Daimler Double-Six V12 Vanden Plas

Daimler Double-Six V12 Vanden Plas

The Daimler Double-Six, produced from 1972 to 1997, was the most luxurious and prestigious variant of the Jaguar XJ saloon. Badged as a Daimler — the traditional premium sub-brand within the Jaguar stable — the Double-Six combined Jaguar's legendary 5.3-litre V12 engine with enhanced interior appointments and a level of refinement that few cars in the world could match.

The name 'Double-Six' was a deliberate echo of a famous pre-war Daimler model — the original Double-Six of 1926, which featured a V12 (or 'double-six') engine at a time when such powerplants were extraordinarily rare. The modern Double-Six carried on this tradition with the Jaguar V12, widely acknowledged as the smoothest production twelve-cylinder engine ever built.

The V12 engine was initially offered in 5.3-litre form with fuel injection, producing approximately 263 bhp. The engine's defining characteristic was its extraordinary smoothness — at idle, the only evidence it was running was a faint vibration through the controls, and at speed it delivered its considerable power in near-silence. The later HE (High Efficiency) version introduced the 'Fireball' combustion chamber design by Michael May, which dramatically improved fuel economy without sacrificing performance.

The Daimler specification added a fluted radiator grille (in contrast to Jaguar's slatted design), Daimler badging, and enhanced interior trim. The Vanden Plas designation indicated the highest level of luxury, with hand-trimmed Connolly leather, lambswool carpet overlays, rear picnic tables, and additional soundproofing.

The Double-Six was produced across three generations of XJ saloon: the Series I/II (1972-1979), the Series III (1979-1992), and the X300 (1994-1997). The Series III is generally considered the most desirable, combining the classic Pininfarina-influenced styling with improved build quality and refined running gear.

For many years, the Double-Six was dramatically undervalued compared to equivalent Mercedes-Benz and BMW luxury saloons. However, increasing recognition of the V12 XJ saloon's unique qualities — particularly the engine's remarkable smoothness and the car's outstanding ride comfort — has driven values upward.

The Daimler Double-Six represents perhaps the greatest bargain in twelve-cylinder motoring: a car that offered Rolls-Royce levels of refinement at a fraction of the cost, and which today can still be acquired for modest outlay relative to its engineering content.