For years, Daimler was a name that signified something that was, well, just a cut above ‘ordinary’ in the Jaguar world. But for over 60 years before its acquisition by Jaguar, it led quite a fascinating if usually tumultuous existence, building cars that were patronised by Royalty but seemingly always on a perilous financial footing. It was there at the very start of the British motor industry, and it is technically, still around, should Jaguar choose to revive it. What follows in the tale of Daimler’s many triumphs and tribulations throughout over a century of building cars.
One of the first things that needs to be cleared up is the connection between the British Daimler and the German Daimler - how did two car companies with such a notable name spring up on either side of the North Sea? Unsurprisingly, there is a strong link. Gottlieb Daimler was a German contemporary of Karl Benz, just being beaten to the title of father of the car by a few months - Benz’s Motorwagen appeared in January 1886, Daimler’s Motorcoach followed in March. Being a canny businessman as well as an imaginative inventor, he sold his engines for other uses - boats, trams, railcars and airships - and founded Daimler Motors with partner Wilhelm Maybach in 1890, although disputes with other shareholders led to his resignation in 1893. He died, aged 65, in 1900.
In 1889, British engineer Frederick Richard Simms was working in Bremen and saw Daimler’s engines in action, powering small railcars. He was impressed and forged a friendship with Gottlieb Daimler. The following year, he brought a Daimler engine back to the UK for use in the motor launches he was planning to build, soon acquiring the licence rights to the new-fangled technology for both Britain and the Empire. The launches proved a big success, and after a little hiccup, when the lawyer for Simms and Co was found to be pilfering money from the fledgling firm, the Daimler Motor Syndicate Limited was formed in May 1893.
Messing about on the water was all very Horseless Carriages Contest - took place. Peugeots and Panhards using Daimler power did very well, and their successes prompted Simms to consider turning his hand to cars. In June 1896, he informed the board of the Daimler Motor Company Syndicate that he planned to set up the Daimler Motor Company Ltd, building Panhard & Levassor cars using Daimler propulsion. The Syndicate would get a 10 per cent commission on every car sold.
