The Daimler Majestic Major was a large executive saloon made by Daimler between 1959 and 1968.
In 1959 the Daimler Majestic Major was announced running alongside the slightly smaller 3.8 litre Majestic which had been released in 1958. The new engine was lighter and much more powerful. The vehicle was transformed into a high performance executive car capable of 120 mph. It is faster than a MkX Jaguar up to 80 mph despite its 1880 kg bulk and it has been said that Jaguar tried a Daimler 4.5 motor in a MkX and it did 130 mph (210 km/h). Externally the only real clues to what lurked under the bonnet of the Majestic Major were the "V8" symbols cast into the front horn grilles.
The 4561 cc V8 engine had a head design closely resembling Triumph Speed Twin motorcycle engines and a crankshaft closely resembling that of a slightly earlier Cadillac. The Triumph head design similarity is not surprising considering Edward Turner designed them both. He designed the Daimler engines in 1956. The 4.5 had a cast iron block and alloy hemispherical heads with a bore of 95 mm and stroke of 80 mm. Equipped with twin SU carburettors and double exhaust the engine produced a conservative 220 bhp at 5500 rpm.
It was built on a massive cruciform-braced box-section chassis equipped with coil-sprung independent front suspension, with a well located 'live' rear axle and four-wheel disc brakes
A Borg Warner DG12 automatic transmission, power steering and four-wheel disc brakes, vacuum-servo assisted, made it a very mechanically advanced car for its time. However, its body, originally designed for the Majestic by the old coachbuilding firm Carbodies, was already outdated and heavy when the Majestic Major first went into production and seemed increasingly so in later years. Top speed was reported to exceed 120 mph and the 0 to 100 km/h time was 9.7 seconds
The Majestic Major's turning circle was an enormous 44 feet. This coupled with the fact that power steering was only an optional extra, meant that the car was not one for manouvering in tight spaces.
Production and therefore sales were low, resulting in only 1180 vehicles being produced.
Production: 1959–1968
Predecessor: Daimler Majestic 101
Successor: Daimler DS420
Class: Executive
Body style: 4-door saloon
Engine: 4.5 litre V-8
Transmission: BW DG12 automatic
Wheelbase: 114 inches 2.89 m
Length: 202 inches 5.13 m
Width: 73 inches 1.85 m
Height: 62.75 inches 1.594 m
Curb weight: 3900 pounds 1880 kg
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