Overview
Produced: 1959-1964, 2645 produced.
Types: Sports,2 doors,2 seats

Daimler introduced one of its most controversial models in 1959, the Daimler Dart. Unfortunately due to legal reasons (U.S. firm Dodge already owned the model name!) the "Dart" was quickly renamed the Daimler SP250 and sold as this until its demise in 1964. The SP250 was one of first serious British attempts at using GRP for its external coachwork, this explained the cars curious styling!

Compared to other contemporary British sports cars the SP250 looked quite outrageous with its tail fins and wide front grille. Power came from a powerful 2.5 litre V8 which gave the car a top speed of 120mph, the Police were quick to spot the cars potential for use as a high speed traffic car and many saw service in this role.

During the five year production run the SP250 underwent two further specification changes, these are now known as the "B" and "C" spec' cars. When production finally ceased in 1964 over 2,600 examples of the SP250 had been built. 

Buyers Guide Daimler SP250 Dart and Standard 8/10 featured in Practical Classics February 2007– available from our sister site Bookbase. Click here to view.

Source: Motorbase
Engines
CapacityConfigModelBore/StrokeCR
2548ccV8 OHVDaimler V876mm x 70mm
Drivetrain and Suspension
DrivetrainSteeringFront SuspensionRear Suspension
Performance
Top Speed0-60SQMMPGEngine PwrComment
123 mph8.8 s17.8 s23 mpg140 bhp 5800
Brakes
FrontRearComment
DiscDisc
Auction Sales History
Lot
Num
Description Auctioneer Date Hammer Price Hammer Price
(inc premium)
109 Daimler Dart SP250 Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers 26 Sep 2012 Not sold
328 Daimler SP250 Bonhams 30 Apr 2012 £19000.00 £21850.00
38 Daimler Dart SP250 Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers 21 Sep 2011 £28400.00 -
35 Daimler SP250 Dart H&H Sales Limited 20 Jul 2011 - £25300.00
'80 Daimler Dart SP250 Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers 11 May 2011 £25000.00 -
'87 Daimler Dart SP250 Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers 11 May 2011 Not sold
367 Daimler SP250 Roadster Bonhams 20 Apr 2009 £34000.00 £38900.00
634 1960 Daimler SP250 Roadster Bonhams 3 Dec 2007 £17000.00 £19550.00
042 1962 DAIMLER SP250 'DART' H&H Sales Limited 25 Jul 2007 Not sold
016 1962 DAIMLER SP250 'DART' H&H Sales Limited 20 Jun 2007 £10700.00 -
31 Daimler SP250 'A' Spec BCA 3 Apr 2007 Not sold
067 1962 DAIMLER SP250 'DART' H&H Sales Limited 12 Apr 2006 £7400.00 -
105 Daimler SP250 Dart Barons 7 Jun 2005 - £8750.00
01 1960 DAIMLER SP250 'DART' SPORTS H&H Sales Limited 13 Apr 2005 £8200.00 -
739 Daimler SP250 'Dart' Roadster Cheffins 2 Apr 2005 £9500.00 -
137 Daimler SP250 Dart Barons 30 Nov 2004 Not sold
629 Daimler Dart SP250 Cheffins 2 Oct 2004 Not sold
216 Daimler SP250 Dart Barons 14 Sep 2004 £10200.00 -
663 Daimler SP250 Roadster Bonhams 26 Apr 2004 - £6426.00
106 Daimler SP250 Dart (1960) Barons 3 Jun 2003 £6200.00 -
018 Daimler SP250 Dart (1962) H&H Sales Limited 2 Oct 2002 - £14438.00
231 Daimler SP250 (1962) RTS Auctions Ltd 29 Sep 2002 Not sold
021 Daimler SP250 (1963) BCA 5 Aug 2002 Not sold
Unknown Daimler SP250 Dart (1962) Barons 23 Jul 2002 FF7750.00 -
042 Daimler SP250 (1960) BCA 17 Jun 2002 - £9630.00
060 Daimler SP250 Dart Sports (1960) H&H Sales Limited 29 May 2002 - £7088.00
057 Daimler SP250 Dart Sports (1960) H&H Sales Limited 20 Feb 2002 - £7822.00
941 Daimler Dart Sp250 (1961) Cheffins 1 Dec 2001 £5500.00 -
028 Daimler SP250 (1961) BCA 24 Sep 2001 Not sold
841 Daimler SP250 Roadster (1960) Brooks 10 Sep 2000 - £6100.00
024 Daimler SP250 Dart (1963) H&H Sales Limited 12 Apr 2000 £7500.00 -
008 Daimler SP250 Dart (1960) Coys 6 Mar 2000 - £8234.00
053 Daimler Dart Sp250 (1960) H&H Sales Limited 1 Dec 1999 £6000.00 -
079 Daimler SP250 Dart (1963) H&H Sales Limited 28 Jul 1999 £8600.00 -
035 Daimler SP250 Dart (1962) H&H Sales Limited 28 Jul 1999 £7800.00 -
029 Daimler SP250 (1960) BCA 21 Jun 1999 £12000.00 -
712 Daimler SP250 (1960) Brooks 18 Jun 1999 £6800.00 -
055 Daimler SP250 Dart (1961) H&H Sales Limited 17 Feb 1999 £9800.00 -
Unknown Daimler SP250 Dart (1963) Barons 2 Feb 1999 Not sold
030 Daimler SP250 Dart (1960) Coys 26 Nov 1998 Not sold
424 Daimler SP250 Roadster (1962) Brooks 23 Jul 1998 - £7705.00
014 Daimler SP250 (1960) BCA 23 Feb 1998 £11100.00 -
024 Daimler SP250 V8 Sport (1961) Brooks 16 Oct 1997 Not sold
034 Daimler SP250 Cabriolet (1963) Poulain LeFur 7 Oct 1997 FF85000.00 -
018 Daimler SP250 B Spec (1960) H&H Sales Limited 4 Jun 1997 Not sold
066 Daimler SP250 Dart (1962) Poulain LeFur 9 Dec 1996 FF86000.00 -
050 Daimler SP250 SP 'B' (1961) H&H Sales Limited 21 Feb 1996 £12000.00 -
050 Daimler SP250 Dart Sports (1960) ADT 2 Oct 1995 £10700.00 -
036 Daimler SP250 (1961) ADT 10 Apr 1995 £5930.00 -
266 Daimler SP250 Dart (1964) Brooks 21 Feb 1995 £2200.00 -
036 Daimler SP250 (1961) ADT 20 Feb 1995 Not sold
421 Daimler SP250 Dart (1964) Sandown 26 Nov 1994 £2500.00 -
522 Daimler SP250 Dart (1964) Sothebys 17 Oct 1994 £3000.00 -
030 Daimler Dart Sp250 (1960) H&H Sales Limited 8 May 1994 £3600.00 -
052 Daimler SP250 Dart (1960) Sothebys 12 Dec 1993 Not sold
111 Daimler SP250 (1960) Sandown 30 Oct 1993 £8000.00 -
Books
Magazine Articles
Title Pages Options
Article Buying Guide - 1959-64 Daimler SP250 'Dart'
92 View
Publication Classic Cars April 2010
Buying Guide - 1959-64 Daimler SP250 'Dart' - Dare to be different by joining this distinctive British sports car's loyal band of devotees - here's how to find a great example.
Article Buying Guide - Daimler SP250 Dart (1959-1964)
100 View
Publication Practical Classics February 2007
Buying Guide - Daimler SP250 Dart - It's long been the Cinderella of classic sports cars, but the Daimler Sp250 (a.k.a. 'Dart') is at last beginning to get the recognition it always deserved.
Article Classic Drive: Daimler SP250
76 View
Publication Practical Classics September 2005
A Dart in Sherwood forest - Shouldn't that be an arrow? Anyone who wants to make a quick getaway from the Sherriff of Nottingham could do a lot worse than putting their foot down in Daimler's spectacular SP250.  Nigel Boothman borrows from the rich and overtakes the poor.
Article Dart attack
50 View
Publication Practical Classics Spring 2002
Dart Attack - Consultant anaesthetist David Nancekievill resuscitated an original Daimler Dart and turned it into a shiny show car. Yet it still gets regular use. Nigel Boothman tells the story.
Article Buyers Guide - Daimler SP250
230 View
Publication Classic & Sports Car June 2011
Buyers Guide - Daimler SP250 - A sports car from an unlikely source - with an advanced specification for the time - is finally gaining the recognition it deserves, reckons Malcolm McKay.
Article Buyer's Guide - Daimler SP250
22 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 18 May 2011
Buyer's Guide - Daimler SP250 - Lauded and derided in roughly equal measures, Daimler's idiosyncratic SP250 has suddenly come of age.  MIKE LE CAPLAIN makes the case for and against buying of of these sports cars today.
Article Buyer's Guide - Daimler SP250
76 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 25 August 2010
Buyer's Guide - Daimler SP250 - Once regarded as an ugly duckling, the Daimler SP250 has transformed into a beautiful swan - with values rising as classic buyers latch onto this rare V8 roadster.  RICHARD DREDGE reports.
Article Buying Power - Daimler SP250 'Dart'
32 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 12 November 2009
Buying Power - Daimler SP250 'Dart'- An odd road to take for a traditional saloon builder, the SP250 was compromised by quirky looks, but is it worth taking flight in a Dart? IAN SEABROOK investigates.
Article Buyers Guide - Step out of the shadow
94 View
Publication Classic Car Mart September 2009
Buyers Guide - Step out of the shadow - For too longm Daimler's quirky but fantastic dart has been overlooked by driver's wanting a proper British sports car.  CCM sets the record straight.   Daimler SP250 (1959-1964).
Article Buying guide - Daimler SP250 1959-1964
143 View
Publication Octane September 2008
Buying guide - Daimler SP250 1959-1964- Quirky but robust alternatives to the usual classic roadster, with a tough V8 engine and rot-proof glassfibre bodywork.
Article Brain versus Brawn - Tiger v SP250
36 View
Publication Classics Monthly November 2007
Brain versus Brawn - Tiger v SP250- Two British V8s test the old theory that says there's no subsitute for cubes.....
Article Buying Power - Daimler 'Dart' SP250
28 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 26 April 2007
Buying Power - Daimler 'Dart' SP250 - With little experience in sportscar production, it's small wonder that Daimler's SP250 turned out to be a little bit of an oddball...although a glorious one at that.  RICHARD GUNN looks at buying the glassfibre creation with the great V8 engine, with advice from specialist David Manners.
Article Bullseye - Daimler SP 250
94 View
Publication Classics Monthly December 2005
Bullseye - Keith Beardmore's SP250 was left propped up on its side in his garage for over ten years before he was able to devote time and dedication to his dormant Dart dream.  David Bowers reports.
Article Road Test - Daimler SP250
38 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 10 February 2005
Road Test - Daimler SP250 - Built 1959-64, two-door, two-plus-two roadster.  Front-engined, rear-wheel-drive.  2548cc V8 engine.
Article Buying Power - Daimler SP250 Dart
24 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 6 October 2004
Buying Power - Daimler SP250 Dart - The Daimler SP250 is one of the most distinctive-looking classic British sports cars, and a great performer to boot.  RICHARD GUNN looks at buying the car everybody knows as the Dart.
Article Affordable Sports Cars - Supplement
View
Publication Classic Car Mart May 2004
Affordable Sports Cars - Supplement - Austin-Healey 3000, Jaguar XK120, MGB, Daimler SP250, Triumph Spitfire MK IV, MG Midget 1500.
Article Classic Car Weekly 24 October 2001 pg 8
8 View
Publication Classic Car Weekly 24 October 2001
Buying Power. Daimler Dart. The Daimler SP250 Dart was a styling oddity when launched in 1959. But, the lack of beauty was only skin deep, underneath was a great sports car, says Richard Gunn.
People who looked at this car, also looked at:
Have you any further information on this car?
Link to...
There are 50 further pictures
Related Contacts