| Daimler Sovereign (1966–1983) | |
|---|---|
 Sovereign saloon 1967 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Jaguar Cars |
| Production | 1966–1983 |
| Assembly | United Kingdom:Coventry,England |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-sizeluxury car (F) |
| Body style | 4-doornotchbacksaloon 2-doornotchbackcoupé |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Jaguar 420 Jaguar XJ6 |
| Powertrain | |
| Transmission | overdrive or automatic options available |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 107 in (2,718 mm) |
| Length | 188 in (4,775 mm) |
| Width | 67 in (1,702 mm) |
| Height | 55 in (1,397 mm) |
| Kerb weight | 3,455 lb (1,567 kg) (manual without overdrive) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Daimler Majestic Daimler Majestic Major |
| Successor | Jaguar Sovereign Daimler Double Six |
Daimler Sovereign was a name applied by British manufacturerJaguar Cars to a sequence ofluxuryautomobiles built by it but carrying the Daimler badge between 1966 and 1983.
The Daimler Sovereigns were based on contemporary Jaguar bodyshells, chassis and engines in an example ofbadge engineering. Jaguar Cars took over TheDaimler Company in 1960 and the 1966 Sovereign was the second Daimler to be based on a Jaguar model. The first was the2½ litre V8 with an engine designed byEdward Turner. Unlike the Daimler 2½ litre, the Sovereign had a Jaguar engine, marking the end for the Turner designed engines.
The first Daimler Sovereign was based on the 1966Jaguar 420 and is sometimes referred to as the "Sovereign 420". Subsequent Sovereigns were derived from the Series I, II and IIIJaguar XJ6. In 1983 the model name "Sovereign" was switched to the high specification version of the Series III Jaguar XJ6, the 6-cylinder Daimler based on it simply continuing without a model name.
The V12 versions of the Daimler, available from 1972 to 1997, were named Daimler Double-Six after theoriginal Daimler V12s.
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Thefirst Sovereign was abadge-engineered version of theJaguar 420 saloon, which was itself based on theJaguar S-Type.
The 420 and Sovereign differed from the S-Type in having a revised four-headlight nose reminiscent of theJaguar Mark X, and being powered by a 4.2-litre version of the straight-sixXK engine. The main external difference between the 420 and Sovereign was the traditional fluted radiator grille on the Daimler. More detail of the development of the 420/Sovereign and the ways in which the Sovereign differed from its Jaguar stablemate can be found in the article on theJaguar 420 and Daimler Sovereign.
There were thoughts of fitting the Sovereign with theDaimler 4½ litre V8 engine as used in theMajestic Major but as this significantly outperformed the Jaguar XK unit and would have led to the Sovereign outgunning the Jaguar 420 the Jaguar hierarchy did not pursue the idea; the Jaguar marque was supposed to be more sporty than the Daimler.
In 1967 the final drive ratio was quietly changed from 3.31:1 to 3.54:1 which led to press complaints about fussier high speed cruising but which improved acceleration times from stand-still within the range of the speeds legal in Britain following the introduction, in December 1965, of ablanket 70 mph (113 km/h) speed limit across the nation's highways.[1]
The front-end styling of theDaimler DS420limousine introduced in 1968 shared a family resemblance with a Daimler grille mated to a four headlight nose.
The 420/Sovereign range began to be replaced by theJaguar XJ6 in September 1968. The Jaguar ceased production in December 1968, the Daimler remaining in production until July 1969.
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A new Series I XJ6-based Sovereign was introduced in October 1969. Once again, it was externally virtually identical to itsJaguar source car with the exception of its fluted grille and Daimler badging. Internally there were trim variations, such as the deletion of the wood door cappings fitted to the Jaguar. This Sovereign was offered with either the 2.8-litre or the 4.2-litre version of theXK engine.
The Daimler Sovereign name remained in use for the Series II version of the XJ6, with a raised front bumper and shallower grille; an extended wheelbase version was introduced, which eventually became the standard model. From 1975 the 2.8-litre was replaced by a 3.4-litre version of the XK engine.
The Series III XJ6 range, which was released in 1979, was visually distinguished from the Series II by its new thicker bumpers, the removal of separate "quarter-light" windows from the front doors, and a revised rear roofline featuring a slightly more angular c-pillar. The Series III range initially continued to include a Daimler Sovereign, but in 1983, during the run of the Series III, the range was renamed with the base model named the Jaguar XJ6, the more luxurious version named the Jaguar Sovereign, and the top-of-the-range simply known as the Daimler, without a model name. Some top-of-the-range versions were given theVanden Plas designation; in some markets where there were licensing problems in the use of the Daimler name, cars with the Daimler fluted grille were sold as Jaguar Vanden Plas.
A two-door coupe variant of the Sovereign Series II, utilising the shorter wheelbase platform, was offered from 1975 to 1977.[2] It was marketed as theDaimler Sovereign 4.2 two door.[3]
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From 1972 Jaguar's 5.3-litreV12 engine was available in the XJ range, and for the Daimler version a name used by the company from 1926 to 1938 was revived. Sir William Lyons had retired from Jaguar in 1972 and the new chairman wasFRW (Lofty) England. Lofty England had been a Daimler apprentice from 1927 to 1932 and taken second place in the first everRAC rally driving a 30/40 hpDaimler Double-Six and so he decreed that the new V12 Daimler would be known as Double-Six.[4]
Unlike the Jaguar, the twelve-cylinder Daimler had the sameradiator grill as its six-cylinder sibling, and externally only the badges distinguished them. The Double-Six followed the same changes as the Sovereign from Series I to Series III, although the Sovereign name was transferred to Jaguar, the Double-Six name remained with Daimler throughout Series III production, which continued until 1992.
In late 1972, the particularly well-equipped Double-Six Vanden Plas appeared. On a 4 inches (100 mm) longer wheelbase, this model also received a black vinyl roof to set it apart.[5]
A two-doornotchbackcoupé (aka two-doorsaloon) was offered in the Double-Six Series II range from 1975 to 1977, as an addition to the four-doornotchbacksaloon.[2] It was marketed as theDaimler Double-Six two door.[3]
When Jaguar re-engineered theXJ40 (the successor to the Series III) to take a 6.0-litre version of the V12 engine, under the model designation XJ81, a new Double-Six was also produced, being manufactured between 1993 and 1994. In the latter year, along with the other XJ models, it was facelifted under the X305 designation and continued to be produced until the V12 engine was dropped in 1997.
