I thought he would dodge the question, because not every classic car owner likes to boast about how much their vehicle is worth. However, he didn't do that, but pointed out the problems involved in determining the value of such cars. A DS420 in good condition can be purchased for as little as 25,000, which doesn't seem like much for such a large and elegant-looking car. Yes, but that price only applies to models that don't have a history or owner of public interest. For those that do have such a history or owner, the value is more difficult to determine and depends primarily on who the owner was.

A standard Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, for example, costs around one million euros, but in 2021, a collector paid two and a half million euros for Princess Margaret's Phantom IV. Perhaps an even more fitting example is that a Ford Escort Mk1 RS Turbo in excellent condition costs around 43,000 euros. Princess Diana also owned such a car, which found a new owner at an auction of Hagerty in 2022 for 950,000 euros, 22 times its original price!

So how much is the Daimler DS420 with chassis number 200970 and body number 2003 worth, which has been driven by numerous members of the British royal family, including Princess Diana and the current king, for three generations? Mr Vanik has a guess: he estimates the value of his well-restored Daimler Limousine with the registration number D500GUW at 250,000. However, this amount is small change when you consider that, after the purchase, the salary of a chauffeur would also have to be paid from the family coffers. For not to take the driver's seat, of course, but to sit exactly where Princess Diana and Prince Charles once sat.

Photo 1: The engine-bay is also elegant and beautiful, with its elongated six-cylinder engine with double camshafts. The two SU carburettors are clearly visible.
Photo 2: The design of the rear section in particular is reminiscent of Daimler's earlier Hooper bodies.

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