Daimler Majestic Major
| Daimler Majestic Major, DQ450 | |
|---|---|
1960 car in May 2010
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | The Daimler Company Limited |
| Production | 1960–1968 1180 produced |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury car |
| Body style | 4-door saloon |
| Related |
Daimler Majestic DF316 3.8-litre 6-cyl. Daimler Limousine DR450 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4½ litre V-8 |
| Transmission | BW DG12 3-speed automatic with torque multiplier on 1st and 2nd |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 114 in (2,900 mm) |
| Length | 202 in (5,100 mm) |
| Width | 73.75 in (1,873 mm) |
| Height | 62.75 in (1,594 mm) |
| Kerb weight | 4088 pounds 1854 kg |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Daimler One-O-Four DF310 |
| Successor | Daimler Sovereign |
| Daimler 4½-litre V8 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | The Daimler Company Limited |
| Production | 1960-1968 |
| Combustion chamber | |
| Configuration | 90° V8 |
| Displacement | 4,561 cc (278.3 cu in) |
| Cylinder bore | 95.25 mm (3.750 in) |
| Piston stroke | 80.01 mm (3.150 in) |
| Cylinder block alloy |
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| Cylinder head alloy | high tensile aluminium alloy, sand cast |
| Valvetrain | 2 valves per cylinder, OHV, Hemispherical Head |
| Compression ratio | 8 : 1 |
| Combustion | |
| Fuel system | twin SU semi-downdraught HD8 carburettors |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Oil system | submerged pump, full flow filter |
| Cooling system | water-cooled with thermostatic control, pump, and fan |
| Output | |
| Power output | 220 bhp (160 kW; 220 PS) @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque output | 283 lb·ft (384 N·m) @ 3200 rpm |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 31.25 inches (794 mm) |
| Width | 25.5 inches (650 mm) |
| Height | 31 inches (790 mm) |
| Dry weight | 226 kilograms (498 lb) (dry) |
The Daimler Majestic Major DQ450 is a large luxury saloon produced by Daimler in Coventry, England between November 1960 and 1968. It was fitted with a 4,561 cc V8 engine and was offered as a much more powerful supplement to their then current Daimler Majestic.
A substantially lengthened limousine version of the same chassis and bodyshell, the Daimler DR450, was available from 1961 until the V8 engine ended production.
Though the Major was announced and displayed on 20 October 1959 at the London Motor Show, the car on the show stand was a prototype and production did not get under way until November 1960. It was offered as a supplement alongside the slightly shorter 3.8-litre Majestic released in 1958. Both cars used the same chassis and bodyshell, the Major having an extended boot as well as the new engine which was lighter and much more powerful.
The engine transformed the staid Majestic into a high performance car capable of 120 mph (190 km/h).Motor Sport magazine described the Major as having "sports car performance", while The stated that it appeared "almost as a sports saloon" and that it was stable directionally at high speeds the car and could be cornered safely very fast for such a large car.
It was faster than a Mark X Jaguar up to 80 mph (130 km/h) despite its 1,880 kg (4,145 lb) bulk. it has been said Jaguar tested the engine in a Mark X which attained 135 mph (217 km/h).
External differences from the Majestic included a D motif on top of the bonnet, cast-in V symbols on the ventilation air intakes, six inches added to the length of the car which gave it a longer boot and longer bumper returns, and twin exhaust pipes. Front seats could be supplied as individual adjustable seats or as a bench.
Turner's engine produced a conservative 220 bhp (160 kW) at 5500 rpm and 283 pound force-feet (384 N·m) of torque at 3,200 rpm. By comparison a Jaguar Mark X also claimed 220hp but used a different scale of measurement.
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Wikipedia