Shopping for a Daimler

Sir,

With reference to Mr. Gandhi’s letter, Laurence Pomeroy, senior, remained a Director of The Daimler Company until October 1936.

Up to and including 1939 all large Daimlers retained semi-elliptic springs both back and front. The only models with independent front suspension (of the Andre-Girling type) were the Daimler “New Fifteen”, DB17 and DB18 and, in the Lanchester range, the Roadrider de luxe. This last mention model was interesting in several respects. Its chassis type was designated LA 14 (2) and differed from the LA 14 (standard model) not only in possessing independent front suspension but also in that the standard Roadrider, in common with the Lanchester Eleven and all models in the then current Daimler range, had underslung worm drive whereas the de luxe version had a spiral bevel half-floating rear axle. Moreover, the Roadrider de luxe was offered with a four-speed synchromesh gearbox as an alternative to the normal epicyclicbox with fluid flywheel.

Contrary to what may be generally believed, most if not all Daimlers —certainly from about 1936, have good firm suspension and excellent roadholding characteristics. With modern traffic I consider Daimler transmission to be eminently suitable in all conditions. What a great pity that the system (modernised, perhaps, to conform to the “Daimatic” type of electro-pneumatically operated gearbox as used since 1957 in Daimler passenger vehicles), cannot be re-introduced.

Brian E. Smith, Registrar
Daimler & Lanchester Owners’ Club.
Romford.