1953 Daimler Conquest

Home from market: Sylvie, Pat and the Daimler return from town

This week I caught a ride into town with Pat and Sylvie Synge. Pat and Sylvie have been hosting me these past days as I look for a suitable mount.

Like most Australians, Pat and Sylvie drive sensible cars – like the Honda that sits in front of their house. Then there’s the Daimler.

The Daimler

Out back in their shed, behind a set of roller doors, lives a 1953 Daimler Conquest. It’s in this magnificent beast that we recently visited town. While rolling through the Tasmanian landscape, Pat took a few moments to describe what he was seeing. I say “a few moments” because cars like the Daimler demand constant attention while driving. Levers need pushing. Pedals need depressing. When starting, throttle controls need tugging – then shoving back in.

Gauges: read closely and you’ll spot labels like “start”, “petrol reserve” and “mixture”)

There’s not much time for chit chat – and don’t even think about texting.

Here’s what you’re about to hear.

In the recording below, you’ll hear Pat firing up the Conquest in his shed. It takes a few tries. Then we fade to the open road and this is where your imagination needs to carry you far, far away. To Tasmania in spring where on a river road, a Daimler heads toward the Southern Ocean. You’re in that car with us, sitting on those deep leather seats, and as the coast rolls by, you wonder how you’ll ever commute in your car again….

To take a ride in the Daimler click on the audio player below.

T321NR: The lever used for selecting gears. “T” stands for Top gear.

The view over the wheel

Related links:
In addition to his marine surveying business, Pat Synge runs an online classified ad site. Click here for a gander


peta
2010-11-20 14:37:06

just fantastic audio Bernie You’ve done it again…I felt I was right there going over the bumps in the road, just magic.
peta


Al Privette
2010-11-24 19:04:03

Reminds me of a ’63 Austin Healey 3000 MK III I once owned with no top and a hole in the floorboard. It had an electric overdrive activated by a toggle switch on the dashboard. Thanks for sharing the experience of the Daimler! God bless the Queen!

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