Daimler Regency

Daimler Regency Mk II DF304 and Daimler One-O-Four DF310
Regency Mark II 3½-litre 1955 DF304 with body by Barker
Overview
Manufacturer	The Daimler Company Limited
Production	1951–1956
Body and chassis
Class	Luxury
Body style	Four-door saloon bodies by Barker or Empress body by Hooper or Special Sports DF302 convertible by Barker
Powertrain
Engine	2952, 3468 or 4617 cc inline six-cylinder
Transmission	4-speed preselector gearbox with fluid flywheel
Dimensions
Wheelbase	114 in (2,896 mm)
Length	195 in (4,953 mm)
Width	70 in (1,778 mm)
Height	62.5 in (1,588 mm)
Kerb weight	2,000 kg (4,409 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Daimler Consort
Successor	Daimler Majestic DF316 Daimler Regina DF400

The Daimler Regency DF300 series was a luxury car made in Coventry by The Daimler Company Limited between 1951 and 1956. Only 52 examples of the first Regency were made because demand for new cars collapsed just weeks after its introduction. Almost two years later a lengthened more powerful Regency Mark II DF304 was announced but, in turn, it attracted few customers and it was replaced by the very much faster up-rated One-O-Four DF310 announced in October 1955.

Displayed to press on 26 September and the following week at the Paris Motor Show it was first shown to the British public at the October 1951 Motor Show. The chassis was from the 2½-litre Eighteen Consort. It was fitted with a new 3-litre engine design derived from the Lanchester Fourteen.

The shape of the standard Barker saloon body closely resembled the much smaller Lanchester Fourteen. It was joined in 1952 by an Empress II saloon and limousine and convertible all with razor-edge styling by Hooper.

Only a small number of Regency Barker Special Sports were made, perhaps three. They were externally distinguished by having front-hinged doors, not the "suicide doors" of the smaller-engined version. The usual Daimler Fluid Flywheel coupled the engine and its Wilson pre-selector 4-speed gearbox.

All new car sales collapsed in 1952 while the nation waited for the removal of a "temporarily" increased purchase tax, finally eased in April 1953. Only 51 Regencys were made before production stopped.

Marque historians believe only three DF300s survived into the 21st century: a prototype finished as a pickup and used as a factory runaround (57001), a Hooper Empress (80002) and a standard saloon (80005).

The revised Regency DF304 labelled Mark II was announced in October 1954. The new more flowing body was slightly longer with a much longer boot and mudguards and was lower-set. It could now be purchased with a 3½-litre or 4½-litre engine. Again there was a Hooper version, the Empress IIa and III but now also the Sportsman four-light saloon with coachwork by Mulliners (Birmingham). The (at first only) 4½-litre Sportsman with three-piece wrap-around rear window and extra interior luxury features was announced a few days later