Daimler Consort 1951. Location Bangalore INDIA.

How we found her in 1998:

This car was in a "scrap"condition. Earlier people had cannibalized her  for parts. Some one had even attempted to replace the petrol engine with a diesel engine. Fortunately for me, they had failed and had left the petrol engine intact on the back seat.The original head lights had been removed and sealed beams had been welded on to the recess. It appeared that the car had been out in the open for over  25 years.
We transported the Daimler to a work shop outside Bangalore town, on a truck and assembled the original engine  and managed to start it after several months of trials. We found  that the gear selecting mechanism  was missing, and in its place was a crudely welded rod. By trial and error we found,  that only one gear was in operation and it was impossible to determine which it was. Perhaps it was the second gear. With her running engine and a single gear we transported her over 40 miles/64 kms on her own power  to our home. Our speed at the time may not have been more than 4 or 5 KMPH. The journey seemed  never ending, as we had to negotiate several inclines. This resulted in overheating, hence we had to  cool off at stops, causing  traffic problems even in the early hours when we had planned the trip.The petrol tank had remained open for a long time and  was in a bad state of rusting. So the Petrol was supplied to the engine from a  can placed on the passenger seat.  Once we reached home after 6/7 hours, we felt as if, we had gone round the world. We were however,very impressed that after such  long abuse and neglect she could make the journey on her own power.  Everyone around us was  certain that it was a big blunder to be stuck with  a car in such a bad shape.

Restoration Stared Nov.1998

 After a rest of a couple of days we shifted her, to a   work shop nearer our home. Here, we dismantled the car to the bare chassis and undertook a systematic restoration, as in the text book.  Dismantling was easy, but once the chassis was ready assembling the Engine, Gear box and the transmission proved beyond regular mechanics used to A40's and Morris. Fortunately for us, we heard that  there was  a gentleman  in Bangalore who had worked on Daimlers. When we went to meet this savior we discovered,he was  a retired, 85 year old gentleman, who had been trained by Daimler. He did not have good eye sight, but sharp in  his ears and as enthusiastic as a 25 year old.  He said, "by hearing the clicks and bangs, I would be able to guide the young mechanics to assemble the car."This took quite a time, as we  decided to overhaul the engine using the same team. This 85 year old guru advised us, not to touch the gear box, as he felt that Daimler boxes  ware built for a life time and needed only small adjustments.  Now,  our Consort had a shining clean chassis and   the power train on it. We were in 2001. Sadly our Guru passed away late 2000. We still had to complete the body works. Though the tin work  and shaping of  front mudguards  was complete, the paint job remained. We were determined to get the oven backed finish. Most of the paint shops were reluctant to take up our Daimler job, as the sheet metal thickness( gauge) is  so thick compared to modern cars. They were afraid of failure. We agreed to take the risk, and the result  a beautiful finish.  We assembled the body on to the chassis, and towed the car home into the garage, where she has been standing since 2002.  This wait seems to be nothing for her,  she knew she had to wait till I retired for finishing her. I opted to retire in 2004 and got involved into the nitty-gritty  of finishing. To get information on daimlers,  I became a member of DLOC. They supplied workshop manuals and wiring diagrams. Friends from the club supplied photographs.  Mr. Derek Sleigh  was harassed by me, to supply missing stuff, he complained that my parts' list is long as his arm. Most important he found the missing gear selector sector and the lever and mailed it to me.
My  local friend Murthy, who has a life time experience with engines, helped me start the engine once again. We found some one had replaced 6 cylinder carburetor with a 4 cylinder one and the air filter was missing. Fortunately Derek found the right one with the air filter. Another friend, Robin transported it form London to Bangalore, even though he had a tough time explaining to Indian Customs as to why he was carrying rusty items in his checked in baggage.
Now, the engine is running and all the gears seems to be working while the car is  jacked up. I cannot bring her down, since the original brake Master cylinder is missing! Some one had tried to, convert all 4 wheels to hydraulic brakes using a clutch cylinder, and in the process making all  four brakes unreliable. A gentleman from Australia  suggested, that I fit a 1947 Jeep master cylinder as he had done, since he could not find a Daimler original. But, I have been lucky, as Derek has found one for me, he says  "Daimler master cylinders are, as rare as teeth in chicken's mouth". However, Derek has made a pattern for the future needs of someone like me.
I am expecting the package from Derek, anytime now, and will  soon  own a car, which can be stopped.  I am  still not sure, how I will handle the rear mechanical breaks,  but, that is  in the future.
The major jobs  left now are, the upholstery and the electrical wiring.  My plan is to bring the car out for trial run by March 2008, I do hope it is a practical target. As  Derek says, one cannot finish  such a  restoration project but only keep improving it bit by bit.
I will certainly edit this report when "My Daimler consort Engine No P119830A" is at least out on a Test run.
I can certainly say, She must have had a glorious past, as she was an expensive car even at her time, and belonged to a Zamindar ( Rich Land owner)of Bihar, who must have fallen on bad days due to changes in Land Legislations in independent India.I may not be able to give her that kind of life but she will certainly have a dignified existence, in the future.

B.Ramanna