1978 Daimler Sovereign

We sold this delightful long-wheelbase Daimler Sovereign 4.2 back in the summer of 2021, when it came to market from a Jaguar collector who’d owned for the previous nine years.

Finished in a suitably regal colour scheme of Dark Blue - none of your ‘Elephant’s Breath’ nonsense, back-in-the-day, eh? - with a black vinyl roof and a contrasting beige vinyl interior, it is still showing just 73,000 miles on the odometer and comes with a very good history file.

It’s MoT certificate runs out in June and because no MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural rot and rust, we think the fact it’s being offered with a sensible estimate and no reserve makes this one of the most desirable British luxury cars we’ve offered so far this year!

With good shutlines, great panel alignment, and the absence of the sort of car-park dents and dinks that betray careless ownership, this LWB Sovereign presents very well.

Of course, the colour helps and the Dark Blue hue suits both the car’s lines and the engineer’s mission statement.

It’s also bearing up well with nothing more than the usual stonechips to detract from its appearance, partly thanks to some minor remedial work in 2015 that saw the offside front wing and nearside front door receive some attention.

The chromework is in good shape too, and a pair of rectangular Cibie lamps sit below the (good) front bumper, while a selection of car badges from the AA, RAC, RSPB and The National Trust are affixed to the radiator grille above it.

The badges are lightly patinated but no more, and the lamp lenses and window glass is all good.

More chrome decorates the body-coloured wheels, and both the trim around the rim and the hub caps are in fine fettle. The tyres are matching 205/70R15 Avon Turbospeed, which are reassuringly expensive and utterly in keeping with the big Daimler’s role in life.

Plus, as we will never get tired of telling you, our experience is that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The black vinyl roof has survived the elements and the passage of time with the same aplomb as the rest of the coachwork and the roof even includes a vinyl-trimmed metal sunroof, which not only opens and closes as it should but also seals tightly in its aperture.

The vulnerable wheelarches show only a few small patches of light surface rust here and there, as does the rear valence. In fact, the only time an MoT tester has mentioned structural rot and rust in the car’s annual inspection is *checks notes* never. This might be a first for the model and goes to the heart of how nice this one really is.

Which doesn’t leave you much else to do. 

The bonnet has some scratches, there’s a small patch of lacquer missing from the nearside fuel filler cap, the rubber seal on the rear window has seen better days, and we imagine the rear chrome bumper has a few too many scratches for most people’s taste.

Keen drivers might to take a look at those Avon tyres too as they’re getting on a bit now and have started to crack and perish with age.

The front seats are as plump and sumptuous as you could hope to find. Deeply cushioned and only lightly worn, they’re as fabulous to sit in as they are lovely to look at.

The rear seats are in an even better condition, and those sitting in the back get to stretch out their legs as the Daimler’s long-wheelbase chassis gives them an extra four inches to play with. They’ve also got a fold-down picnic table each.

The four door cards are all good too, as are the carpets and the headlining. In fact, the latter was replaced around eight years ago and is still clean, taut and undamaged.

The dashboard is good too, including the top surface which remains free of cracks and other sun damage. As is the walnut veneer trim, which is both extensive and well preserved with no hazing or crazing to its finish. 

A modern Alpine headunit, complete with Bluetooth to stream calls and music, is fitted, and it plays through four speakers, one in each door.

An (untested) air-conditioning system is fitted too, along with the usual niceties such as electric windows and pop-up mirror in the glovebox – and, being made in the 1970s, each occupant gets their very own ashtray.

The boot is both vast and well-trimmed. 

As for flaws, while the driver’s seat is still very usable it does have some cracks to the surface finish as well as some wear to the outer bolster. The clock doesn’t work either. 

As you can see, the straight-six engine starts well, idles and revs as it should, and does both with decent oil pressure. It makes all the right noises too, and none of the wrong ones – and did you catch that exhaust note?

The engine bay is well presented but if you were to commission someone to freshen it up with a good clean and polish few would accuse you of being overly fastidious.

The underside is pretty good too, with a good coating of underseal and evidence of locking wire on some of the suspension components, which bodes well as an indicator as to the quality of its maintenance historically. 

Speaking of which, new rear dampers were fitted in 2016 at the same time as new flexible brake hoses, a rear and front brake caliper, and an exhaust downpipe and rear silencer. 

We also understand it was given a Waxoyl treatment in 2015 when the bodywork was freshened up.

As for work you’ll need to do, while it does fire up first time and runs well it only does so after being jump-started as the battery is past its best.

You might also like to pop new rubber seals on the fuel filler caps while you’re at is.

The Daimler’s MoT certificate, which is valid until June 2024, was issued with no advisories, just like the two before – and seven before that.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the Daimler comes with the owner’s handbook and repair manual, the manual and disc for the Alpine headunit, a very well stamped service history booklet, a thick wad of old MoT certificates and invoices, and even some expired tax discs.

The British public has a huge affection for old Jaguars and Daimlers, which means shuffling around in this one will bring nothing but smiles and cheery waves.

And it’s easy to see why everyone loves them, isn’t it? They are stunning to look at, rewarding and cossetting to drive, and more luxurious than any new car this side of six figures.

Which brings us on to what we think this one is worth. 

With an estimate of between £6,000 and £10,000, we think this one might not even breach five figures but as it is being offered with no reserve, it could go for even less.

And, if you’re wavering, we’d point you – again - in the direction of its online MoT history.

Tempting, isn’t it?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.