Daimler Sovereign
| Daimler Sovereign (1966–83) | ||
|---|---|---|
Kerb weight 3,455 lb (1,567 kg) (manual without overdrive) | | |
| Chronology | ||
| Predecessor | Daimler Majestic | |
| Successor | Jaguar Sovereign Daimler Double Six | |
Daimler Sovereign was a name applied by British manufacturer Jaguar Cars to a sequence of luxury automobiles built by it but carrying the Daimler badge between 1966 and 1983.
The Daimler Sovereigns were based on contemporary Jaguar bodyshells, chassis and engines in an example of
The first Daimler Sovereign was based on the 1966
The V12 versions of the Daimler, available from 1972 to 1997, were named Daimler Double-Six after the original Daimler V12s.
Sovereign (Jaguar 420 based: 1966–1969)
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The
The 420 and Sovereign differed from the S-Type in having a revised four-
There were thoughts of fitting the Sovereign with the Daimler 4½ litre V8 engine as used in the Majestic Major but as this significantly outperformed the Jaguar XK unit and would have led to the Sovereign outgunning the Jaguar 420 the Jaguar hierarchy did not pursue the idea; the Jaguar marque was supposed to be more sporty than the Daimler.
In 1967 the final drive ratio was quietly changed from 3.31:1 to 3.54:1 which led to press complaints about fussier high speed cruising but which improved acceleration times from stand-still within the range of the speeds legal in Britain following the introduction, in December 1965, of a blanket 70 mph (113 km/h) speed limit across the nation's highways.[1]
The front-end styling of the Daimler DS420 limousine introduced in 1968 shared a family resemblance with a Daimler grille mated to a four headlight nose.
The 420/Sovereign range began to be replaced by the
Sovereign (Jaguar XJ6 based: 1969–1986)
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Series I (1969–1973)
A new Series I XJ6-based Sovereign was introduced in October 1969. Once again, it was externally virtually identical to its
Series II (1973–1979)
The Daimler Sovereign name remained in use for the Series II version of the XJ6, with a raised front bumper and shallower grille; an extended wheelbase version was introduced, which eventually became the standard model. From 1975 the 2.8-litre was replaced by a 3.4-litre version of the XK engine.
Series III (1979–1983)
The Series III XJ6 range, which was released in 1979, was visually distinguished from the Series II by its new thicker bumpers, the removal of separate "quarter-light" windows from the front doors, and a revised rear roofline featuring a slightly more angular c-pillar. The Series III range initially continued to include a Daimler Sovereign, but in 1983, during the run of the Series III, the range was renamed with the base model named the Jaguar XJ6, the more luxurious version named the Jaguar Sovereign, and the top-of-the-range simply known as the Daimler, without a model name. Some top-of-the-range versions were given the Vanden Plas designation; in some markets where there were licensing problems in the use of the Daimler name, cars with the Daimler fluted grille were sold as Jaguar Vanden Plas.
Sovereign 4.2 two door (1975–1978)
A two-door coupe variant of the Sovereign Series II, utilising the shorter wheelbase platform, was offered from 1975 to 1977.[2] It was marketed as the Daimler Sovereign 4.2 two door.[3]
Daimler Double-Six (1972–1992, 1993–1997)
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From 1972 Jaguar's 5.3-litre
Unlike the Jaguar, the twelve-cylinder Daimler had the same radiator grill as its six-cylinder sibling, and externally only the badges distinguished them. The Double-Six followed the same changes as the Sovereign from Series I to Series III, although the Sovereign name was transferred to Jaguar, the Double-Six name remained with Daimler throughout Series III production, which continued until 1992.
In late 1972, the particularly well-equipped Double-Six Vanden Plas appeared. On a 4 inches (100 mm) longer wheelbase, this model also received a black vinyl roof to set it apart.[5]
A two-door
When Jaguar re-engineered the XJ40 (the successor to the Series III) to take a 6.0-litre version of the V12 engine, under the model designation XJ81, a new Double-Six was also produced, being manufactured between 1993 and 1994. In the latter year, along with the other XJ models, it was facelifted under the X305 designation and continued to be produced until the V12 engine was dropped in 1997.
Scale models
- The Daimler Sovereign Series 1 has been modelled by Lledo Vanguardsin the 2000s.
- The Daimler Sovereign Series 2 has also been modelled by Lledo Vanguards, due for release in the Winter of 2019/2020
- Neo Scale Models have produced a 1:43 resin molded model of the Daimler Vanden Plas Series III.
- At the end of 2012 Neo Scale Models issued a 1:43 resin molded model of the Sovereign 420 in dark red.
References
- Footnotes
- ^ "Used Car Test:1968 Daimler Sovereign". Autocar. 134 nbr 3923: 19–20. 3 June 1971.
- ^ a b Graham Robson, A-Z of Cars of the 1970s, Haymarket Publishing Ltd, 1990, page 45
- ^ a b Daimler Double-Six and Sovereign 4.2 two door range brochure – 1977 Archived 10 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.brochuremuseum.nl on 28 September 2015
- ISBN 1-85260-494-8
- ^ Wilkins, Gordon (December 1972). "World Cars 1972-3". CAR (South Africa). Vol. 16, no. 11. Cape Town, South Africa: Ramsay, Son & Parker (Pty) Ltd. p. 59.
- Sources
- "Jaguar S Type and 420 – The Complete Story" by James Taylor, Crowood ISBN 1-85223-989-1
- "Jaguar S Type & 420 – 'Road Test' Limited Edition", Brooklands Books ISBN 1-85520-345-6