Daimler DK400
From Ford Wiki
| Automotive industry | Daimler Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Production | 1955–1959 93 produced |
| Predecessor | Daimler DB36 |
| Successor | Daimler DR450 |
| Car classification | Executive |
| Car body style | 4-door Limousine |
| Internal combustion engine | 4617 cc (282 Cubic inch) Straight six |
| Transmission (mechanics) | 4-speed Fluid flywheel |
| Wheelbase | 3,302 millimetres (130.0 in)[1] |
| Length | 5,512 millimetres (217.0 in) |
| Width | 1,956 millimetres (77.0 in) |
| Height | 1,790 millimetres (70 in) |
| Curb weight | 2,032 kilograms (4,480 lb) |
The Daimler DK400, originally called the Daimler Regina or formally the Daimler DF400, was a luxury car made by Daimler Motor Company between 1955 and 1959. It was generally equipped with limousine bodywork but some were built as Hearse for funerals and at least one was equipped with a Coupé body. An unusual feature of the limousine was that the occasional middle seats were three abreast.[2]
The DK400 was the last Daimler model to use the company's unique Fluid flywheel Transmission (mechanics) that had been originally patented way back in 1930 but was replaced in the Majestic by a more modern Borg-Warner Automatic transmission. A major change in gearing, however, saw the direct-drive top gear replaced by a direct-drive third and an Overdrive top. This, intended to improve the car's ability to cruise at high speed with its large engine, however, was a failure because the transmission could not cope with the torque available from an engine capable of producing 167 horsepower (125 kW) at 3,000 rpm.[2]
It also saw the furthest development of the old long-stroke (95.2 millimetres (3.75 in) bore and 107 millimetres (4.2 in) stroke) Pushrod straight six engines that had been traditional on Daimler cars for many decades before but gave way to a more modern and lightweight V8 in the last Daimler engines designed before Jaguar (car) took the company over in 1960. As a consequences, when the 1950s drew to a close the DK400 gave way to the Majestic Major-engined DR450, which was produced in much greater numbers despite Jaguar's gradual conversion of Daimlers into badge-engineered top-of-the-line Jaguars.
Despite its status as royal transport, the DK400 was as much as 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) lighter than previous postwar Daimler limousines. A number were used by the Queen Mother and others of the UK Royal Family, for which the last-ever Hooper bodies were provided including a open-top landaulette.[3]
References
- ↑ Daimler DK400 Specifications
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Smith, Brian E. (1972). Transport Bookman Publications. pp. 243-247. ISBN 0851840044.
- ↑ Smith, The Daimler Tradition, pp. 252-253
