1898 Daimler Twin-Cylinder 6HP Wagonette

1898 Daimler Twin-Cylinder 6HP Wagonette

A cornerstone in the infant motor industry, the Daimler Motor Syndicate Ltd., founded in 1896 as part of H J Lawson's mighty motor empire, sold their first cars based on Panhard-Levassor chassis, and employed German-built Canstatt Daimler engines. British car manufacture at that stage lagged behind its European mainland counterpart and although Lanchester, at nearby Birmingham, had commenced manufacture in 1895 it was Daimler, exploiting Gottlieb Daimler's motor patents, who really carried the flag for Great Britain in those pioneering days starting manufacture at the Motor Mills factory Coventry in 1897. Early cars featured twin cylinder engines and had tiller steering, hot tube ignition, a four speed gearbox and chain final drive. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, took delivery of his first Daimler in 1900 and Daimler was to remain the marque of choice of the royal household until the 1950s.

Descriptions & pictures by bonhams