Evaluation: Reportedly one of six DB18 chassis with this Hooper Drophead coachwork. Restored in 2017. Fully redone and nearly spotless engine. Beautiful paint. A few small smudges in the top. Very good, lightly worn interior. Not overdone but well done. Lovely open top British motoring even though neither Daimler cars nor Hooper coachwork are highly coveted here.
Bottom Line: Sometimes Daimlers fly under the radar at auction, at least in this country. Despite being a favorite marque of the royals (Daimler actually had a Royal Warrant to provide cars to the monarchy until the 1950s), it doesn’t have the name recognition or badge prestige of the equivalent Rolls-Royce or Bentley. However, this car’s good looks as well as its exquisite, expensive and recent restoration were not lost on the Amelia bidders. The price is huge and well above its high estimate, but it would be probably impossible to find another DB18 configured this way in any condition, let alone one this clean.
