HISTORY
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a repeat customer of Jaguar and Daimler models. We take a trip through the history of the royal cars.
AUEEN ELIZABETH II was known for being an ardent motorist, as well as our monarch. In particular, she was known as a fan of the Rover P5B and of large Vauxhall estates, suitable for transporting the Corgis. But after the P5B ceased production, she sought a car with the same gravitas, performance and Britishness as key attributes. And – perhaps inspired by her mother’s Jaguar XJ12 Vanden Plas – it was only natural that she would look toward Jaguar and Daimler products. Prior to her coronation Daimler had held the Royal warrant for motor vehicles, and it’s believed that Queen Elizabeth took delivery of her first Daimler saloon in October 1984.
Daimler Double Six SIII B432VYO
That car was B432VYO – tested over the course of some 2000 miles prior to delivery, it was deemed suitable for delivery by Jaguar staff. It was intended for use by Her Majesty as her personal car, and was also used as transport for local engagements and those where she didn’t wish to have a high profile.
While it was replaced as her personal transport in 1991, it would continue to serve as part of the Royal fleet for several years until it was returned to Jaguar with 29,000 miles recorded. Interestingly, it was never purchased by the Palace – instead, being leased through Jaguar’s VIP Leasing programme, and remaining in Jaguar’s corporate ownership at the Heritage Museum in Browns Lane until it was sold in 2009 by Bonham’s Auctions for £12,363.
The car didn’t conform to the standard Double Six specification – primarily by the fitment of a full width rear seat cushion in place of the individual seats; a measure taken to offer some security and comfort to the Corgis. It was also fitted with a blue convoy lamp in the front screen in order to enable security teams better to observe the car at night lest the monarch be in danger.
The colour was listed by the factory as Gavin Green – in truth, Edinburgh Green, a colour unique to the monarch’s cars and not taken from the standard palette.
Daimler Double Six SIII J52PWK
B432VYO was replaced as Queen Elizabeth II’s personal car in 1991 by another Double Six finished in Gavin Green, this time registered J52PWK. The DVLA was unhelpful with ownership information prior to 1996, but it was subsequently discovered via a Heritage certificate and archive photography that the car had been used by HRH from 1991-1995.
Once again, the car was specified with a bench rear seat – but this time the interior was Parchment, an XJ40 shade. There were no head restraints – nor fittings – and lap belts were fitted in the back in place of the standard three point units. The reason? It made the Royals more visibl
