Daimler DS420 Limousine History

The Daimler DS420 was a purpose-built formal limousine introduced in 1968, using the Jaguar 420G floorpan stretched by 21 inches and powered by Jaguar's 4.2-litre XK straight-six. It filled the role left by older coachbuilt state Daimlers and Vanden Plas Princess limousines.

Few cars have served more reigning monarchs: DS420s were ordered by royal households in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg and elsewhere, and the type was a staple of diplomatic, civic and funeral fleets. Around 4,141 complete limousines (plus over 900 bare chassis) were built. Production ran until 1992, outlasting its rival the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI by a year; the final car was the last production vehicle built with the XK engine.