Spares for Daimler Majestics

Sir,
I have read several times in the pages of Motor Sport regretful remarks at the sad demise of the Daimler Majestic Major. I own one of these cars but my purpose in writing this letter is not to sing its praises (although I could easily do this) but to report on my experience of the spares situation.

When I decarbonised the car at the beginning of July last year I noticed that one of the rocker shaft pedestals was cracked (though not seriously), and I ordered a new one. At the same time I ordered some new exhaust valve guides to fit to a spare cylinder head. These items have not so far been forthcoming. At the end of September 1971 I ordered a water pump, as mine was worn and had developed a leak—this has not yet arrived. The official message from Coventry is that “supplies are exhausted”. There have also been delays in obtaining such “minor” items as fan belts.

I find it very surprising that such essential parts as these should be so difficult to obtain for a car which was produced and sold in large numbers over a period of eight years and which was discontinued only three years ago. It is bad enough to kill off a fine motor car but to abdicate one’s responsibilities when it comes to keeping ones’ past customers on the road seems to me a shameful state of affairs, especially when it comes from an organisation whose latest advertisements emphasise the continued fine reputation the Daimler Company has enjoyed over the past seventy-odd years.

All we can hope, I suppose, is that some time in the future some enlightened firm will take up the cause of Majestic Major spares, as has already been done in the case of the SP250. Any volunteers?

J. Fraser.
Brome.

[We had been thinking that used examples of the fine V8 Daimler Majestic Major might now constitute a “good buy” for those in need of a really spacious high-performance saloon or limousine which, perhaps more by luck than design, possesses road-clinging that copes properly with the speed available. But if the supply of spares has dried up—no go. Which is a pity—Ed.]