Daimler 2.5 & 4.5 litre

This article is about the Daimler V8 engine. For the Daimler 2.5-V8 saloon (car), see Daimler 250.

The Daimler 2.5 & 4.5 litre V-8 engines were designed by Edward Turner in 1959 and used in several of the cars made by the British Daimler company in the 1950s and 1960s. After Daimler's merger with Jaguar in 1960 they were also used in some of the Jaguar saloons which were then badged as Daimlers.

Engine design

The lightweight 2.5 litre V8 had hemispherical heads made of aluminium alloy resembling those in the Chrysler Hemi engine, not those in the Triumph motorcycle. ("Lightweight" is relative to similar engines of the period, but the engine would not be considered lightweight in today's world.) The two sizes of engine share similar external dimensions and design. They share the same bore spacings, and the one can be bolted in place of the other.

The motor first publicly appeared in the Daimler Dart, but after Chrysler objected to use of that name, it was called the Daimler SP250, a carp nosed fibreglass bodied sports car aimed at the American market.

The 2.5-litre motor, only thirty inches in length and developing 140 bhp (100 kW) @ 5,800 rpm, gave better performance than Jaguar's own 2.4-litre DOHC in-line six, and after the 1960 merger the opportunity was taken to create an up-market Daimler V8 version of the Jaguar Mark 2. Between the years 1962 and 1969 17,620 Daimler/Jaguar V8s were built. Initially called the Daimler 2½ litre V8, it was later called the Daimler 250.

The 4.5 litre motor was used in the Daimler Majestic Major which is now rare , but was a respected high performance saloon in its day. It was also used in the limousine derivative, the DR450. The 4.5 litre was tested in a Jaguar Mark X and lapped MIRA at 135 mph but was not put into production reportedly precisely because its performance was better than the original Jaguar Mk 10's. All 4.5 litre V8s sold were automatic, which makes connection to a manual transmission difficult.

Edward Turner

At the age of 24 Edward Turner designed a 350 cc single motorcycle engine with overhead camshafts. By age 27 it was in a complete motorcycle, and the motor patented. This brought him to the attention of Ariel's Jack Sangster, who asked him to join Ariel Motorcycles. In 1931 the Ariel Square Four was released, designed by the now 30-year-old Edward Turner. In 1936 Sangster bought Triumph Motorcycles, and made Turner the General Manager. The Triumph 500 cc Speed Twin, designed by Turner, came onto the market in 1937. In this era of the rigid rear motorcycle frame, he designed a "sprung hub" rear wheel, not released till 1948. In 1942 Turner walked out after a disagreement with Sangster, but returned in 1943, and by 1944, was Managing Director. In 1951 Sangster sold Triumph to the Birmingham Small Arms group (BSA), and joined their board. By 1956 Sangster was Chairman, and made Turner head of the automotive division. This then included Ariel, Triumph, and BSA motorcycles, as well as Daimler and Carbodies (London Taxicab manufacturers)

Daimler SP250 Technical Data (1959 - 1964)

• Numbers built - 2648
• Weight - 948 kilo / 2090 lb
• Engine - 90° V-8
• Displacement - 2548 cc / 155.5 ci
• Bore/Stroke - 76 mm x 70 mm
• Valvetrain - 2 valves per cylinder, OHV , Hemispherical Head.
• Fuel feed - 2 SU HD6 Carburettors
• Gearbox - 4 speed Manual
• Drive - Rear wheel drive
• Engine dimensions (with fan) - 2.5 litre- 30" long,24" wide, 27" high, Weight 419 lb (190 kg)

Performance figures

• Power - 140 bhp / 105 kW @ 5800 rpm
• Torque - 210 nm / 155 ft·lbf @ 3600 rpm
• Top Speed - 200 km/h / 124 mph
• 0-60 mph Acceleration - 8.9 s

Daimler 2.5 Litre V8 (Jaguar) Technical Data (1962 -1969)

• Number built - 17620
• Engine - 90° V-8
• Displacement - 2548 cc / 155.5 ci
• Bore/Stroke - 76 mm x 70 mm
• Valvetrain - 2 valves per cylinder, OHV , Hemispherical Head.
• Fuel feed - 2 SU HD6 Carburettors
• Power: - 142 bhp (106 kW). at 5800 rpm.
• Top Speed: - 175 km/h. (110 mph) Auto
• Gearbox: - 3-speed BW Type 35 automatic
• Weight: - 1430 kg.
• Engine dimensions (with fan)- 2.5 litre- 30" long,24" wide, 27" high, Weight 419 lb (190 kg)

Performance figures

• Power - 140 bhp / 105 kW @ 5800 rpm
• Torque - 210 nm / 155 ft·lbf @ 3600 rpm
• Top Speed - 112 mph (180 km/h)
• 0-60 mph Acceleration -

Daimler Majestic Major Technical Data (1959 - 1968)

• Numbers built - 1180
• Weight - 1880 kg
• Engine - 90° V-8
• Displacement - 4561 cc
• Bore/Stroke - 95.25 mm x 80 mm
• Valvetrain - 2 valves per cylinder, OHV , Hemispherical Head.
• Fuel feed - 2 SU Carburettors
• Gearbox - Automatic
• Drive - Rear wheel drive
• Engine dimensions (with fan) - 31.25" long, 25.5" wide, 31" high Weight 498 lb (226 kg)

Performance figures

• Power - 220 bhp (160 kW) @ 5500 rpm
• Torque - 283 ft·lbf (384 N·m) @ 3200 rpm
• Top Speed - 120 mph (190 km/h)
• 0-60 mph Acceleration - 10.3 seconds