One of the founding firms of the British motor industry, Daimler was part of the expanding BSA group by 1911.

By this time the adoption of the refined 'Silent Knight' sleeve-valve engine had done much to turn around the company's fortunes and establish Daimler as a marque committed to engineering excellence, a policy which continued in the 1920s with the introduction of the 'Double-Six' - Britain's first V12.

A range of overhead-valve sixes was phased in during the 1930s and the ageing sleeve-valve replaced by a new overhead-valve straight eight, a move that enabled Daimler to maintain its place in the front rank of suppliers to the carriage trade.

The 'eight' maintained the standards set by its predecessors and, when mated to Daimler's fluid flywheel transmission, the result was a manner of progress unmatched for smoothness of take-off and silent running.

These traditional Daimler characteristics had long endeared the marque to the nobility, and indeed, throughout the 1920s and 19...