For sale Daimler Vanden Plas Double Six in the very rare and most desirable Series 1 version; of which only 342 examples were produced. This Double Six Vanden Plas is in the beautiful exterior colour Garnet, or otherwise known as Morello, and this colour was only available on the Vanden Plas models. The saloon was built on 5 October 1972 and sold by the well-known London dealer Stratstone Ltd and registered for the first time in England on 7 February 1973. This car has chassis number 2B1021BW and was the 21st car of this model built which surely makes it one of the oldest surviving examples left.


In 1960 Jaguar brought the Daimler company to re-establish the marque, initially with the 2. 5 litre V8 engine clothed in a Jaguar MK 2 body shell, and later with a badge engineered 420 dubbed the Daimler Sovereign. In September 1968, Jaguar released the all new XJ Series which was designed to rationalise the various competing saloon models. The new XJ was an immediate hit and it became Car of the Year. An often forgotten fact is that the original series 1 XJ was designed to be a sporting saloon version of the enigmatic E-type. Indeed, early prototypes of the XJ (which stood for Experimental Jaguar) featured front and back ends belonging to the series 1 E-type.


From the very beginning of the XJ development the car was designed to take the V12 engine that Jaguar had been developing in the 1960’s. However due to production delay the XJ was originally only offered in six cylinder variants; in the form of the 2. 8 litre and the 4. 2 litre engines.


Then, in 1969 the new XJ6 was given a Daimler ‘make-over’ with the ‘crinkle cut’ grille and with revised superior interior trim. Model expansion moved apace when in August 1972, one month after the launch of the Jaguar XJ12, came the Daimler Double Six. Both these cars utilised the superb 5. 3 litre V12 power unit seen a year earlier in the last incarnation of the E-type Series III. The inclusion of the 12-cylinder engine in the Saloons (along with other changes in mechanics and trim) resulted in the XJ12 and Double Six models; and they officially became the fastest production saloons in the world with 145 mph (230 kph).


The launch of the Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas gave Jaguar an ultimate top-of-the-range XJ that could compete with the best that Mercedes and even Rolls Royce could provide. The special “Vanden Plas” handcrafted trimming and coachwork finish was performed by the Vanden Plas coachwork firm; all of which justified a premium on the road price over the standard Daimler and Jaguar models. Unlike the revised Series 2 Vanden Plas model released in 1974 (which lost the imposing lower front grill and the beautiful array of dashboard dials and switches) there were no 4. 2 litre variants available in the Series 1 VPD.


The Vanden Plas cars started life on Jaguar’s Coventry production lines as a standard V12 powered Daimler Double Six. However, the floor-pan was extended by 4 inch (for a long wheelbase), behind the centre pillar to provide extra rear compartment legroom, along with wider rear doors. After assembly the Vanden Plas cars were shipped to the Vanden Plas Coachworks in Kingsbury, London for the final finishing. This work involved a range of changes to enhance external and internal trim. There was a bespoke range of exterior metallic paint finishes, the addition of chrome side trims and even a black vinyl roof, plus of course new Vanden Plas badging on the boot lid. Internally the cars benefited from the finest burr walnut veneers inlaid with contrasting boxwood, revised door trims in leather, redesigned seats, extra sound deadening, better quality carpeting, nylon over-rugs and discreet individual reading lights in the rear passenger compartment.


The Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas Series I was in production for a little over 12 months, because in 1974 came the Series 2 XJ. As a result of this short life span the total build amounted to a mere 342 cars, making it one of the rarest and most collectible of all Jaguar and Daimler saloons of any era!


The Daimler we offer is still registered in the UK and there is a huge file present about the history of the car. The history file goes back to 1972 with invoices for servicing and maintenance since 1986. The current owner bought the car in 2015 and in the last years the car has been maintained by renowned Jaguar specialists in England and in The Netherlands. This Vanden Plas is in a very good condition, drives wonderfully and is very well documented; with invoices, past owners and history all present in our sales-map. The interior is completely original and in a fantastic condition, including the wood veneer.


The car sits on brand new (and original) Kent wheels, shod with new and correct period Pirelli Centurato tyres for a comfortable driving experience. The original chrome wheels and hub caps are supplied with the car. The invoices also show useful enhancements to the shock absorbers and bushes. The “Daimler Passport to Service book” is present as in the original Daimler instruction book with the plastic holder for the books, and also the original Jaguar V12 Mechanics manual and tool kit.

This Double Six would be a most agreeable carriage to have for those road trips down to the south of France or to the top of Scotland; which it has done on several occasions. This Daimler has driven in total only 70. 104 miles and there is a complete mileage file with the car that documents this.


Hereby some of these documented mileages:


1972 Pre delivery inspection     216 miles


1973 Service Stratstone Ltd London  1. 059 miles


1976 Service Stratstone Ltd London  20. 986 miles


1977 Service Lex Motor Ltd Essex  29. 878 miles


1986 MOT test certificate      42. 950 miles


1990 MOT test certificate      50. 837 miles


1995 MOT test certificate      55. 989 miles


2000 MOT test certificate      61. 458 miles


2015 MOT test certificate      64. 346 miles


2020 Current mileage        70. 104 miles


The car has the following options, tinted glass, air-conditioning, electric windows, Vanden Plas interior, two fog lamps in front, two outside mirrors, power steering, Eight-track stereo player and radio, aluminium wheels, and also the original chrome wheels are present.


Interestingly, this very car featured in a classic car magazine review which tested the very best and most luxurious saloon cars available back in the early 1970s. We are talking about a road test comparing this very V12 Vanden Plas against the Mercedes 6. 3 V8, Aston Martin Lagonda, BMW 3. 0, and the De Tomaso Deauville. Guess which car came out on top in the review?!


This is a unique chance to buy a Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas Series 1 which is very hard to come by, and even more so for one in such good condition and with low mileage. Being UK registered (and still under EU regulations), the car can be easily registered to any EU country.