1960 Daimler SP-250
The Daimler SP250 was the last car to be launched by Daimler before its parent company sold it to Jaguar Cars in 1960. The Daimler SP-250 was built from 1959 to 1964.
With a fibreglass body, the SP250 had a Hemi-head V8 engine (2.5-liters). The car was described as a 2+2, but the bench-like rear seat offered very limited leg-room unless the front seats were pushed fully forward.
The SP250 was launched as the Daimler Dart in April 1959 at the New York Motor Show, where it was unofficially voted as the ugliest car at the show. Chrysler, whose Dodge division owned the trademark for the “Dart” model name, ordered Daimler to change the name under threat of legal action, which is where the SP250 name came from.
In Detail
| type | Series Production Car |
| price $ | $ 3,842 |
| engine | V8 |
| valvetrain | OHV 2 Valves / Cyl |
| displacement | 2549 cc / 155.5 in³ |
| bore | 76.0 mm / 2.99 in |
| stroke | 69.8 mm / 2.75 in |
| compression | 8.2:1 |
| power | 104.4 kw / 140.0 bhp @ 5800 rpm |
| specific output | 54.92 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 136.59 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 210.2 nm / 155.0 ft lbs @ 3600 rpm |
| driven wheels | Front Engine / RWD |
| front brakes | Discs |
| rear brakes | Discs |
| curb weight | 1025 kg / 2260 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2337 mm / 92.0 in |
| front track | 1270 mm / 50.0 in |
| rear track | 1219 mm / 48.0 in |
| length | 4089 mm / 161.0 in |
| width | 1537 mm / 60.5 in |
| height | 1278 mm / 50.3 in |
| transmission | 4-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | 2.94:1, 1.74:1, 1.23:1, 1.00:1 |
| final drive | 3.58:1 |
| top speed | ~204.4 kph / 127.0 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~9.1 seconds |
| 0 – 100 mph | ~27.0 seconds |
| 0 – 1/4 mile | ~16.9 seconds |
