1962 Daimler SP250 - Jay Leno's Garage

The two-year restoration is finally complete! The SP250 Jay got from Bob Brzozowski spent 40 years in the elements and hadn't run in 10 years... and just look at her now!

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1962 Daimler SP250 - Jay Leno's Garage

Jay Leno's Garage

[charlesnash]

This guy is national treasure. Even though he's extremely rich, he doesn't have an arrogant bone in his body. He not only loves cars but is very knowledgeable about them.It's a pleasure to listen to his relaxed but informative style.

[Classic_Re-creation]

As an English man and a fan of Jay Leno it's lovely to hear him speak about the British heritage of the car, us Britt's don't have much left in the way of a car industry and once upon a time it was a huge part of our economic growth.

[johnk.atchley]

My very first car was a 1962 Daimler SP250, red with the hard top. Bought it in 1965 from Manhattan Auto, a Jaguar dealer in Georgetown in Washington DC, for $2, 500. Back then you could buy a Cadillac for $3, 500. I was just 24 and making around $13, 000 a year. It was red with the red leather seats, manual shift. Absolutely fell in love with that sound. Mr. Leno is right, it was the prime era for British sports cars. Triumph TR4s had an inline 4 cylinder engine, and the Austin Healey 3000 had an inline 6 cylinder engine. Both had their appeal, but nothing like the sound of that 2.5 liter V-8 hemi head in the SP250. The Jaguar XKE had an inline 6 with a characteristic snarl you could always recognize. And boy was it fun watching young ladies in mini skirts getting out of them with their almost waist high threshold. And of course, you might be passed by a Ferrari 250 GT with the glorious high sound of that famous V12. Music. But the SP250 was up there with them. I also liked the square trunk of the SP-250 because it was perfect for holding a bag of golf clubs sideways, no fussing. The bench seat was also useful for going out with another couple. The original SU fuel pump was an issue, depended on a membrane and if you suddenly heard a rapid ticking next to your ear it meant the membrane was shot. I took my SP-250 out on the expressway to Dulles airport when that was brand new with no traffic to speak of, at night, and ran it up to the limit, around 120 mph. Just for a bit as I was not totally sure the wire spoke wheels were all that secure at speed. I took it with me when I joined the US Foreign Service and was assigned to the American Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria from 1966-68. That was during the Biafra war. The Deputy Chief of Mission called me in one day and said his wife thought it was improper for a very junior officer to be driving a sports car. Although it was for sure the only Daimler SP250 in Lagos, I actually found a British car mechanic who could tune it up for me. I shipped it back to the US when I was assigned to Washington DC and bought a house in Springfield, VA. Sadly, one morning when I was driving to work in DC the young woman who was our baby sitter was rushing to drive her younger sister to school, went through a stop sign near our home, and T-boned me. Fiberglass body work was costly and I did not have the cash to repair the body damage. So I wound up selling it to a young man in, if memory serves, Chestertown on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. A tall, lanky guy in overalls on a farm, he actually raced SP-250s professionally and wanted mine for spare parts. He took me out for a spin on the gravel and small paved roads around his home, at speeds and cornering that had me holding on for dear life, white knuckle style. He on the other hand was totally relaxed and chatting all the while like he was just out for a Sunday drive to grandmas. That taught me that amateurs who own fast cars and think they are hot stuff should never have any illusions they can drive like pros and should not try because they can end up causing a fatal accident. Wish I still had it even though I am now 82. But at least it went to a new owner who understood just what a cool engine and car these were. Mr. Leno is right.

[michaelcoombs]

A blind man could tell from the sound - that's a real beautiful car with a sound from the centre of 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 !

[mdj]

The best car show bar none. Arise Sir Jay Leno.

[igordewit]

wanted to watch a movie...but after 10 minutes turned it off. Watching carstuff with Jay...always way better!Thanks....feelgood television!!

[chrisadams]

The world needs to know, that some of this stuff turned out by Britain was fantastic.
Edward Turner the designer of this alloy V8 was absolutely famous.
He designed the Ariel square 4 and the Triumph speed twin etc a true genius, thanks Jay for showcasing this👍

[copferthat]

So many people look at this car for the first time and think it's ugly, then they look a second time and it's not so ugly. Then they see it the next day and it's really quite nice, then by the end of the week it's drop dead gorgeous. That's what it does to you. This was my favourite car back in the 60's and it just might still be.

[gman]

Oh my God Jay, that's what it's all about right there my man !!!

[svurskasvurska]

Mr. Leno, I'm just going to say it, I love you. You are, without doubt, the only person capable of making me smile and outright laugh watching a test drive of a beautifully restomodded British sports car. More importantly, thank you for keeping the history of mankind's greatest invention alive.

[leonardberg]

I've seen Jay driving through Burbank several times, near where he houses his collection, and he always gives me a friendly wave. Terrific guy!

[davidstephen]

This is the car I was driven back to Junior School in the UK by my cousin Jay Louden. I had forgotten the name and model until seeing this Jay Leno's video. It was a major thrill for me at 8 years old being driven back from lunch hour especially when Jay made sure he drove me past all my school pals so they would see me in this incredible car. He even revved the engine to make sure everybody noticed!! I was so short I could hardly see over the dash, but I loved the ride, the leather and the sound. Thank you Jay for bringing back my schoolboy memory. I hope to see this car one day at the Rock Store, which is ~1/2 mile up the road from where I live. Thanks again for the memory.

[watsontcbc]

I like Jay’s authenticity - not hiding imperfections in the cars, mistakes in the build and problems on the road - not that any of that happens very often. Jay’s honesty along with his friendly, humble and humorously entertaining nature along with a panoply of fantastic cars and trucks from every era, continent and type that keeps me coming back. Oh, and this car definitely looks like a catfish, but what an engine!

[ZGryphon]

"Tastefully updated" is a very polite wording. For British cars of the '60s, "made so it actually works" is often more appropriate. :)

[The_R-n-I_Guy]

I love how Jay shows everything. Even a shop like his can have a problem on a build.

[charlesjmouse]

Ah, the Daimler 250 V8 - possibly the sweetest V8 ever made.

[billcobbett]

I never get tired of watching Jay's videos, and it's great to see so many British classics.

[christownsend]

An amazing little engine. Surprised it wasn't more widely used. Sounds awesome. Like it that Jay shows that things don't always work perfectly from the get go, unlike some automotive shows. That's how it works with mechanical things. Don't care who's name is on it, they are all mechanical devices and they all have issues from time to time. Just fix it and carry on.

[moss]

it is great to see someone that appreciates automobiles and has the money to make it all happen. it speaks to all of us that appreciate the whole idea.

[speedfinder]

Hey Jay! I'm British and I grew up with the Daimler Dart being a regular car on the road. I think the styling is just fine. I guess when you are a kid and see these things back in the day, you just think that is how thing are supposed to be. I love the job you guys have done on the restoration. Thanks for telling us what happened with the radiator cap. A similar thing has happened to me in the past but good to see that you found the solution!