Lady Docker’s Golden Chariot (Aug, 1956)
I hear that genuine zebra hide upholstery is making a comeback.
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Lady Docker’s Golden Chariot
English milady designed $50,000 car to help cheer up the toiling masses.
BIRMINGHAM Small Arms Co., the owner of the famous Daimler auto works, has among its assets what might be called the world’s most second-hand car. This ivory and gold confection, the only one of its kind, was dreamed up by Britain’s Lady Nora Docker, built to her specifications and forever stamped with her personality. Whoever drives it now will hear people saying, “Look who’s driving Nora’s car!”
How did she lose it ? Not long ago her husband, Sir Bernard Docker, ran into one of those Big Business dramas: the directors of Birmingham Small Arms tossed him out as their chairman and back went the Daimler to BSA. Undaunted, Lady Nora ordered a Bentley Continental, also a plush job.As for the Daimler’s details—it has an aluminum alloy body and all metal work is gold-plated. The 6-cylinder engine has 167 hp. Roof panel and windshield are of heat-reflecting glass, upholstery is natural zebra hide, carpeting is unnatural nylon fur. Indirect lighting enhances the impression that you’re in a naughty French comedy. All in all, about the lushest piece of transportation since Cleopatra’s Barge—or until Lady Nora designs herself another car plated with platinum.
Seems to be a common British design to have umbrellas contained within doors. Today’s Rolls Royce has the same arrangement as this 1956 Daimler.
Comment by Michael Patrick — April 22, 2008 @ 8:21 am
So is she Lady Docker or Lady Nora? Jeez, even back then they didn’t bother to try to get it right.
Those who don’t like titles should not use them. They shouldn’t go out of their way to use them wrong.
Comment by Blurgle — April 22, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
The article describes every inch of the pimped ride, but doesn’t say why the car’s World’s Most Secondhand Car. Does she let a different member of the toiling masses borrow it every day?
Comment by Benzene — April 22, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
I think it’s ’secondhand’ because she wasn’t able to keep it because of her hubby’s job trouble- I think Diamler ended up with it and are trying to sell it.
I wonder if this thing is still out there, somewhere, or if it ended up junked at some point in the 70s.
The bar is a nice touch. A bar, and an umbrella holder…. two more things my Chevy Cobalt doesn’t have.
Comment by katey — April 23, 2008 @ 8:07 pm