Daimler DK400
Encyclopedia
The Daimler DK400, originally called the Daimler Regina, was a large luxury car made by Daimler Motor Company
between 1955 and 1959. It was generally equipped with steel limousine bodywork by Carbodies
DK400B with a drop division, three occasional seats and more luxurious trim in the rear compartment than in the DK400A owner-driver car. Some chassis were bodied as hearse
s and at least one was equipped with a coupé
body for Lady Docker
. An unusual feature of the limousine was that the occasional middle seats were three abreast.
The DK400 was the last new Daimler model to use the company's preselector gearbox with fluid flywheel transmission
introduced in 1930. It was replaced in the Majestic
by a more modern Borg-Warner fully 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, could lead to failure because the transmission could not always cope with the torque available from an engine capable of producing 167 hp at 3,000 rpm.
It also saw the furthest development of the old long-stroke (95.2 millimetres (3.7 in) bore and 107 millimetres (4.2 in) stroke) pushrod straight six engines that had been traditional on Daimler's smaller cars since 1910. They gave way to the modern and lightweight V8s in the last Daimler engines designed and put into production before Jaguar
bought the company in 1960. As a consequence, when the 1950s drew to a close the DK400 cars gave way to the DR450
, a lengthened Majestic Major
, which was produced in much greater numbers than the DK400. Jaguar converted Daimlers into badge-engineered top-of-the-line Jaguars and the DR450 was replaced by the DS420
, a lengthened Mark X platform and engine with a greatly enlarged passenger compartment.
Despite its status as royal transport, the DK400 was as much as 500 kilograms (1,102.3 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 an open-top landaulette.
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
between 1955 and 1959. It was generally equipped with steel limousine bodywork by Carbodies
Carbodies
Carbodies LImited is a British company based at Holyhead Road, Coventry. It started business as a coachbuilder, and now, as The London Taxi Company is best known for its production of London taxicabs.-History:...
DK400B with a drop division, three occasional seats and more luxurious trim in the rear compartment than in the DK400A owner-driver car. Some chassis were bodied as hearse
Hearse
A hearse is a funerary vehicle used to carry a coffin from a church or funeral home to a cemetery. In the funeral trade, hearses are often called funeral coaches.-History:...
s and at least one was equipped with a coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
body for Lady Docker
Norah, Lady Docker
Norah Docker, Lady Docker was an English socialite.Daughter of Amy and Sydney Turner, she was originally a successful dance hall hostess and was noted for her colourful lifestyle.-Marriages:...
. An unusual feature of the limousine was that the occasional middle seats were three abreast.
The DK400 was the last new Daimler model to use the company's preselector gearbox with fluid flywheel transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
introduced in 1930. It was replaced in the Majestic
Daimler Majestic
The Daimler Majestic 101 was launched by the Daimler Motor Company of Coventry in July 1958 and was in production until 1962. The six cylinder, four door saloon, with new three speed Borg Warner automatic transmission, power steering and four-wheel disc brakes, vacuum-servo assisted, was very...
by a more modern Borg-Warner fully automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. A major change in gearing, however, saw the direct-drive top gear replaced by a direct-drive third and an overdrive
Overdrive (mechanics)
Overdrive is a term used to describe a mechanism that allows an automobile to cruise at sustained speed with reduced engine RPM, leading to better fuel economy, lower noise and lower wear...
top. This, intended to improve the car's ability to cruise at high speed with its large engine, could lead to failure because the transmission could not always cope with the torque available from an engine capable of producing 167 hp at 3,000 rpm.
It also saw the furthest development of the old long-stroke (95.2 millimetres (3.7 in) bore and 107 millimetres (4.2 in) stroke) pushrod straight six engines that had been traditional on Daimler's smaller cars since 1910. They gave way to the modern and lightweight V8s in the last Daimler engines designed and put into production before Jaguar
Jaguar (car)
Jaguar Cars Ltd, known simply as Jaguar , is a British luxury car manufacturer, headquartered in Whitley, Coventry, England. It is part of the Jaguar Land Rover business, a subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors....
bought the company in 1960. As a consequence, when the 1950s drew to a close the DK400 cars gave way to the DR450
Daimler DR450
The Daimler DR450 was a limousine based on the 4.5 litre V8 Majestic Major saloon. Although intended for the carriage trade or as a hire car for those needing something larger than a five-seater saloon, it was produced in almost the same numbers as the "Major" saloon itself. It was also used as the...
, a lengthened Majestic Major
Daimler Majestic Major
The Daimler Majestic Major was a large executive saloon made by Daimler in Coventry between 1959 and 1968, using a 4,561 cc V8 engine and offered as a much more powerful supplement to their then current Daimler Majestic....
, which was produced in much greater numbers than the DK400. Jaguar converted Daimlers into badge-engineered top-of-the-line Jaguars and the DR450 was replaced by the DS420
Daimler DS420
The Daimler DS420, popularly known as the Daimler Limousine, is a large limousine produced by Daimler Motor Company between 1968 and 1992. The vehicles are used extensively as official state cars in several countries, including by the British and Danish Royal Families...
, a lengthened Mark X platform and engine with a greatly enlarged passenger compartment.
Despite its status as royal transport, the DK400 was as much as 500 kilograms (1,102.3 lb) lighter than previous postwar Daimler limousines. A number were used by the Queen Mother
Queen mother
Queen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
and others of the UK Royal Family, for which the last-ever Hooper
Hooper (coachbuilder)
Hooper was a British coachbuilding company based in London.-Founding:The company was founded as Adams and Hooper in 1805 and held a royal warrant from 1830, building elegant horse drawn carriages, supplying them to King William IV, Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. The first royal car, a Hooper...
bodies were provided including an open-top landaulette.