In 1959, Turner, who was one of the best motorcycle engine designers at the time, had developed a 2,547cc V8 and this was to power the new fibreglass bodied sports car, the Daimler SP250, known in the UK as the Daimler Dart. Also in the same year, the Majestic Major was introduced, powered by a 4.56 litre engine, making it Britain's fastest 6 seater, but none was sold that year and only 110 Darts had been completed, most of which were exported to the USA. In 1960, it looked as though Daimler was fading away, when Jack Sangster and Sir William Lyons of Jaguar, struck a deal enabling Jaguar to buy the Daimler name. In 1962, the body shell of the Jaguar MK 2 and the Turner V8 engine were married to produce the Daimler 2.5 litre V8 with tremendous success and this was soon outselling the 2.4 litre Jaguar MK 2.

2.5 litre V8

Dart