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We have this 1909 Daimler(may be) over in Bangladesh, can you guys let me know more about this car. Do you guys think that this car can be restored? If yes then will you suggest me how to do this?

P.S: I don't know if it's the perfect place to post it. If not mods please remove this post.

Thanx in advance.

This is how it shoild look like. Attempt if you find missing parts in the yard.
If not it will be almost an impossible project. :deadhorse

Nice to see a post from Bangladesh.
Please post some more pics of this Daimler, let us see the engine and other mechanicals. We are working on a 1904 Daimler, in similar condition. We have built the wheels, thwey are wooden spoke wheels, made a new steering wheel based on the remnants of the old broken one and I have sourced a Bosch Magnetto. And scared to start serious mechanical work, but cannot avoid.
It will be nice if you could also inform about other cars lying in Bangladesh, one Opel is in the background, the car on the side is not so clearly visible but may be an Austin Cambridge.
Please post more pics.
Harit

There are restoration workshops abroad who can build an entire car around just one original component found, if the owner is prepared to bear the cost.

Assuming that's all that's left of the car as shown in pictures its a daunting restoration calling for the entire body to be rebuilt. Perhaps you should call Manvendra Singh in Indore as he may be the best bet in India to build a body from scratch.

Workshops abroad will return your car to how it left the showroom originally but it will cost you a lot of money.

Is this a family car? Do you have pictures of it seen in better days?

Thanx Ramanna, Harit and DKG for your reply.
@Ramanna: Buddy There's no more parts. It might be an impossible project but it's the oldest car in Bangladesh. So what do you say, worth restoring?
@Harit: I'll try to post some more pics asap. There's lotta other cars in Bangladesh, we have got some big time collectors too and many novice like me. But we lack in good workshops. Can you imagine the official dealer of Mercedes Benz couldn't fix a w116? Then also we have many very well restored cars. You are right that's an Austin Cambridge, and behind the Daimler that's a Ford model A.
@DKG: No, it's not a family car: it was bought as it is now. In Bangladesh we can't send our cars out of the country for restoration, and i don't think we will take the risk to try loopholes. I have heard a lot about Manvendra Singh, but couldn't really contact him. Can you provide me with some contact information?

Hello Reshad,

Now it is quite clear that your Daimler will probably not be restored, probably you will have to pass it on. You have mentioned that you are a novice, that we could see from the photograph you have posted. Actually nothing of the car's mechanicals is visible! I presume for my own reasons that this is a relatively new aquisition. Also, this is not a job for a novice!. All of us car restorers have had to do "hath safai" and sometimes the learning has been expensive. Though I have not lost a car till date, in the worst case I had to redo a car 3 times. And still not finished.
Suggestion: Do not get dishartened but face the realities and tackle the job systematically. First take good pics and closeups. Then list out what has to be done. There are major jobs and smaller ancilliary jobs. The first major job is the engine, get it running. While you are onto that, it may take 2 to 3 years (we have not seen it, so we are blind), do smaller work like the steering, the wheels etc. Make a list of parts to be sources and fabricated. And start sourcing irrespective when you require it. The headlights are required last but start looking now. The price of acytelene/carbide/kerosene lights is going up every day at least over here, I do not know about availability of old parts in B'desh.
Also, get the complete unit soaked in rust remover, kerosene,diesel whatever to loosen up the fastners. Sit down and understand all the systems, transmission, brakes etc. Only tyres you can source last as these are perishables. Are you allowed to import such items from abroad or do you have to use inguinity to bring parts into the country? Once you have the mechanical end in sight, I expect 3 to 4 years, then you can plan for the bodywork.
Can you tell us something about the history of the car and how come it was preserved for so long? And also some info on other cars over there.

About a Merc workshop not being able to do a W116 does not surprise. Such workshops are only good for current and max upto 2 previous generation cars, anything older they flounder. If only they would refuse to take such jobs in the first stage and not leave the cars stranded for others to clean up the mess.

Getting the car to India for restoration is a problem both ways, to get it into the country and re-export is almost impossible. Besides, Mr. Manvendra does normally not do mechanicals, he does bodywork. To get in touch you could PM Mustangman on the forum, his son.

Good Luck, do send greater detailed pics and we shall comment. Remember, commenting is very easy, but I will try to be objective.
Cheers

First of all, it's not my car. Belongs to one of the biggest collectors of Bangladesh. And trust me he's not a novice. I had many pic including several close ups of mechanicals but my scanner is acting wired so had to post my cell phone's pic. This car is a part of a collection which houses more than 150 odd car, 70% of which is restored. I have got nothing more than beetles, morris, chevy and mini. Couple of days ago I had a chat with the owner and he mentioned about restoring the car. We can import parts, i believe the owner has already ordered some. We are trying hard to send this car abroad for complete
restoration. Any help in this regard from you is appreciated.
The w116 is running fine now as it was cured by a benz specialist from Dubai and it belongs to a close relative of mine.
I started my collection with a beetle, and now am working in a Chevy 150 sedan.
About the history of this car I'll try to post them asap.
Looking forward to hear from you.

Dear Reshad
Just check out if gear box and controls are in place. Also this Daimler had brakes only on back wheels.
I can get you pictures of the body and it can be built in Bangladesh.
Since I had a lot of trouble finding small parts for my Daimler consort which I have just completed. Mine is a 1951 model and you are speaking of 1909. My story appears in post 1950 cars.
I am meeting a very big Daimler classic parts stockist in London in a couple of weeks i will check out with him if he has information on this 1909 model and its parts. London Transport has one such bus but it about 8 years younger to yours.
Good Luck

Reshad here is the tech specs of your Daimler

Dear Reshad,

When I prepared my post of 16th Jan I had only your first two posts giving info and your profile to see that you are young. Sometimes with youth comes extra enthusiasm so that I look strange when someone reads your third post. Never mind, I do not want to discourage you, in fact you should give more posts. But you have contradicted yourself a lot in the 3 posts of yours.
First you say "we have" which would imply that you are at least part owner or your relatives. Now you say you do not own the car. Then you yourself say that you are a novice, so my post was to encourage you but at the same time also face facts of reality when you take up such restoration. But now you say the owner has 150 cars, so he must have some experience. Why does he want to know if this car could be restored? I would presume that he would know his capabilities. Being the oldest car in Bdesh it should definitely be restored.
And then you say that you cannot take the car out for restoration, will not risk loopholes and a few posts later you say that you were trying hard to take the car out for restoration.
But, really never mind the confusion, do post more pics of the mechanicals and we could give serious comments.
About the person having 150 cars, can you let us know what other significant cars are there?
Also, do you have a lot of beetles and any convertibles? Are there good Rolls, Packards etc. We really would appreciate your info. What about bikes, commercial vehicles? See, we have so many questions.
One word of caution though. If you really do manage to send the Daimler out, see that you have the quotations in place. Though few, a number of cars did go out from India for restoration, many like a Rolls, Invicta came back but some like a Bentley, Bugatti did not because the garage bills were unsettled or whatever. Then they were locally sold off.
Do you have a club and a website?

Regards
Harit

@ Ramanna, thanx mate. Please provide me some detailed pictures of the body. I will also be greatly pleased if you let me know what you about your findings regarding the dealer.
@ Harit, the owner wants to restore the car and knows that he can, but he's in a fix cause it involves lotta money so he asked me casually. I am not a owner of this car, sorry for using 'we'. Yap we are trying to send this car abroad legally, we as in our club. This collector owns a 59 karmann convirtable apart from that there's another 1974. We have quiet a few bugs. No this collector has 150 cars, but i'll say not that rare ones: say he has Chevrolet,Dodge,Nash,Benz,BMW,VW,Triumph,Morris Minor,Daimler,Jaguar,Mini,Standrd etc etc.
The lone 1923 rolls belongs to another collector. No we don't have any packard. Right now we have got three clubs. Our website is going air on this february, when we are having a Classic car show.
Why would i mind? i know that i'm a novice. i only have four cars, two of them are not restored. Trust me, i won't even dare to compare my knowledge with you guys as i don't know much. I joined this forum so that i can learn something from people like you.
Feel free to ask questions, i'll be there to reply.
P.S: you have got a lovely Lancia, would love to see a post dedicated to it.

Hi Reshad and motoring coleagues,

This is my first post on this very interesting forum.

The car certainly looks like a 1909 TB22 Daimler. The bevel differential and the rear shackles show it to be 1909, and the king pin caps indicate 22hp. There are now four of this model known to survive world-wide. The one in the UK has already been shown in photos on this thread. The other two are here in Australia, and one is in my possession. I'm actively restoring it now. The last one is a wreck, and I hope to see it restored too eventually.

Apart from these, there are only three other 1909 Daimlers known to exist. These are larger 38hp cars however. One is in the UK, and two are in Australia. All three are on the road. This gives a total of seven 1909 Daimlers now known to survive.

I also own a 1911 38hp Daimler, most of a 1914 20hp Daimler, a 1928 25/85hp Diamler limousine, a 1948 DB18 Daimler and a 1934 Austin Light-Twelve-Six tourer. I'd be very happy to assist with the restoration of your wonderful surviver. I have parts manuals, driving handbooks, photos and other information that may be of assistance. I also manage a world-wide datebase of veteran and vintage Daimler numbers, which helps me to date cars and engines for fellow restorers.

I'd be very interested to find out the Car Number of your car. It should be a four digit number starting with 5. You'll find it stamped inside the brass hubcaps (under all the grease). It should also be under the brass caps on top of the king pins as well as a number of other places that I could specify later. The engine number should also be stamped on the engine in a number of places - again a four digit number starting with 5 or 6. Are you able to advise these numbers?

As the oldest car in Bangladesh, I imagine there must be some history know of it. Do you know who its first owner was or any other history?

Congratulations on such a wonderful find, and please let me know hopw I can help.

Cheers,
Steve Campbell-Wright

Hi Steve,

This car used to belong to Maharaja of Natore. It's the oldest surviving car of Bangladesh. The engine number is four digit but starts with a 4. Attaching a pic of the number. This car is not mine but with a very good friend. Looking forward to learn more from you. You can also mail me @ reshadm@hotmail.com

Hi Steve,

I too have a Daimler chassis, it is of 1904/05. Pictures have been put up elsewhere on this forum. I have restored the wheels, sourced a Bosch Magneto, made a steering wheel and thats about it. It should be the oldest Daimler in India. I would need a carb, any suggestions? Will be grateful for any help/suggestions.

Cheers harit

Hi Reshad and rahit,

Reshad, thanks for the photo of the diff. The number on it is the diff assembly number, which is different from the engine number, gearbox number, etc. The ratio of 12x48 is interesting. Mine is 13x48. Daimler used different ratios based on the weight of the coachwork. An open car would have taller ratio, while a closed body would have a shorter ratio. So, 12x48 indicates that your car would probably have had a closed body, such as a landaulette. I'll write to you off line.

Rahit, I searched the forum for photos of your car, but I couldn't find them. May I please have a link to them, or you could write directly to me at sjwrigh1@optusnet.com.au with some photos included perhaps. Being 1904/05, it would have a timber flitch-plate chassis. How well has the timber chassis survived?

Cheers,
Steve Campbell-Wright