Lot 113 - 1991 Daimler Double-Six Series III

The chairman of Jaguar at the time 'Lofty' England declared that the new V12 luxury saloon was to be baptised the Daimler Double-Six and a legend was born. The Series III, the final derivative of the Daimler Double-Six, arrived in 1979 and like its predecessors benefited from the clean cut, new body designed by famed Italian design house, Pininfarina. The new design featured more glass, slightly squarer lines around the roof area and up to date front and rear styling. The Series III soldiered on until the late 1980s, outliving the XJ6, the departure of which was delayed by problems installing the engine in the new XJ40 series. This was the flagship car in the Jaguar/Daimler line and was produced until the end of 1992. It would be hard to imagine news footage of the 1980s and early 1990s without a member of the cabinet or the House of Windsor ascending elegantly out of a Double-Six. No other car of that period epitomised brisk luxury travel like a Daimler and in such a truly understated British fashion. This car was not concerned with the pomp and showmanship of a Rolls-Royce, it was a Daimler and it meant business. The export market adored it.

This beautiful example was originally exported to Japan and stayed there until circa 2018, becoming UK registered in July 2019. It is now very common to find cars here in the UK which have been imported from Japan, usually due to the condition the cars tend to be in, their roads are un-salted thus leading to largely rust-free cars and their MoT test equivalent is particularly stringent, meaning cars are kept in very good condition. The British Racing Green coachwork gleams and is hard to fault, as is the Magnolia hide interior. The history file has a record of sixteen services in Japan from 506km all the way to 51,514km and a further four services in the UK, most recently in January 2021 at 34,616 miles. The history file also includes a record of the speedometer being changed and modified to show miles instead of kilometres. The change took place at 54,603km, meaning a reading of 33,706 miles was given. The odometer now reads 41,307 miles. This is an excellent late example of the quintessential British luxury saloon and is one of very few remaining in such superb condition.