Daimler 2.5 & 4.5 litre
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Edward Turner
At the age of 24 Edward Turner designed a 350 cc single motorcycle engine with overhead camshafts. By age 27 it was in a complete motorcycle, and the motor patented. This brought him to the attention of Ariel's Jack Sangster, who asked him to join Ariel Motorcycles. In 1931 the Ariel Square Four was released, designed by the now 30 year old Edward Turner. In 1936 Sangster bought Triumph Motorcycles, and made Turner the General Manager. The Triumph 500 cc Speed Twin, designed by Turner, came onto the market in 1937. In this era of the rigid rear motorcycle frame, he designed a "sprung hub" rear wheel, not released till 1948. In 1942 Turner walked out after a disagreement with Sangster, but returned in 1943, and by 1944, was Managing Director. In 1951 Sangster sold Triumph to the Birmingham Small Arms group (BSA), and joined their board. By 1956 Sangster was Chairman, and made Turner head of the automotive division. This then included Ariel, Triumph, and BSA motorcycles, as well as Daimler and Carbodies (London Taxicab manufacturers)
Edward Turner's Daimler Engines
In 1959 Turner designed the Daimler SP250 sports car (2.5litre, V-8 engine) and Daimler Majestic Major (4.5litre) motors. In 1960 Jaguar bought Daimler, and used the 2.5L V8 in Jaguar Mk II bodies rebadged as Daimlers, while the Daimler Majestic Major 4.5L soldiered on as it was.
The lightweight 2.5 litre V8 had hemispherical heads closely resembling the Triumph motorcycle, and the heads were made of aluminium alloy. ("Lightweight" is relative to similar engines of the period, but the engine would not be considered lightweight in today's world.) The two engines share similar external dimensions and design.
The motor first publicly appeared in the Daimler Dart, but after Chrysler objected to use of that name, it was called the Daimler SP250, a shark nosed fibreglass bodied sports car aimed at the American market. It was let down by an inadequate chassis. When Jaguar took over the chassis was immediately trengthened, but doubts about its strength had already been well sown.
The 2.5-litre motor however, only thirty inches in length and developing 140 bhp @ 5,800 rpm gave better performance than Jaguar's own 2.4-litre OHC in-line six, and the opportunity was taken to create an up-market Daimler V8 version of the MkII.
The Daimler "Dart" 2.5 Litre V8 model is not as well recognised as the Jaguar MK II model. Between the years 1962 and 1969 17,620 Daimler/Jaguar V8s were built. Initially called the Daimler 2.5 Litre V8, it was later called the Daimler 250. The Daimler Majestic Major is even less well recognised, but was a limousine Q ship in its day.
Daimler "Dart" SP250 Technical Data (1959 - 1964)
Years of production 1959 - 1964
Numbers built 2648
Weight 948 kilo / 2090 lb
Engine 90° V 8
Displacement 2548 cc / 155.5 ci
Bore/Stroke 76 mm x 70 mm
Valvetrain 2 valves per cylinder, OHV , Hemispherical Head.
Fuel feed 2 SU HD8 Carburettors
Gearbox 4 speed Manual
Drive Rear wheel drive
Performance figures
Power 140 bhp / 105 kW @ 5800 rpm
Torque 210 Nm / 155 ft·lbf @ 3600 rpm
Top Speed 200 km/h / 124 mph
0-60 mph Acceleration 8.9 s
Daimler - Jaguar 2.5 Litre V8 Technical Data (1962 -1969)
Engine 90° V 8
Displacement 2548 cc / 155.5 ci
Bore/Stroke 76 mm x 70 mm
Valvetrain 2 valves per cylinder, OHV , Hemispherical Head.
Fuel feed 2 SU HD6 Carburettors
Power: 142 bhp. at 5800 rpm.
Top Speed: 175 km/h. (110 mph)[Auto, remember...]
Gearbox: 3-speed BW Type35 automatic
Weight: 1430 kg.
SIZE, WEIGHT, & POWER OUTPUTS
2.5 V8 (SP250, Daimler 2.5 V8, & Daimler 250)
Overall dimensions (with fan):
2.5 litre- 30" long,24" wide, 27" high, Weight 419 lb
Power output:
2.5 litre 140 bhp@5800 rpm; max torque 155 ft·lbf @3700 rpm
4.5 V8 (Majestic Major)
Overall dimensions (with fan):
4.5 litre- 31.25" long, 25.5" wide, 31" high Weight 498 lb
Power output:
4.5 litre 220 bhp @5200 rpm,max torque 282 ft·lbf @ 2700 rpm.
Daimler Majestic Major 1959 - 1968
4.5 litre V8, twin SU carburettors, double exhaust, 95.25 mm bore, 80 mm stroke, 4561 cc, ohv, a conservative 220 bhp at 5500 rpm. Borg Warner automatic transmission, four wheel disc brakes, vacuum servo assisted. A very mechanically advanced car for its time, but wearing an outdated and heavy body (37cwt-1880 kg). Even so, they are reported to be able to exceed 120 mph....
--[[User:Seasalt|Seasalt]] 13:22, 25 June 2006 (UTC)
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