From the archives of Bob Montgomery, motoring historian
THE DOCKER DAIMLERS: No, this is not an article about the personal transport of those gentlemen best known for the unloading of shipping cargoes. Rather, it is the story of some of the extraordinary one-off motor cars ever manufactured.
The story begins with Sir Bernard Docker taking up a seat on the board of Daimler in 1940. A talented and respected man, he was given the chair in 1941. In February 1949, Sir Bernard married the attractive Lady Norah Collins, who was to exert considerable influence over her husband in the years that followed! The following year a specially bodied Hooper 2 1/2 litre fixed head coupe was produced for her Ladyship. Pretty as this car was, Sir Bernard decided to produce something more spectacular for the London Motor Show of that year.
The resulting Straight-Eight Sedanca de Ville with Hooper coachwork was painted ivory over black with the rear compartment trimmed in a special soft white cloth. This was the start of the famous line of 'Docker Daimlers' which were to generate so much publicity for the company over the next few years. The Sunday Express said "Perhaps it is so beautiful because, from first conception to exquisite completion, it has been built with one idea; to provide the perfect background for a beautiful woman".
It was said that the motivation to build this spectacular and extravagant series of cars came about as a result of Lady Norah being ashamed that her Daimler cars were not recognised as such when she was abroad in Europe. She is famously supposed to have told her husband "The only people who know about Daimler are the Royal family!" As a result of her personal interest she was appointed to the board of the Daimler-owned coachbuilders, Hoopers, who were persuaded by her that the resultant publicity justified the not inconsiderable expense of producing these cars.
Perhaps the most impressive of the 'Docker Daimlers' was the 1951 Gold car. A touring limousine based on the 36hp Straight-Eight Daimler, it was finished in black above the waistline and in black with tiny gold stars (yes, real gold!) below. In addition, every part of the car which would normally have been plated in chrome was instead plated in gold. In the huge boot were black suitcases made of genuine crocodile-hide, mounted in gold and lined in silk. The gold theme continued right down to the gold-plated radio controls! Was it any wonder that the Daily Mirror pictured the car alongside the headline: "Please don't call my gold-plated car vulgar, pleads Lady Docker".
For the 1952 show Daimler produced a car based on its Straight-Eight chassis. The gold finish was forsaken and replaced with chrome on a body painted in powder blue and grey, with a four-leaf clover design dotted all over. Inside, the finish was in grey-blue lizard skin. The 1953 car, called 'Silver Flash' was the least successful of the series and the 1954 car - 'Stardust' - was built on a 4 1/2 litre prototype chassis and finished in Royal Blue and covered in miniature stars. The upholstery and trim was in silver silk brocatelle specially made on hand-looms with pale blue crocodile skin being used for the cappings and cabinet work.
Shortly afterwards, Sir Bernard was obliged to resign his position on the Daimler Board because of alleged currency offences. Thus the car prepared for the 1955 Earls Court Show was the last of the line. Known as the 'Golden Zebra' car and based on a 4 1/2 litre car with bodywork painted in ivory. The facia was also finished in ivory and the upholstery was genuine Zebra skin. Sir Bernard died in 1978 and is today remembered for the series of extravagant designs he caused to be made for his wife.