Daimler Saloon Models Price List – October 1972
By October 1972, the Daimler Saloons were all based on the Jaguar XJ. The old 420 based Sovereign had finished production in 1969, and the DS420 limo had a separate price list. That car had a broad appeal, finding buyers from Royalty to funeral homes. This price list is for the UK market.
The Jaguar Price list of the same period also offered the E-Type which never had a Daimler version. An E-Type 2+2 was similar in price to a Double-Six.
In terms of the XJ based saloons, the range overlapped significantly. The main difference was that the short wheelbase XJs (2.8 and 4.2) could be ordered with a manual transmission and no overdrive. While most Daimlers were automatic, overdrive was standard for manual. In addition, the Vanden Plas was not offered on the XJ12 LWB, although one car was made for the Queen Mother.
Generally the Daimler versions were very slightly more expensive than the equivalent Jaguar. Where the models were the same, the Daimler was 3-4% more expensive than the Jaguar. Looking at the price list, the Double-Six looks to be incredible value, just under 15% more expensive than a 4.2 SWB.
The Vanden Plas on the other hand, looks significantly more expensive, at over 40% more than the Double-Six. However, if you normalize the two models, and add all the options standard on the Vanden Plas to the Double-Six, then the difference is 13.65%, or £525.21. That actually seems pretty good value for a coach-built interior. The difference between a 4.2 SWB and a 4.2 LWB is 9.7%, and those two cars are basically identical.
| Model | Transmission | Retail | Purchase Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sovereign 2.8 | Overdrive | £2,443.00 | £510.52 | £2,953.52 |
| Automatic | £2,489.00 | £520.11 | £3,009.11 | |
| Sovereign 4.2 | Overdrive | £2,696.00 | £563.23 | £3,259.23 |
| Automatic | £2,778.00 | £580.31 | £3,358.31 | |
| Sovereign 4.2 LWB | Overdrive | £2,966.00 | £619.48 | £3,585.48 |
| Automatic | £3,048.00 | £636.56 | £3,684.56 | |
| Double-Six | Automatic | £3,184.00 | £664.90 | £3,848.90 |
| Double-Six Vanden Plas (LWB) | Automatic | £4,500.00 | £939.06 | £5,439.06 |
The options list on these cars was quite extensive. The options with the * were standard on the Vanden Plas, which is basically everything except for the chrome wheels. Air conditioning was a pretty expensive option, which is why it was rarely seen in the UK market.
Features like a sunroof or central locking were never offered by the factory on a Series 1 XJ. Dealers would fit a webasto sunroof if requested.
| Options | Retail | Purchase Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrically operated Windows * | £48.25 | £10.06 | £58.30 |
| Fog Lamps - Per pair * | £18.50 | £3.86 | £22.36 |
| Air conditioning (except 2.8) * | £203.00 | £42.29 | £245.29 |
| "Radiomobile 108SR radio with stereo cartridge player, four door mounted speakers and electrically operated aerial *" | £106.00 | £22.08 | £128.08 |
| Radiomobile 108ST radio with 2 speakers and pull up aerial | £50.00 | £10.42 | £60.42 |
| .... With electrically operated aerial | £68.00 | £14.17 | £82.17 |
| .... two extra door mounted speakers | £9.75 | £2.03 | £11.79 |
| Seat Belts - Sovereign 2.8/4.2 only: | |||
| .... Front Inertia Reel - per pair * | £13.75 | £2.87 | £16.62 |
| .... Rear lap and diagonal - per pair | £8.75 | £1.82 | £10.57 |
| Laminated Windscreen * | £12.60 | £2.63 | £15.23 |
| Chrome plated pressed steel wheels | £43.30 | £9.02 | £52.32 |
| Whitewall tyres | £15.75 | £3.28 | £19.03 |
| Sundym Glass' all around * | £32.55 | £6.78 | £39.33 |
My Double-Six Vanden Plas was produced in January 1973, so the first owner would have used this price list to order the car. It was a very expensive car, but compared to A Mercedes-Benz or Bentley, quite well priced.
