In 1898, the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, was given a ride in a Coventry-built Daimler. Every British monarch since has used Daimlers, which have been used to carry the Royal Warrant for many years. The last of these royal Daimlers were DS420 limousines, based on the architecture of the Jaguar 420, and have hand-built bodywork by Vanden Plas, of London. This was the Queen Mother’s favored car of state, and one example went down in history by leading the funeral procession of Princess Diana.

Reportedly, the DS420 offered here was built in 1985 for use by Queen Elizabeth II herself, and it was one of two examples intended for royal use in North America; the latter remains unproven, but the car was indeed built to suit U.S. requirements, with left-hand drive and a modified emissions control system. To further improve power and serviceability on these shores, a previous owner had the original Jaguar inline six professionally replaced with a new 350-cubic inch Chevrolet V-8, which was tested on a dynamometer and found to produce 570 horsepower and 540 foot-pounds of torque.

Finished in a handsome and very regal shade of dark blue, the DS420’s elegant, handmade body shell wraps around an interior that can only be described as sumptuous. The chauffeur’s seat is upholstered in grey leather, and matching broadcloth can be found in the rear compartment, which is fitted with two folding jump seats to hold additional passengers. The compartments are divided by an electric-powered glass partition, and a two-way intercom is provided to direct the driver, who can find the way home on a GPS navigational system. Passengers have access to a full bar, which contains a set of crystal decanters and is perfect for enjoying a beverage while watching one’s favorite entertainment on fold-down LCD screens. Interestingly, this car was originally built without a trunk, as it was intended as a “people mover,” with a second car used for luggage; the previous owner had a trunk fabricated into the car, to make it more suitable for travel. Reportedly, over $65,000 was spent, in all, on building this Daimler into the best that it can be.

In sum, this may well be the ultimate limousine, combining traditional elegance and sophistication with the best of modern technology and muscle car-like performance. It is outstanding in every regard and perfect for the formal occasions that always demand special transportation, or unique executive transportation. Offered from Mr. and Mrs. Kughn’s prestigious collection, where it had been a favorite conversation piece, it is ready to take its rightful place as the flagship of a new owner.