Green Goddess

A rare Daimler is on public display at the British Motor Museum. François Prins admires its rich and glamorous history

- François Prins

In February 2017 a Daimler DE36 – better known as the Green Goddess – owned by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT) was brought to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, Warwickshire and moved to the collections centre for display. This car has been with the trust for many years but had not been on public view until then.

Shown at the 1948 Earls Court London Motor Show on the Hooper & Co coachbuilder’s stand was a Daimler DE36 20ft open tourer with a straight eight engine and finished in an eye-catching turquoise paint scheme, which was immediately dubbed Green Goddess by the press. Priced at £7,001 (£250,000 or so today) it was the most expensive car at Earls Court. Autocar helpfully noted the price was “made up of approximately 36% government purchase tax, 35% coachwork price and 29% manufacturer’s chassis price. This car is designed as a roadster for an owner-driver who indulges in continental touring.”

Though the Daimler brochure issued at the time stated the DE36 was fitted with a straight eight cylinder of 4,095cc, when the model was produced the engine capacity was increased to 5,460cc, which was normal for the 150 bhp DE36 range. The transmission was of the well-known fluid flywheel and four-speed Daimler (Wilson) pre-selector gearbox. All had been tried and tested so there were no surprises awaiting the owner.