The 1951 Earls Court Motor Show
1951 Daimler 2½-Litre Special Sports Drophead Coupé

• First owned by famous novelist Hammond Innes
• Fully restored between 2011 and 2012
• Requires recommissioning following storage
• Comprehensive history file

This rare Special Sports comes with an account of its life written by the previous owner and published in the Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club magazine. The car was nicknamed 'Magoo' by its first owner, the famous novelist Hammond Innes. Innes bought the car from the Motor Show stand in 1951 when he had just been told of record sales of his novel The Wreck of the Mary Deare and that the film rights had been sold. He kept the Daimler until 1962, by which time it had covered some 62,000 miles, mainly on the Continent.

The next owner was a Mr B Riding, resident in London, who covered around 40,000 miles, most of them on the newly opened M4 motorway travelling from London to Somerset and back. In 1983 the Daimler was sold again, remaining in London where it was garage stored. While the owner was away the coolant froze in cold weather, splitting the cylinder block and inlet manifold. The car was left to deteriorate.

A Daimler enthusiast and DLOC member, the previous owner purchased 'MGU 111' in 2011 with 5,200 miles recorded (105,200 miles in actual fact). He then proceeded to fully restore the car as far as was possible to original specification. The engine block was replaced with an ex-MoD Dingo Scout Car spare, and the wings extensively rebuilt to rectify corrosion around the sidelight pods and where they meet the apron across the front. Wood was replaced in the sills, and the entire car painted in cellulose in the original colours. All rubbers, seals, front suspension bushes, brake seals were replaced wherever necessary. Original apart from the carpets, the interior was cleaned and treated. A new wiring loom was fitted also. In addition, the period-look radio was upgraded with modern internals.

Since the aforementioned previous owner's death five years ago the car has been in storage and will require a thorough check-over and service before returning to the road. 'MGU 111' has a fascinating history file containing all invoices for the period 1962-1983 and commencing with an RAC inspection for the second owner; it also contains a substantial quantity of bills, including those relating to its restoration of 2011-2012. Offered with a V5C document and original handbook.