Electric Daimler set to speed past its guide price of £80,000
An electric Daimler more than 100 years old could speed past its guide price of £80,000 this week.
The 1923 classic, described by its owner as “the prettiest car in the world” was once owned by the Duke of Hamilton in the 1920s.
After its full electric conversion, it is thought to be the only D16 on the road.
Its owner, who doesn’t want to named, bought the car in 2022 when her 11-year-old Newfoundland dog was unable to get into the back of her Fiat Abarth.
She said: “I fell in love with the car, but I also needed an older vehicle without mechanical fastenings, seatbelts or airbags, so I could remove the passenger seat for my dog.”
But beautiful the classic car may have been, she found difficult to drive and set about modernising it, including converting it to electric.
She said: “The gearbox was a nightmare, I had to double declutch, and there was so much smoke I couldn’t even see to reverse.” The conversion, at Silent Classics in Dorset, took a year and transformed the difficult-to-drive classic car into the “ideal urban car.”
It was only after the death of her dog, she decided to sell the car which has an estimate of £75,000-£80,000 at Hansons Auctioneers’ sale on October 26. Aside from its recent owner, the Daimler boasts an exceptional provenance having once been owned by the Duke of Hamilton who bought it for his wife’s companion, Louise Lind-af-Hageby.
The Swedish-born aristocrat was well-known in Edwardian England as a pioneering women’s and animal rights campaigner. Founder of the Animal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society, she and the Duchess of Hamilton toured the UK to spread the animal rights message.
In the 1920s the car was in regular use around London even appearing in the 1926 Lord Mayor’s parade.
Hansons Auctioneers’, Steve Fulford, said: “The car is exceptional and today looks as it did when it would have driven around Regent’s Park in the 1920s. It is one of the most remarkable cars that we have had the privilege to sell.”
Daimlers were the preferred choice of British royalty for many years and held a royal warrant as a supplier of motorcars to the monarchy from 1902 until the 1950s.
Edward VII was the first monarch to purchase one and subsequent monarchs, including King George V and Queen Elizabeth II, continued to have Daimlers as state vehicles.
Today, post conversion, the Daimler has a range of 150 miles, power steering, powered stepsand regenerative braking system.
The owner said: “It really is a joy to drive. It is now not only possible to start, drive, manoeuvre easily but it now actually stops! It is the prettiest car in the world. All the roads around here have 20, 30 or 40 mph speed limit, which the car manages comfortably and does not annoy other road users.”
The electric Daimler D16 has an estimate of £75,000-£80,000 when it is offered for sale at Hansons Staffordshire saleroom in BIshton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, on October 26.
Auction Details
Auction: Super Sunday Bishton Hall Lifestyle Auction
Auction date: 26th October 2025 | 11am
Location: Hansons Staffordshire Saleroom
Auction contact: enquiries@hansonsbishton.co.uk
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com