Daimler Fifteen

Daimler Fifteen 1932—1935
4-door six-light saloon registered January 1935
Overview
Manufacturer	The Daimler Company Limited
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car (E)
Body style	four-door “six-light” saloon £450 Coupé £465 Chassis only £350—bodies as arranged with coachbuilder by customer
Layout	FR layout
Related	Lanchester Ten
Powertrain
Engine	1,805 cc 6-cylinder in-line ohv (at launch) 2,003 cc 6-cylinder in-line ohv (from August 1934)
Transmission	4-speed Wilson preselective self-changing gearbox and Fluid Flywheel an open propellor shaft and underhung worm-driven axle
Dimensions
Wheelbase	109.5 in (2,780 mm) Track 50 in (1,300 mm)
Kerb weight	24 cwt
Chronology
Successor	Daimler Fifteen 1936

Daimler Fifteen 1935—1937
6-light saloon
Overview
Manufacturer	The Daimler Company Limited
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car (E)
Body style	four-door “six-light” saloon £465 four-door “four-light" sports saloon £475 others as arranged with coachbuilder by customer, chassis only £350.
Related	Lanchester Ten
Powertrain
Engine	2,166 cc 6-cylinder in-line ohv
Transmission	4-speed Wilson preselective self-changing gearbox and Fluid Flywheel an open propellor shaft and underhung worm-driven axle
Dimensions
Wheelbase	109.5 in (2,780 mm) Track 52 in (1,300 mm)
Kerb weight	26.25 cwt
Chronology
Successor	Daimler New Fifteen

109.5 in (2,780 mm)

The Daimler Fifteen, was a saloon car at the low end of this manufacturer’s range, announced in September 1932. It was the first Daimler product for more than two decades with an engine that breathed conventionally through poppet valves. Conventional valve gear had improved, superseding the former advantages of the Daimler-Knight sleeve-valve technology. The car's name derived from its tax rating of 15 hp. The design of its 6-cylinder 1.8-litre engine was developed from the 4-cylinder 1.2-litre Lanchester Ten which was installed in Lanchester's shorter versions of the same chassis and bodies and using the same Daimler semi-automatic transmissions.

The Fifteen was the first Daimler to be offered at less than £500 since World War I. The Great Depression of the 1930s was well established and Daimler, responsible for economical BSA three-wheelers and, from 1931, the mid-price Lanchester range, went downmarket to assist sales in the austere times. Perhaps it took twenty years but this risky strategy with the Daimler name may have lost Daimler its super-luxury reputation and eventually brought about its demise.

In August 1934, in anticipation of the reduction in annual tax charge, the Fifteen was given a larger 2-litre engine. Again in August 1936 the engine was increased to 2.2-litres then another two years later to a full 2½-litres.

6-light saloon

fixed-head coupé

2-door drophead coupé

4-door all-weather tourer

The long-stroke engine's six cylinders and upper half of the crankcase are all in one block, like the detachable cylinder head, of cast-iron. The head carries the valves and rocker gear operated by pushrods from the chain-driven camshaft running in an oil bath within the block below. The pistons are of aluminium alloy. The crankshaft runs in four bearings and has a vibration damper.

Lubrication is fully forced including to the gudgeon pins. Cold starting conditions are provided for by splash lubrication to all vital parts. There are separate inlet and exhaust manifolds on the offside (left) with a hotspot. Cooling water circulates naturally to the radiator. A mechanical fuel pump delivers petrol from a tank at the back of the car.

Automatic engine starting is not needed as, owing to the fluid flywheel, the engine cannot be stalled in the ordinary way.

The transmission consists of the Daimler fluid flywheel and its Wilson self-changing pre-selective, four-speed gearbox. An open propellor shaft takes the power to an underslung, worm-driven back axle.