Daimler of England

The 1926 Daimler Double-Six was indeed a miracle of engineering skill as it was a V12 SLEEVE-VALVE engine, essentially 2 6cyl blocks sharing a common crankshaft which was unusually rigid and well supported, It was designed by Laurence Pomeroy, already famed as the creator of the Vauxhall Prince Henry 3 liter and the later 30-98. The motor had a capacity of 7.2 liters with a 81.5x114mm bore and stroke,4 speed gearbox,4.38x1 axle ratio and a choice of wheelbases,12' 11.5" or 13' 7"

These are 1927 specs,I may have other years elsewhere.

Daimler built several different V-12 models. The first, as noted by Mr Hughes, was the largest at over 7 litres. This, the 50 hp,(taxable) was built 1927 through 1930. The replacement, the 40/50, built from 1931 through 1935 was just slightly smaller at 6511 cc. During the same period Daimler also built two other 12 cylinder models: the 30 from 1928 through 1932 was the smallest at 3744 cc and the 30/40 from 1931 through 1935 displaced 5296 cc. These were all sleeve valve engines, which were very quiet, prone to smoke lightly and disliking of high revolutions. In 1937, after Daimler abandoned the sleeve valve arrangement, they gave one last shot at a V-12, the Double Six of 6511 cc and 142 hp. Just 9 of these were built. I do not have production numbers for the earlier V-12 models, but I surely would like to find them for a project we are presently doing.

Jon Lee