1937 Daimler

Registration number PSL 213
Chassis number 43546
Right hand drive
With the standard pre-select gearbox
One of three in use by British Royal Household Maybe the car adopted by King Edward after his abdication and move to Paris with Mrs Simpson
The straight original straight 8 sleeve valve Daimler engine is included in the sale
This original low mileage Daimler still runs and drives as it should, although the original sleeve valve Daimler engine (with the car) has been replaced with a 6cyl Humber ex-military engine, which suits the car well, the family note pre-select gearbox is a joy to use
The Park Ward limousine body was able to accommodate the then fashionable ‘Top Hats Now displaying a patina commensurate with its 87 years, it is the remarkable and controversial Royal history which offers relevance and intrigue
Not registered in the UK until 1961 as 538 CXD Gerry bought the Daimler at Hershey USA, where he was told that it was the car taken by King Edward and Mrs Simpson to Paris, France after his abdication, and then on to the USA with Wallace Simpson after Edwards death, being repatriated to the UK in 1960 when she no longer had use for the car
It does seem appropriate that the Royal Household or British Government had never relinquished ownership, and does further explain the delayed first registration
When Gerry bought the car it had a set of diplomatic number plates relating to the British Embassy of Paris, sadly these have been lost
There is an extensive history file with this car, including letters between the American owner and the Royal Household, which variously agrees that it was a car used by the Royal Household, hence its delayed registration, but calls into doubt by whom or for what purposes! The maintenance history supports the cars low mileage, as does the ownership and use
The whole file is well worth a read and will be available in the saleroom.
This Daimler has enjoyed an unlikely second life being regularly featured as the personal transport of Hercules Poirot in the TV series, and appearing in the BBC series Dancing on the Edge
It is further listed on the International Movie Data Base: IMDB