SP250 (1959 to 1964)

The Daimler SP250, originally known as the "Dart" before a naming dispute with Chrysler, remains one of the most polarizing yet mechanically gifted British sports cars produced between 1959 and 1964, with 2026 market values in Australia typically ranging from $45,000 for solid B-Spec drivers to over $115,000 AUD for concours-level C-Spec examples. Its desirability is dual-pronged: while its "love-it-or-hate-it" shark-like fibreglass styling initially hindered sales, its Edward Turner-designed 2.5L V8 engine—a lightweight, hemispherical-head masterpiece—is widely considered one of the finest powerplants of its era, offering a soundtrack and performance that comfortably outpaces contemporary Triumphs and MGs. The buyer pool is composed of technical purists who prize the engine's reliability and heritage collectors drawn to its unique "police pursuit" history, bolstered by a strong Australian following that values the later Jaguar-refined "B" and "C" specifications for their significantly stiffened chassis and improved handling.

The Daimler SP250, originally known as the "Dart" before a naming dispute with Chrysler, remains one of the most polarizing yet mechanically gifted British sports cars produced between 1959 and 1964, with 2026 market values in Australia typically ranging from $45,000 for solid B-Spec drivers to over $115,000 AUD for concours-level C-Spec examples. Its desirability is dual-pronged: while its "love-it-or-hate-it" shark-like fibreglass styling initially hindered sales, its Edward Turner-designed 2.… Read more