Seeking a product which would sell, the Daimler management hit upon the idea of a sports car which would emulate the success of MG, Triumph, Austin-Healey and Jaguar in the USA. To keep costs down, it would have a fiber-glass body shell and a V8 engine. Though the SP250 sold well, it was never a huge success. The company was bought out by Jaguar in 1960 and the SP250 remained in production until 1964. The Daimler V8 engine was launched in the Jaguar Mk. II. This book contains 60 international articles including road and comparison tests, comparisons and a buying guide.

The fascinating story of Daimler’s daring glass fibre sports car, including its commercial feasibility at the time, and key role in Daimler’s future, its development, production, and the proposal that could have seen it built into the 1970s. A bold new design, the 'Dart', as it was originally to be called, should have been Daimler’s saviour and a springboard to a range of new models, including saloons and coupés. Sadly, Jaguar − a company with its own sports cars − bought Daimler before the car was allowed to evolve. Contains contemporary material and photography throughout to help owners seeking to restore their vehicles in period guise.

During the 1960s, the automobile finally secured its position as an indispensable component of daily life in Britain. Car ownership more than doubled from approximately one car for every 10 people in 1960 to one car for every 4.8 people by 1970. Consumers no longer asked "Do we need a car?" but "What car shall we have?" This well-illustrated history analyzes how both domestic car manufacturers and importers advertised their products in this growing market, identifying trends and themes. Over 180 advertisement illustrations are included.

What prompted staid and traditional Daimler to build a fibreglass-bodied sportscar with a 2.5 litre V8 engine? In this, the only book on the subject, Daimler expert Brian Long tells the inside story of the 'Dart' (officially SP250) sportscar: a uniquely stylish and now much appreciated classic from the years 1959 to 1964.

This reference features the best models from the greatest manufacturing companies of the world, both past and present. Alphabetized entries include a short history of each manufacturer. Specific models of 600-plus cars are examined in detail and illustrated by color and bandw photos highlighting their unique qualities. The story of each classic car is complemented by performance tables that include information such as maximum speed and power, engine type, and details of transmission, chassis, suspension and brakes. Oversize: 9.5x12". Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR