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  • Daimler DR450 Limousine (1961-1968)
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History

Daimler DR450 Limousine

 1961 to 1968
Daimler DR450 Limousine motorcar history
Manufacturer The Daimler Company Limited
Production 1961 to 1968 
Produced 864 produced
Assembly Coventry England
Class luxury car
Body style 4-door 8-passenger limousine
Layout Front-engine, Rear-wheel-drive
Engine 4.561 litres (278 cu in) V8
Transmission Borg Warner DG12 automatic
Wheelbase 3,505 mm (138.0 in)
Length 5,740 mm (226.0 in)
Width 1,868 mm (73.5 in)
Height 1,615 mm (63.6 in)
Kerb weight 2,122 kg (4,678 lb)

 

The Daimler DR450 is a limousine variant of the Majestic Major DQ450 saloon. Produced from 1961 to 1968, it was the last complete car designed by The Daimler Company Limited.

Intended for the carriage trade, as an executive express or as a hire car for those needing something larger than a five-seater saloon, the DR450 was produced in numbers close to those of the Majestic Major saloon on which it was based.

Design and specifications

The chassis was 24.0 in (609.6 mm) longer than for the Majestic Major and the necessarily flat glass of the three side-windows no longer could be let flow with the body-shape. The equally flat-windowed but bulbous Jaguar Mark X was released to the market the same year. The 4,561 cc (278 cubic inch) hemi-head engine pushed the 2¼ tonnes of car and driver to 100 km/h in under 11 seconds, to 100 mph in 37 seconds and provided a top speed of 183 km/h (114 miles per hour), rather better than the much shorter lighter 5-passenger Jaguar Mark X.The distribution of weight: 51% front axle, 49% rear axle.

chassis: massive box-section and cross-braced frame, separate from the all-steel body suspensionfront: Girling type with semi-trailing wishbones and forward facing arms, coil springs, Girling telescopic dampersrear: live axle, half-elliptic leaf springs, Girling telescopic dampers 

Brakes:Dunlop disc brakes vacuum-servo assisted front: 12.5 in (317.5 mm)rear: 12 in (304.8 mm)wheels: 16 in (406.4 mm) pressed steel, 5 studs, rims—5.5 in (139.7 mm) tyres: Dunlop RS5, 700-16 with tubes steering: Hydrosteer power assisted ,steering wheel diameter 18 in (457.2 mm)Steering column: adjustable for reach,headlamps two 50/40 watts and fog lamps

seating, 8-seater Limousine three on the front bench seat, three on the back seat and two on the folding occasional seatsfolding occasional seats have received particular care in shaping for comfort and support. They fold away into their own footwells below the division when not required

Daimler DR450 Limousine Technical details and specifications (1961-1968)

Performance

  • Engine Capacity 278.31 cu in, 4,561 cu cm
  • Fuel Consumption 17.1 m/imp gal, 14.2 m/US gal, 16.5 1 x 100 km
  • Max Speed 113 mph, 181.9 km/h
  • max power (SAE): 223 hp at 5,500 rpm
  • max torque (SAE): 283 1b ft, 39.1 kg m at 3,200 rpm
  • max number of engine rpm: 6,000
  • specific power: 48.9 hp/l
  • power-weight ratio: 20.9 lb/hp, 9.5 kg/hp
  • acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 18 sec, 0—50 mph (0—80 km/h) 8.2 sec

A 1966 Daimler DR450 Limousine in The Italian Job Movie from 1969

1966-Daimler-Limousine-DR450-The-Italian-Job-Movie-1969

Technical

  • Daimler DR450 Limousine Technical details and specifications (1961-1968)

    ENGINE
    front, 4 stroke
    cylinders: 8, Vee-slanted at 90°
    bore and stroke: 3.75 x 3.15 in, 95.2 x 80 mm
    engine capacity: 278.31 cu in, 4,561 cu cm
    compression ratio: 8
    cylinder block: cast Iron
    cylinder head: light alloy
    crankshaft bearings: 5
    valves: 2 per cylinder, overhead, Vee-slanted at 70°, push-rods and rockers
    camshafts: 1, at centre of Vee
    lubrication: gear pump, full now filter
    lubricating system capacity: 14.60 Imp pt, 17.55 US pt, 8.3 1
    carburation: 2 SU type HD 8 semi-downdraught carburettors
    fuel feed: 2 electric pumps
    cooling system: wate

    TRANSMISSION
    driving wheels: rear
    gearbox: Borg-Warner automatic, hydraulic torque convertor and planetary 'gears with 3 ratios + reverse
    max ratio of convertor at stall 2.2
    gearbox ratios: 1st 2.308, 2nd 1.435, 3rd 1, rev 2.009
    gear selector lever: steering column
    final drive: hypoid bevel; axle ratio: 3.770.

    CHASSIS
    type box-type ladder frame, X reinforcements
    front suspension: independent, wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, telescopic dampers
    rear suspension:rigid axle, semi-elliptic leafsprings, telescopic dampers.

    STEERING
    recirculating ball, servo
    turns of steering wheel lock to lock: 4.50.
    turning circle (between walls): 50 ft, 15.2 m

    BRAKES
    disc (front diameter 12.61 in, 321 mm, rear 12.01 in, 305 mm)
    vacuum servo; area rubbed by linings: total 584 sq in, 3,766.80 sq cm.

    ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
    voltage: 12 V
    battery: 72 Ah
    dynamo: 360 W
    ignition distributor: Lucas

    DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
    wheel base: 138 in, 3,505 mm
    front track: 57 in, 1,448 mm
    rear track: 57 in, 1,448 mm
    overall length: 226 in, 5,740 mm
    overall width: 73.25 in, 1,860 mm
    overall height: 65.55 in, 1,665 mm
    ground clearance: 7 in, 178 mm
    dry weight: 4,650 1b, 2,109 kg
    distribution of weight: 51% front axle, 49% rear axle

    Daimler (Turner) 4½ litre V8 Engine

    Configuration 90 degree V eight-cylinder
    Displacement 4.561 litres (278 cu in)
    Cylinder bore 95.3 mm (3.8 in)
    Piston stroke 80 mm (3.1 in)
    Cylinder block Cast iron
    Cylinder head Aluminium alloy, hemispherical combustion chambers
    Valvetrain OHV by pushrods and rockersTwo valves per cylinder hemispherical head
    Compression 8.0:1
    Fuel system Carburettors—twin S.U. HD8; fuel pump—SU electric Aua 61
    Management None
    Fuel type Petrol
    Oil system Filter—Full flow replaceable element
    Cooling Water
    Power 220 bhp (160 kW; 220 PS) @ 5,500 rpm
    Torque 383.7 N·m (283.0 lbf·ft) @ 3,200 rpm.
    Length 31.25 in (793.8 mm)
    Width 25.5 in (647.7 mm)
    Height 31 in (787.4 mm)
    Dry weight 498 lb (226 kg)

    © Motor car History

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Advanced Maintenance and Service Guides to download and save

Service

  • Daimler DR450 Limousine maintenance and Service Guide (1961-1968)

    fuel: 98 oct petrol
    engine oil: 13.20 imp pt, 15.85 US pt, 7.5 1, SAE 20 (winter) 30 (summer), change every 2,500 miles, 4,000 km
    gearbox oil: 10 imp pt, 12.05 US pt, 5.7 1, special automatic transmission fluid, change every 25,000 miles, 40,200 km
    final drive oil: 3 imp pt, 3.59 LIS pt. 1.7 1, change every 10,000 miles, 16,100 km
    cooling system capacity: 25 imp pt, 30.02 US Pt, 14.2 1.
    greasing: every 2,500 miles, 4,000 km, 16 points
    tappet clearances: inlet 0.011 in, 0.28 mm, exhaust 0.014 in, 0.36 mm
    valve timing: inlet opens 13° before tdc and closes 65° after bdc, exhaust opens 55° before bdc and closes 23° after tdc
    normal tyre pressure: front 27 psi, 1.9 atm, rear 30 psi, 2.1 atm.
    width of rims: 5.5"
    tyres: 7.00 x 16
    fuel tank capacity: 18 imp gal, 21.6 US gal, 82 1.
    carrying capacity: 1,411 1b, 640 kg

    © Motor car History

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British Automotive 1960s | Vehicles launched in 1961 | The Italian Job | 60s Film Cars | Hemi engine | Borg-Warner | SU carburettor | limousines | Luxury Cars

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