Daimler Conquest Drophead Coupe 1953 - 1956
In Spring 1954 Carbodies Ltd. was contracted to produce a 2 door, 4 seater convertible body which was mounted on a Conquest (DJ250) chassis but with the 100 bhp engine and the other modifications as on the Century (DJ256) chassis. It was announced that it was in production and available in June 1954. Production ceased in mid 1956. Cars continued to be sold and registered up to late 1956. The car was called the “Daimler Conquest Century Drophead Coupe” and classified as the DJ 252 - RHD and DJ 253 - LHD.
Number produced (maximum):
250
Chassis allocations:
DJ252 84550 - 87749
DJ253 87750 - 87799
Price:
£1,225 plus tax of £511= £1,736
Maximum Speed: 89mph
0-50mph: 13.5 seconds
Fuel Consumption: 20 mpg
Gear ratios:
1st ------- 17.47
2nd ------ 10.05
3rd ------- 6.71
Top ------ 4.56
Reverse - 17.46
Rear axle ratio - 41/9
Dimensions
Turning circle: 38ft
Wheelbase: 8ft 8ins
Track: 4ft 4ins
Length overall: 14ft 9ins
Ground clearance: 7ins
Weight: 27¾ cwts
Cooling system capacity:18 pints
Engine oil capacity: 10 pints
Fluid flywheel - 8 pints (recommend Straight 30 grade)
Gearbox - 5½ pints (recommend Straight 30 grade)
Rear axle - 2½pints (90EP grade)
Petrol tank - 15 gallons
Tyres:
Size: 6.70 x 15
Pressure front - 24 lbs/sq.in.
Pressure rear - 24 lbs/sq.in
Chassis designation:
DJ252-RHD DJ253-LHD
USEFUL DATA:
Conquest 100 B.H.P. Coupe
Engine
Number of cylinders:
6-in-line
Capacity: 2,433cc 148.4cu.in.
(76.2mm bore x 88.9mm stroke)
R.A.C. Rating: 19.3
Compression ratio: 7:1
Valve clearance:
Inlet - 13 thou; exhaust 13 thou.
Firing order: 1,5,3,6,2,4.
Sparking Plugs: Lodge HLN
Transmission
Pre-selective Wilson gearbox mated to Daimler fluid flywheel
Capacities
Road Test dates
The DJ series was a development from the Lanchester LJ200 with a modified chassis, body and fitted with a 2.5 litre, 6 cylinder, 75bhp engine.
It was introduced in 1953 as the Conquest saloon (DJ 250 - RHD and DJ 251 - LHD). Shortly after this a two seater “Roadster” with an uprated engine producing 100bhp was introduced (DJ254/5). In Spring 1954 the uprated engine which had a modified aluminium cylinder head was fitted to the saloon body and this was called the Conquest Century (DJ256/7). It also developed 100 bhp and the chassis and brakes were upgraded to suit.
In Spring 1954 Carbodies Ltd. was contracted to produce a 2 door, 4 seater convertible body which was mounted on a DJ250 chassis but with the 100 bhp engine and the other modifications as on the DJ 256 chassis.
It was announced that it was in production and available in June 1954. Production ceased in mid 1956. Cars continued to be sold and registered up to late 1956. The car was called the “Daimler Conquest Century Drophead Coupe” and classified as the DJ 252 - RHD and DJ 253 - LHD.
Th original intention was to produce 250 cars, 200 right hand drive – DJ 252, chassis numbers 87550 to 87749 and 50 left hand drive – DJ 253, chassis numbers 87750 to 87799. However, several of the cars in the last group are now known to be DJ252s and it seems very few DJ253s were built.
Over the two years of production the car went through 3 phases. It always had a DJ250 Conquest style dashboard (central cream speedometer only) but the seats and internal trim of the early ones were as the Lanchester LJ200 with flat backs and panels. This changed to fatter seats with pleating and finally, for the later ones, to thick, shaped seat backs and with full pleating to the seat and back.
Daimler always produced cars “a la carte” with optional extras or to special requirements. We know some cars left the factory with the DJ256 Mk1 dash boards (with cream rev counter and speedo), with DJ254 high ratio rear axles (3.73:1) or the 4.11:1 ratio, special headlights and extra spot lamps. Some export models had stone guards fitted at the front of the rear wheel arches. Other fittings were added as well, sadly we do not know in all cases exactly what these were.
We believe that all the 250 chassis allocated were built and of these we know of 73 cars, though we now think 4 of these may have been scrapped some time ago.
We know at least 13 have been taxed this year in the UK, including one newly reimported from Italy, and we know of at least 10 more that are being used in their respective countries.
David Tomkiss and Mark Kershaw, DJ 252/3 Registrars, mkershawdloc@btinternet.com
Daimler Conquest Coupe Brochure
Click on the image to expand
Photo Gallery
The Motor 9th June 1954
