[Doggie 1]

Here is my new baby which arrived this week and  I thought I would share with you.
The car is 39 years old and is a Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas V12.
These cars were built by Jaguar/Daimler at Coventry, U.K. then shipped to the Vanden Plas facility near London for hand-finishing.
Vanden Plas are famous for building royal horse-drawn coaches in days gone by.
These cars had individually selected solid timbers chosen for the dashboard and doors and the finest leather was used to trim them.
The body and paint was hand-finished and the coachlines hand painted.
They were then delivered, usually to British Royalty, aristocrats or very wealth customers.
This particular car has had a colour change at some time in its life. It is not meant to be silver - it was originally Aegean Blue.
All Vanden Plas cars came with a black vinyl roof.
This car is historically significant because it is chassis number 1 - the first one built by Jaguar/Daimler and records show that it was shipped initially to Singapore.
I do not know its original owner, but would guess probably the British Consulate in Singapore or similar. It was later transported to Australia where it spent the rest of its life (so far) in Canberra before being purchased by a collector in Queensland who only owned it for a short time before being forced to sell it due to ill health.
Which is where I come in.
The car is surprisngly original and complete, although very tired after its thirty nine years and in need of a full refurbishment. It still has its original engine, gearbox and all significant parts.
However, due to its unique history and the fact that it is build number one, it is worth saving and restoring which is what I intend to do at some point in the future. When it is fifty or sixty years old I believe it will be recognised as a very significant motor car.
I have attached photos of how it is now plus one of it when new (from Jaguar/Daimler archives) and also one of another car which shows the correct Aegean Blue colour and one of the new plates I've got for it. I also attached a copy of its birth certificate which I was able to obtain from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in the U.K.
I was lucky enough to pick the car up for a song but it will take a lot of $$$ to bring it back to concours.
Dave

[Phil №❶]

How many litres of juice does it hold 

Fine looking vehicle, it will be 

[Doggie 1]

How many litres of juice does it hold 

Fine looking vehicle, it will be 

I hate to think, but more than 53 litres...
It has twin fuel tanks with a filler on either side which each hold 45.5 litres.
Given that it's a V12 and an early one without fuel injection (it has four Strombergs) I wouldn't imagine it would last very long.

[asathorny]

Brilliant....   green with envy 

[Doggie 1]

Brilliant....   green with envy 

You're welcome to share in its rebuild costs if you really want to 

[Shambles]

Very nice. What a fine project to get involved with.

My 1987 XJ6, even though only a straight 6 (3.6L) only ever managed 15mpg, so gawd only knows what you should be expecting from yours

[Doggie 1]

Here's a photo of a Daimler V12 engine with the 4 X Strombergs.
They look thirsty. 

[asathorny]

Brilliant....   green with envy 

You're welcome to share in its rebuild costs if you really want to 

 HAhahhahahaa a  tetette oh ohohoh hahahaa,, stop it, almost wet meself laffin then

[Asterix]

What a car, looks very nice.

You just made sure your weekends won't be spend on the sofa. 

I bet that engine sounds good 

[Dazzler]

Looks very nice Dave (I particularly like the original colour) I'm sure Dad has had a V12 Vanden Plas at some stage (Burgundy one I think)

[Surferdude]

Top stuff. Really nice little junior VP beside it, too.

[Phil №❶]

How many litres of juice does it hold 

Fine looking vehicle, it will be 

I hate to think, but more than 53 litres...
It has twin fuel tanks with a filler on either side which each hold 45.5 litres.
Given that it's a V12 and an early one without fuel injection (it has four Strombergs) I wouldn't imagine it would last very long.

2x45.5makes for 91 litres

I have a suggestion for you. Some minor engine mods and you could run it on ethanol 85%. 20 acres of sugarbeets, an ethanol plant, and there you are, almost self sufficient. Too bad you'll be too busy making the ethanol to drive it though

I read a road test of a V12 in Wheels many years ago, apparently you can start from 0 to whatever in TOP GEAR 
Doesn't do the clutch a lot of good but that's what I call torque.

[Ugly Mongrel]

Thanks for sharing your new baby with us, Dave. She looks a real beauty.

[Doggie 1]

How many litres of juice does it hold 

Fine looking vehicle, it will be 

I hate to think, but more than 53 litres...
It has twin fuel tanks with a filler on either side which each hold 45.5 litres.
Given that it's a V12 and an early one without fuel injection (it has four Strombergs) I wouldn't imagine it would last very long.

2x45.5makes for 91 litres

I have a suggestion for you. Some minor engine mods and you could run it on ethanol 85%. 20 acres of sugarbeets, an ethanol plant, and there you are, almost self sufficient. Too bad you'll be too busy making the ethanol to drive it though

I read a road test of a V12 in Wheels many years ago, apparently you can start from 0 to whatever in TOP GEAR 
Doesn't do the clutch a lot of good but that's what I call torque.

Yes, they are very torqey and also long-lasting, providing they are correctly serviced and not allowed to overheat which can be an issue due to inadequate colling in the Australian climate. This one's an automatic.

[2i30s]

Here's a photo of a Daimler V12 engine with the 4 X Strombergs.
They look thirsty. 

wow,talk about a busy engine bay.   

[Doggie 1]

It is rather busy, but I love those Strombergs 

[Phil №❶]

Are you planning on working in there or,,,,,, 

[Doggie 1]

Are you planning on working in there or,,,,,, 

No, I'll leave it to the experts.
I'll eventually get the engine rebuilt then it will last a lifetime - they're pretty bullet-proof, the Jaguar V12s.
And way beyond my expertise.