking of which the only thing that makes it look like a 'Catfish' are those awful pair of front over-riders! Dump those and it looks quite pretty! But hey Jay how come you didn't lift the Bonnet when it was overheating? I was screaming 'Open the Hood Jay!!!'
not surprising...it's hard to be arrogant and funny.
My very first car was a 1962 Daimler SP250, red with the hard top. Bought it in 1965 from Manhattan Auto, a Jaguar dealer in Georgetown in Washington DC, for $2,500. Back then you could buy a Cadillac for $3,500. I was just 24 and making around $13,000 a year. It was red with the red leather seats, manual shift. Absolutely fell in love with that sound. Mr. Leno is right, it was the prime era for British sports cars. Triumph TR4s had an inline 4 cylinder engine, and the Austin Healey 3000 had an inline 6 cylinder engine. Both had their appeal, but nothing like the sound of that 2.5 liter V-8 hemi head in the SP250. The Jaguar XKE had an inline 6 with a characteristic snarl you could always recognize. And boy was it fun watching young ladies in mini skirts getting out of them with their almost waist high threshold. And of course, you might be passed by a Ferrari 250 GT with the glorious high sound of that famous V12. Music. But the SP250 was up there with them. I also liked the square trunk of the SP-250 because it was perfect for holding a bag of golf clubs sideways, no fussing. The bench seat was also useful for going out with another couple. The original SU fuel pump was an issue, depended on a membrane and if you suddenly heard a rapid ticking next to your ear it meant the membrane was shot. I took my SP-250 out on the expressway to Dulles airport when that was brand new with no traffic to speak of, at night, and ran it up to the limit, around 120 mph. Just for a bit as I was not totally sure the wire spoke wheels were all that secure at speed. I took it with me when I joined the US Foreign Service and was assigned to the American Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria from 1966-68. That was during the Biafra war. The Deputy Chief of Mission called me in one day and said his wife thought it was improper for a very junior officer to be driving a sports car. Although it was for sure the only Daimler SP250 in Lagos, I actually found a British car mechanic who could tune it up for me. I shipped it back to the US when I was assigned to Washington DC and bought a house in Springfield, VA. Sadly, one morning when I was driving to work in DC the young woman who was our baby sitter was rushing to drive her younger sister to school, went through a stop sign near our home, and T-boned me. Fiberglass body work was costly and I did not have the cash to repair the body damage. So I wound up selling it to a young man in, if memory serves, Chestertown on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. A tall, lanky guy in overalls on a farm, he actually raced SP-250s professionally and wanted mine for spare parts. He took me out for a spin on the gravel and small paved roads around his home, at speeds and cornering that had me holding on for dear life, white knuckle style. He on the other hand was totally relaxed and chatting all the while like he was just out for a Sunday drive to grandmas. That taught me that amateurs who own fast cars and think they are hot stuff should never have any illusions they can drive like pros and should not try because they can end up causing a fatal accident. Wish I still had it even though I am now 82. But at least it went to a new owner who understood just what a cool engine and car these were. Mr. Leno is right.
Great story! We all have regrets about selling the classics we had 😢
To John k. Atchley
I'm sorry to hear about theunfortunate ending - specially when I was envious of you buying your Dart SP250 from new, and so on!
It IS an unfortunate truth that accidents are no exception, when it comes to items, even if they are expensive!
A young lady in London, in her first job, in a museum, tripped, and fell against a VASE, and broke it.
She felt very bad, specially since it was a MING vase!
But her employers were sensational, and didn't SACK her from her job! They said they were just glad SHE was okay!
The world needs to know , that some of this stuff turned out by Britain was fantastic.
Edward Turner the designer of this alloy V8 was absolutely famous.
He designed the Ariel square 4 and the Triumph speed twin etc a true genius , thanks Jay for showcasing this👍
The best car show bar none. Arise Sir Jay Leno.
I've seen Jay driving through Burbank several times, near where he houses his collection, and he always gives me a friendly wave. Terrific guy!
The neighborhood around Jay's garage seems to confirm what someone said about L.A.: it's mostly strip malls and bowling alleys.
@@daver.7135 Nope.
@@daver.7135 these days its mostly homeless camps with needles and trash everywhere.
@@chewybunz yeah, it's worse...
That car sounds freaking awesome!
@ The engine is correct and was the one fitted to the ex Police one my father had. The gearbox and exhaust is changed from what I remember and I recall it had SU carbs. Dad liked his cars quiet so ours definitely did not sound like that. Was automatic.
That is the engine and exhaust they came with and that's exactly what they sound like.
@ You seem to talk easy without having any knowledge about what you're talking about, sir !!!
I agree!!!
That puddle was shaped a bit like great Britain. . Like Britain with a big nose
This is the car I was driven back to Junior School in the UK by my cousin Jay Louden. I had forgotten the name and model until seeing this Jay Leno's video. It was a major thrill for me at 8 years old being driven back from lunch hour especially when Jay made sure he drove me past all my school pals so they would see me in this incredible car. He even revved the engine to make sure everybody noticed!! I was so short I could hardly see over the dash, but I loved the ride, the leather and the sound. Thank you Jay for bringing back my schoolboy memory. I hope to see this car one day at the Rock Store, which is ~1/2 mile up the road from where I live. Thanks again for the memory.
Hey Jay! I'm British and I grew up with the Daimler Dart being a regular car on the road. I think the styling is just fine. I guess when you are a kid and see these things back in the day, you just think that is how thing are supposed to be. I love the job you guys have done on the restoration. Thanks for telling us what happened with the radiator cap. A similar thing has happened to me in the past but good to see that you found the solution!
I never get tired of watching Jay's videos, and it's great to see so many British classics.
I like Jay’s authenticity - not hiding imperfections in the cars, mistakes in the build and problems on the road - not that any of that happens very often. Jay’s honesty along with his friendly, humble and humorously entertaining nature along with a panoply of fantastic cars and trucks from every era, continent and type that keeps me coming back. Oh, and this car definitely looks like a catfish, but what an engine!
never judge a book by its cover, BUT I like almost everything about this Daimler.
I like it how Jay doesn't sugar coat what was wrong and continued to film with a solution to his problem. Stand up program. The car defiantly grows on you. Very unique engine and body lines.
I love how Jay shows everything. Even a shop like his can have a problem on a build.
what a gorgeous car ain't ugly to me
agreed. looks like it was a quality built car in it's day, up there with the euros
+NEU7RAL1 euros? it was built in Coventry England. I believe that's in Europe
I agree, a very stunning car, I think It really shines best with that top on though.
ZepTepiTravel
Much easier to look at than a "Bug-Eyed Sprite".
This really is one of my favorite cars. I rewatch this video periodically to hear the sound. And that other people dislike it make me like it even more!
Jay, just black out the inner grill material and t will look sooo much cooler -- less busy, more integrated. What a great exhaust note. I passed on one in 1965 for an MGA. Bryan Dawson
Thank you very much for the best automotive TV program anywhere. Fascinating, informative, with genuine infectious enthusiasm and a wonderful gentle humour. No dubious presenters, no pointless deadlines, no staged arguments and not a parody of itself. I enjoyed it so much, and appreciate the amazing skill levels of all those involved from engineering to film production and Jay himself. And all to share with, and entertain 'us' the anonymous masses. Thank you, thank you thank you, brilliant.
MrAtheHun couldn't agree more.
MrAtheHun r
"...the best automotive TV program anywhere?"
Easily.
how about a gordon kebel.
@@kevinhorning3624
Or even...a Gordon Keeble !!
That car sounds beautiful..... Seriously, what an engine note.
You should hear one of these puppies on a race-track. Just...freakin'...AWESOME.
ikr...sounds so clean
It sounded great, like a hot little corvette with headers. Too bad it overheated though, I remember overheating being a constant problem with every car I drove back in the 70's....everybody is having fun until the car overheats lol.
+Bob Jimenez It was the wrong radiator cap, Bob. ;-)
that sound is to die for !
Hi jay, that's a great car with one of the best ever designed V8 engine, as you say. Beautiful job. I owned a v8 250 saloon with manual gearbox (wish I still had it). I've had a Triumph Stag for the last 40 years along with a Lancia 2000 HF coupe and a Fulvia 1300s. So not so bad. All the best Bob from England.
Being a pedant and having had a Dart in the family since 1965 (in my care since 1974), twin SU HD6's were the original carburetors, no idea why you would go to the bother of a Weber and overdrive was apparently only supplied from the factory on two cars. Mine has been modified and has rack and pinion steering from a TR6 and a Jaguar gearbox with overdrive from a manual Daimler 250V8. The original worm and peg steering box was a challenge....and I kept breaking the original gearbox. The car drives and handles really well.. The exhaust note still sends shivers down my spine....love it!
Glad to see the over heating was an easy fix. I never knew radiator caps came in different lengths/depths. Of course I learn something new with all of your videos. Thanks for the great show.
Jay should have put the defroster on to cool it down.
Interesting about the radiator cap. This was a good video because it showed something that can happen to all of us car guys. And who hasn't felt that stress of hoping your car makes it back.
John Fiskin: Especially with 300 miles to go
Hoa Tattis Holy Mōly! That would be a pricey tow, unless you had Mr. Leno's expendable amount of (annuity & perpetuity investment) income. I guess he’s in the Retirement Savings age bracket, come to think of it. When I think of Jay, it’s with the S&P mullet of the Tonite Show era-I tend to think of myself as ~30 years younger, too. Oops! 🤭
@@frufru0071 No I nursed it home it took 6 hours
Hoa Tattis I drove a '67 MG bgt until I broke my neck in a workplace injury and had a spinal cord injury, but I still have my MG. The poor thing was about ~70% restored, and I’ve neglected it for about 15 years...at least. It’s a 5-bearing engine, (not the 3-bearing crank of the earlier B's), without synchro-mesh between 1st & 2nd, and with electric overdrive in 3rd and 4th gears. It was called the Mk. I, (1967), MGbgt. The later '67s had synchro-mesh, but just lacked the "UMPH!" of the earlier '67s. Congratulations to you on your 30 mile "trek"! Must’ve been a little stressful, or at least a tad...suspenseful, that journey?! Cheers!🍻 Was it a British car? {Lucas/the 'Lord Of Darkness'}?!
The car is beautiful. I loved it's looks strait away. That blue is perfect. The chrome Loves that color! Thumbs up for sure!
I have only ever seen one SP250 and it was that colour. Looked great.
Apparently the SP250 was designed to be what the Brits thought the Americans wanted (Corvette C1). Turned out that the Americans wanted British sportscar looks on their British sportscars and so did the Brits.
There were not many of these around back in the day in England. I came across one while riding a Matchless 650 motorbike and ran with it at speed for a good while. It could really move and seemed to have no problem getting around the corners rapidly.
They were always considered odd-looking at the front and a small alteration to the shape of the grille would have prettied the car a lot!
This was a great episode, as usual... Jay is such a good guy to be introducing cars like this.... Yes, the correct cooling system pressure cap will allow the pressure to build in the system and raise the boiling point of the coolant, which will continue to be able to carry heat away from the engine and shed it off at the radiator... One of the roads Jay was on going into the mountains, looks like Kanan Rd. Between Agoura Hills off of SR101 to Malibu Canyon off of SR 1 in Southern Calif... A beautiful drive...
wanted to watch a movie...but after 10 minutes turned it off. Watching carstuff with Jay...always way better!Thanks....feelgood television!!
I was just about to go to bed then I got the notification this was uploaded!
Same!
Same
The man who uploaded this needs a raise
Exactly
Seen it after checking my ebay auctions. But man, just couldn't keep my eyes open, get'n old I guess...
So many people look at this car for the first time and think it's ugly, then they look a second time and it's not so ugly. Then they see it the next day and it's really quite nice, then by the end of the week it's drop dead gorgeous. That's what it does to you. This was my favourite car back in the 60's and it just might still be.
OH MAN - WHAT A GLORIOUS SOUND!!!!
A blind man could tell from the sound - that's a real beautiful car with a sound from the centre of 🏴 !
When I was a little kid maybe 10 or so, a man would drive by my house every now and then, it was red and the sound that car made just sent me over the top. The speed limit was 35 and he would come by at about 45 and it just sounded incredible and the look of that front end was just beautiful. It was a Daimler Dart for sure!
Jay you keep saying the car does not look that good but I think it looks awesome for its time.
i agree, wouldn't be my first choice for the time, but not a bad looking car, especially in that color.
I noticed the poster of the car minus the awkward front bumper. Massive improvement.
It is not ugly, the flow of the body lines,or anything. Great looking car.
HERB JOHNSTON some things improve with age, in the age of wind tunnel formless blob cars it's looks great. Understated flour suits it too.
The grille face does look like a catfish. I bet if they'd just branded it the Catfish, it would have sold better.
The Jay Leno Drinking Game: Every time Jay says Amazing, Fantastic, or Bulletproof, everyone take a drink.
+Clay Loomis No thanks... I don't want to die. =D
Or anything about a Mclaren P1
How about "I mean"?
I do that one too.
I blacked out. What year is it?
Don't forget "hilarious" !
Am I missing something here? I think it looks great
It's certainly not the worst looking car I've ever seen. Far from it. Looks a lot like a Sunbeam, which many people rave about. Not sure why Jay keeps going on about how unattractive it is/was.
I agree, don't think its ugly. Its distinctive and has character.
It looks like a little catfish :)
yakadee1
I believe that Jay's point was that compared to its contemporaries, like the Jaguar XKE and the Corvette, it was not as sleek and sexy, so didn't sell as well as the other choices one had if one was in the market for a sportscar back in 1962. He also mentions that it was voted the ugliest car by the 1959 Auto Show in New York City. From our 2015 perspective, it's easy to admire this as a rare and desirable car. I like the styling, especially the hood curves and lights.
*****
I've only just picked up on this video and want to thank you for bringing back great memories for me. I was lucky enough to own two of these beautiful cars as my everyday transport in the early 70's, having coveted one for years. Just one correction, though. At least as far as the UK is concerned, they were never fitted with an overdrive and simply didn't need one. 4th gear was quite long and relaxed. I still love that woofle woofle sound. Thanks.
I could listen to JAY all night . in fact i think i will 🇬🇧🇺🇸
I'm just catching up on this car! I think it looks great! Great honest update on the radiator cap...keeping it real and helping other car people out! Big fan of what you do and for sharing your kinetic artworks!!!
That pic at 9:00 of the two burly cops in the tiny Daimler is a classic! Thanks Jay, always watch your uploads and love how you keep interesting cars alive.
The engine sound gives me goosebumps!
brings a tear to the eye....
it is great to see someone that appreciates automobiles and has the money to make it all happen. it speaks to all of us that appreciate the whole idea.
Jay and his brilliant boys in the workshop really know their business don't they,what a terrific restoration. As a Met Officer in the 60s I remember them well.
I am glad Jay has the money to spend on expensive restorations on unusual cars such as this. What a treat! One of the best sounding engines I have ever heard. The looks are growing on me.
The entire time Jay was driving it I had a dang smile on my face. LOVE the sound and yes I like the looks of it. Never could buy one, but I want one!
Oh my God Jay , that's what it's all about right there my man !!!
She has such a beautiful line, she turned out to be a fantastic project, much appreciated.
It's 4.00am UK time, perfect video for insomniacs. Great car, great video, and what a superb restoration.
and I thought I was up late 12am east coast US time
I had the pleasure of driving one of these around when a friend left one with me for a few months. Great fun.
Sureshort cure no not tata
For those of you complaining about the looks, 2 words ....... Pontiac Aztec! Now I think everyone likes the look of this car.
Oh thanks, now I'll have nightmares with pictures of the Aztec floating in my mind. World's ugliest car ever.
Thank you for sharing so many things that so many of us wish we could do. Now back to fixing the bathroom floor.
Props to Jay for keeping so many different cars going, and teaching us things along the way.
I rewatched this video every few months, just to listen to this god damn beautifully engineered orchestra!
ImmortalInflames I’ve played 15:21 10 times in a row!
'Tonneau' is French for cask, as early cars often had two rear seats in a kind of twin barrel construction, and usually in wood, of course! Conversely, the trunk or boot might have had this construction, so any perishables stored in it would need to be protected from the sun by a canvas cover.
its more barrel than cask, albeit the two are similar.
faites moi confiance. ;-)
Well done.
@@philiptownsend4026 I'm glad you wanted 'tonneau'! (I'll get my coat)
Ah, the Daimler 250 V8 - possibly the sweetest V8 ever made.
Seeing jay drive around in these warm conditions makes me so jealous :(
Me too. Just snow and ice outside!
Back in the 1980s there was a race track local to greater Vancouver called Westwood. There was a guy with a Daimler SP250 that would race it in the vintage races. Always sounded great. Looked a bit like a Tiger from the back with those fins. Thanks for this video Jay it brought back some great memories.
I lived just south of the Westwood track back in the day , loved to see all the Cortinas and the other classics on trailers hauled up to race at Westwood, Walked the track back then, now it is a Tony high end neighbourhood of multi million dollar homes.
@@franklinnorth7708 The Westwood Champagne Motorsport Weekend had 3 days of racing and live bands. Now the area is full of Range Rovers and Maserati SUVs. Sad.
First time commenting. Just gotta day I REALLY appreciate the realism of showing a less that perfect running car and your experience of putting it through its paces for the first time. I always wondered of you ever damaged a really expensive car or someone else's. This doesnt answer that but it does show a car not performing perfectly. Which I appreciate.
Jay that might be the best sounding V8 I've ever heard.
That's not the engine, gearbox or exhaust they came with. They didn't sound anything like that.
A guy in high school had one of these - he knew it was not the best looking car but the Porsche Speedster, MGTD, 57 T-bird, and Healey 100 owners thankfully unrealized fear was that he'd challenge one of us (or worse, all of us) to a race, win, and then tell the cheerleaders, which was the same as telling all the girls, we were whimps.
Also, you looked more comfortable in the Daimler than many of the others. Thanks for making these fun to watch videos.
Hum,quite the high school.....Porsche Speedster.....MGTD....57 T-Bird (nice but zero power).....Austin Healey...and there was this guy whit a Daimler,nice story, mean come on....in high school?
@@nitropost Yeah, i know. As a youngster i remember looking out of my 3rd grade classroom window at a high school parking lot with a couple of 1940 Fords. 50's and early to mid 60's cars like Impala's and a 64 Falcon Sprint inhabited the lot when i attended. My first car which i drove to school was a 1959 Volvo PV544. Nope. Didn't have no Porsche's, MG's, Alfa's or Austin Healy's. Well, Jay's segment covering one of his Muira's has him talking about Dino Martin driving a Muira to high school. I imagine oh, say.. Hollywood High has probably had some interesting car's in it's lot.
I don't know what people back in 1959 were smoking. I think it's a great looking car. That engine note is magnificent.
It was called reefer, but it was usually a combination of catnip, oregano, and black pepper; or so I'm told...
Eric Ellquist an EXCELLENT answer, although there was some high quality hemp available even in the early '60s.
@@frufru0071 Do tell.... I had a friend who knew a guy who had a brother whose girlfriend's sister's uncle knew some Irish guys in Boston who knew some guys in Michuacan who for a couple of bucks could or would maybe tighten you up... Ah hell, you know the story, right?
Eric Ellquist🤣👏🏼👍🏼Ya GOT ME! I had to read that a couple of times, before I could see that ya wrote that the acquaintances of the people who are known to some friends who are friends with your friends are "Michuacan", (the ones who could tighten me up), & not-(from)-Michigan! I’m picking up what you’re putting down, friend. Thank you, stay happy, healthy, and don’t lose your sense of humour! It’s a good one. Cheers!🍻
@@frufru0071 Muy gracias...
I LOVE it ! My Dad had a TR-7 he purchased new in the Fall of 1977-as a former sports car "nut"-he raced in the 50s & 60s until my Mom lowered the boom on him to cease such a dangerous endeavor-decided to have a bit of fun with the -7. One of the things he did to it was put a Borg Warner T-50 5 speed manual in it. To get it to work the driveshaft had to be shortened by 1 ". The clutch was truly a curious set up-a Datsun 260Z friction disc-and a Daimler 250SP pressure plate ! All smog devices mysteriously disappeared from it & the single Stromberg carb vanished & a twin Stromberg setup was installed -this was the era of 49 state cars & CA cars-we lived in SoCal-San Diego. Oh Lordy that thing was FAST. Brings back many fond memories of Dad. Thank You.
Many many thanks to you, Jay Leno, for producing these mini documentaries on all of these classic automotive gems and making them available to the rest of us who, like you, have a real appreciation and passion for the historic and classic automobiles of the world! Each of your “Leno’s garage” videos are so thorough and well made, covering just about every aspect of each car: make history, model history, individual ownership history, restoration process, the model’s design and mechanics, aesthetics, etc, etc.
I enjoy these videos immensely and have learned so much. THANK YOU for sharing with us your passion for and accumulated knowledge of the history of the automobiles of the world!
-Randall, Arkansas
That Brit-Hemi sounds just like a Flat-head ford with the Hemi head set-up, I think the car is an amazing piece of workmanship & design, And you got a great car to bring back to its glory after setting dormant for as many years as it sat.
What a great show! I appreciate that you showed us the reality of things occasionally going wrong. Love that car!
They were undrivable with a 289 cid
Jay was smart to paint the car in a color that toned down the unusual lines, making it go from ugly to unique.
I don’t think the cars ugly at all. I think it looks unique, like a fish!
They do call it a catfish.
I love the sound of that hemi! Its not the most attractive car, but its certainly unique! I see why Jay likes it. He loves unique and different types of automobiles. Jay's really a treasure to the automotive world.
Love that car, the hard top makes it. Whoever made that colour choice was spot on.
I love the passion Jay shows for cars!
This is my favorite car channel on RUclips.
great blog jay. really enjoyed it & now its finished. i'm a brit & have had an SP250 in england for the last 10-11 years. great car & very active group of enthusiasts, part of the DLOC website, where about 1500 SPs have been identified worldwide. mine's a C-spec similar to yours. thanks again for the involvement
Any comment that contains the word "whilst" or term "straight away" will be another Brit telling us how mistaken about the SP250's looks.
That wonderful V-8 sound.. No matter the displacement, a V-8 sounds wonderful.
Never stop making these shows Jay. Thanks.
I enjoyed this video and I am glad Jay restored this and many others. In the mid-1960s (1965 or 1966) while I was a student at UT in Austin, Texas, a friend bought a used Daimler in Houston. I don’t know the year and model but the one in this video looks like the one I remember which was also dark blue or black. He came to Austin to visit me and to try it out in the hills around Austin. It really hugged the road on the curves. He was a car enthusiast and liked cars that most people didn't appreciate. I don’t know what happened with the car as he is no longer alive, but I know he would appreciate this video and what Jay has done with that car.
As an English man and a fan of Jay Leno it's lovely to hear him speak about the British heritage of the car, us Britt's don't have much left in the way of a car industry and once upon a time it was a huge part of our economic growth.
Indeed. 'Heritage' is a commodity we're increasingly relying upon, as a nation
@@baggierols73 And it's in short supply now here in the States, as well.
In Deutschland wird das "Kulturerbe" mit Füßen getreten.
This is the first of his cars I've truly lusted after the minute I saw it.
I happen to like the looks of that car and the colour is awesome. I looked for one and could not find a decent one. Jay Leno is such a car guy, someone who is not just does not understand the whole idea behind Jay's garage. Thanks for sharing this video and..........
WHAT A SOUND !!!
I never watch videos about cars. Seeing this video makes me kinda sad. I miss the days when late night hosts were funny and gracious. I'm about to buy one of these cars, so I looked it up, and here's Leno.
Miss you on TV, Jay. You were the greatest, and I mean that.
FYI, I don't care what anyone says, the SP250 is a gorgeous creature.
Well done Jay and friends! What an amazing transformation, and the sound of the car is intoxicating. TY again for sharing this rare vehicle.
Ugly? I guess that's proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder because I think this is a great looking car.
William Hayden Its a much better sounding car
me too
I prefer it over the E Type I used to work on two darts when i started in the motor trade early 2000s god i loved them.
@ The gawpy grille is a bit much, but the rest of it looks OK to me. It's got fins on the _front,_ how cool is that? :)
The tail end is very cool I think
Engine sounds truly amazing,,,
As Jay mentioned when driving, you can't hear the engine really; the exhaust is what sounds fabulous. I really can't believe that was a stock exhaust system, though.
Been lying in bed all day with flu, watching J and his cars,
Brings back great memories , especially the British cars,
My father had Triumphs and British Fords and like things where back in the days (early 70s) British standards was the key word for not being standardized with other manufactures .
We spent many an hour in the garage with a 40 Watt Extension lamp repairing cars.
Cheers Jay !
To my eyes, the SP 250 is BEAUTIFUL.
I think that car is beautiful! Not ugly AT ALL
FANTASTIC VIDEO JAY.......... I like the fiberglass bodies block sanded, it makes for a nicer look!........ Like the Corvette's, to be a 100points show car, the fiberglass bodies have to be as in factory condition aka (wavy)....... If you block sand a Vette to be smooth, you'll never win a Points Car Show........ A block sanded fiberglass body can look every bit as nice as a steel car..... it just take a lil more time to get it straight.... Looks Great, Sounds Great, Runs Great....glad to be a part of it, thank you again.
I am sure Jay was joking, but in case anyone else was curious; A tonneau was an open rear passenger compartment, rounded like a barrel, on an automobile and, by extension, a body style incorporating such a compartment. The word derives from French, mostly meaning barrel or sometimes cask or container
The honesty of showing the break downs and fails is a lesson for all those other shows . Cr guys know reality and respect those that truly tell the real story
I remember seeing these cars on the road when I was a kid, just not very many of them. I also remember reading a contemporary road test in some magazine, maybe Sports Car Graphic?. The doors would pop open when cornering on a bumpy road. Maybe the hardtop stiffens the body enough to fix that? It's great to see one all restored and running again. I enjoy all your videos. Thanks.
Oh, you mentioned the body flex. I'm typing while watching.
How could anyone ever call this little beauty ugly??????
it's super ugly
Evidently, everyone at the 1959 New York Auto Show could.
Wow, I love it!! Fantastic color, and it makes for a really interesting combo with the red leather interior. Reminds me a bit of something you might see on a mid-'60s Impala, which is appropriate given the V8 and all. Incredible, incredible sound and the engine really is visually striking, too. In that respect, I'm *shocked* that you ditched the twin Solex setup for a Weber downdraft. No doubt the Weber is functionally superior but the tiny twin carbs poking out off to the side looked so sweeeet!
I first learned about these cars reading old books as a kid and have always been interested in them. Mainly for that homegrown V8, although I'm also surprised and amused that the SP250 was voted "Ugliest Car" at the '59 NY Auto Show! It's certainly not the best looking car in the world (the flying catfish?) but that seems ludicrous in retrospect. Everyone must have been high on all that space age "googie" insanity (which I also love, no disrespect to batwings and Forward Looks, etc.)
After Jaguar bought Daimler, they stuck the V8 into their Mark II saloon and sold it as the Daimler 2.5-Litre, beginning Daimler's second life as a badge-engineered Jag - which it carried on as up until 2007, something that probably isn't well known outside of the U.K. I'd love to get my hands on one of those 2.5-Litre Saloons and listen to that wonderful little V8 purr. Last time I checked, they were still fairly inexpensive.
Looks much better in this color blue
What a brilliant little car. I had never heard of a Daimler Dart until jay mentioned it in another video I was watching.
So glad that I took the time to check it out!
2 Years! It took me 10 years to do mine 1988--1998, engraved on my memory! Mind you that was weekends as I was working full-time. A lovely homage to a great car/engine Jay Leno, if only I had had your wonderful facilities back in 1980's England. Like you say, why oh why didn't they use Edward Turner's masterpiece instead of the Rover (ex-Buick) or dreadful Triumph V8s. As is well proven by the man with the Daimler V8 powered dragster, it's a very tune-able unit, I think he gets about 1K bhp from his specialised one. Back in the day , my main problem was shortage of time and cash, as then the parts were not cheap, we didn't have 3D printers to model bell housings and we certainly didn't have that miracle gearbox of yours!! A lovely presentation Jay and an absolute treat for all the senses, especially the audio ones!! Thank You very much..........Jonathan Cooke
That is a cool little thing.
Ouch!!!
This was not Daimler's first sports car. They made the Daimler Conquest Roadster in 1955, my dad had one.
I used my heater on many occasions when my engine overheated very uncomfortable but if you want to save your engine n can't stop at times is there any other choice?
polygamous1 Sozou Owned numerous TVRs....I always did the same
The problem was that it ran out of water, so I don’t think running the heater would do anything at all.
At that point, no, it wouldn't.
If you were listening at around 10:58 he mentioned the -C got the 'cigarette lighter and heater-defroster' and later 'this is somewhere between a B and C' so, being in SoCal, it probably didn't have a heater to aid in the extra cool-down of the engine. I had the same problem with my '69 Roadrunner 'Super Trac-pak' with radio and heater delete (and a 6-cyl rambler radiator for weight savings...who needs more when you only heat it up 1/4 mile at a time!).
@@MadMaxxMoto But it did have a heater; he showed it several times and it's very noticeable in the shots of the engine compartment. Of course, being British, there's not much expected of heaters. I owned a couple of used Austin-Healeys, and a new '62 MGA MkII, and although the Healeys' heaters kept the edge of the cold and defrosted the windscreen quite well, the MG's heater was quite a bit less efficient. The dealer, who was a friend and racing buddy of mine, told me when I looked it over that the heater "doesn't do much more than warming the driver's left foot---in England," where the driver sits on the right. They had a Big Freeze over there in the winter of '61-'62 and the snow and cold practically paralyzed the island, so when I traded the "A" in on one of new MGBs, early in '63, I found it had a great heater/defroster, as did the used '63 MG 1100 sedan I bought later. They even had _towing rings_ welded onto the bottom control arms or foreframes after that! Stay safe in this crisis.
I met a great gentleman in Dubai few years back when the main street in downtown becomes an exhibition of old and rare cars. I cannot recollect his name, he was from New Zealand and was the proud owner of a gorgeous, restored mint red Daimler Dart. I sat with him and spoke for quite some time. He had a, shall I call it, destined connection with this car as he used to last over it as a teenager when his next door neighbour had it, eventually buying it from him, then having to sell it to a friend when he became a dad and ultimately buying it back and restored it. At that time of our talk he had promised to never part with it again and pass it down to his daughter. Fantastic car and for me (as with many in the comments) a gorgeous car, even more so in the flesh.
I watch this episode over and over again just to hear that little jewel of a V8. I would LOVE to put one of those in a '32 Ford.
Its look like a Triumph with a mix of Austin Healey :D !
Yeah, styling was fine for those days... but that engine should have been available in the MGA's and Austin Healey's !!! .. Volvo P1800 came out even later with a bit of tailfins... and also needed that engine...
I'm afraid I can't really see any AH in the look, personally. Maybe I was too busy enjoying the exhaust note-esp. on the shifts. Marvelous sound!
I like the way it looks like an Alfa or Triumph in the front & a Sunbeam Tiger in the back. And that rumbly engine? Man, this one really makes me miss the old days even more. Back when Fangio was the man to beat & cars had no computer controls whatsoever.
The key to making this car go from beautiful to ugly was the paint color. So often the wrong color emphasizes the car incorrectly. This color allows the cars contours to be subtle.
The color is perfect, yes; just the right shade of blue. Jaguar also offered that color and it also shows their lines to best advantage as well, esp. on the XK150, and the old 3.8 and Mk.II sedans.
You make a good point, personally I don't think this blue works well at all but I reckon the car would look much better in silver, champagne or a pale metallic green.
@@staggabob Personally i think fire engine red would do it justice better than that blue.
The Vagolfer: I would like to see it in Mazdas Crystal Red
I love watching Jay. The history he passes on these old British sports cars. My friend who was racing in the 70s said an old racer told him " all race cars have webers".
Damn that exhaust note is like a symphony. It reminds my of this 427 side oiler my buddy put in a replica cobra from factory five. That engine through side pipes OMG. Sounded soo amazing. That little hemi has it down