1969 Daimler Sovereign

The Daimler Sovereign was built between 1966 and 1969. The well balanced and airy body of this 4-door saloon, clothing a monocoque chassis with a front-mounted engine that drove the rear wheels, was styled by William Lyons.

Daimler’s Sovereign is a final development of a line traceable to the parent company’s Jaguar Mark 1. Jaguar’s S-Type, which superseded the Mark 2, had a re-styled rear end by Lyons that followed the latest thinking regarding the marque identity. However there had not been time to modify the front. This led to an unbalanced shape that was a factor in the car being a slow seller. The problem was addressed by restyling the front in 1966 to create the Jaguar 420 and Daimler Sovereign. Their bluff front with squared-off corners gives a much more resolved shape that immediately found popularity in the salesroom.

The modifications aren’t just limited to the styling, as this model also marked the change for the company from positive to negative earthing along with various refinements to the brake and cooling set up.

Externally the Daimler Sovereign can be differentiated from its more sporting brethren by the Daimler badges and the chrome radiator trim featuring the traditional fluting. Suspension is provided by twin wishbones with coil springs at the front and the now legendary Jaguar rear independent suspension. This has lower links and trailing arms with the drive shafts being used as upper links.

The existence of the Daimler Sovereign can be attributed entirely to the cachet of the Daimler name, as it is stylistically and mechanically identical to the Jaguar. In the late 1960s and beyond they were seen as suitable transport for the gentleman - no doubt helped by a historic link with royalty. The lawyer or doctor who may view the leaping cat with disdain would feel perfectly at home in the Daimler. The extra cost of the Sovereign was offset by a smattering of extra badges and the full list of extras, including power steering and higher quality trims, fitted as standard. The engine received the Daimler identity, too, through the use of model specific cam covers.

Power for the Daimler Sovereign is provided by the XK straight-six with twin overhead camshafts. The 4235cc engine has an alloy head mounted to an iron block and in this application is fed by twin SU carburettors. During the whole of its two-year lifespan the Sovereign was offered with either a 3-speed automatic gearbox or a 4-speed manual which included overdrive as standard.

The Daimler Sovereign follows its forebears in combining a smooth and powerful motor with a luxurious interior, giving a refined yet rapid driving experience. Despite the length of time that the basic car had been in production the press were still full of praise for the Sovereign when it was launched. Notably it has an advantage over its more coveted predecessors in the rear suspension giving a better ride and handling. Be prepared for a hefty fuel bill and short range if driven with verve, though.

As with all cars of this era rust is the main enemy of the Daimler Sovereign. The sills, floorpans and door bottoms are of particular concern and can be costly to rectify. The mechanical elements are sturdy to the point of being bombproof and are easy to work on, with one exception. That rear suspension unit has the disc brakes mounted inboard which, whilst reducing unsprung weight, means access to them is poor. The popularity of this design means that there is a comprehensive supply of replacement parts and panels.

With such little variation in the Daimler Sovereign’s production life desirability comes down to condition, fashionable colour combinations, and rare options being fitted. In particular cars with manual gearboxes are sought after.

If you are looking for an alternative to the Daimler Sovereign (and the Jaguar Mark 2 is too similar) then the Triumph 2000, the Mercedes-Benz 280SE, and Maserati Quattroporte are all worthy of consideration.