Motor Industry, Coventry: Daimler
Company Profile
The Daimler Motor Syndicate was founded in Britain in 1893 by FR Simms, a young mechanical engineer and friend of Gottlieb Daimler. Simms moved to Coventry to set up a factory. In 1896 a financial group, the British Motor Syndicate, purchased Simms' company, and in the same year production began of the first British Daimlers. The Daimler marque was given a significant boost in 1900 when HRH the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) purchased the first of many royal Daimlers.
In 1904 the Daimler Motor Company Ltd was formed. 1910 saw the amalgamation of the Daimler and BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) interests to form the Daimler Company Ltd. Daimler went on to take over the Lanchester Motor Company Ltd in 1931. By the Second World War, in addition to cars, the company was making buses, ambulances, vans, lorries, engines for tanks and aeroplanes as well as amoured scout cars.
After the war Daimler continued to make up-market motor cars. However the 1950's the company was in serious financial trouble. In June 1960 Jaguar purchased the Daimler name and business from BSA for £3.4 million. The last 'real' Daimlers were the Majestic range and the SP250 sports cars. However the marque lives on with badge-engineered top-of-the-range Jaguar models.
Picture Gallery (Click on the photos for larger images)
 Daimler Barker Drop Head Coupe |
 Daimler Conquest |
 Daimler model? |
Daimler XJ6 3.6 litre AJ6-motor |
More Information
Photographs © Costa Maoudis 1996 and Wil from the Netherlands
Page updated 11.5.97 by Ecosaurus: coventry@ecosaurus.co.uk