Turners tgo3

Fancy a trip in the Queens Daimler...

Fancy owning a car fit for royalty? On October 31st, the 1989 Daimler 420 limousine that transported Queen Elizabeth around New Zealand during her 2002 royal tour went under the hammer at Turners Auctions Penrose Branch.

The vehicle attracted a big crowd to the auction with over 700 people in attendance. The car reached a staggering $69,000 due to some very passionate bidding.

And it is no wonder that the car had such a great following at the auction. The vehicle was purchased by the Department of Internal Affairs in June 2001 and rebuilt in New Zealand by Beacham Independent Jaguar Specialists. It was then used to transport Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh around Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in March 2002.

“This vehicle is a complete gem and combines the best of British and Kiwi craftsmanship. Its renovation is exceptional and it’s in impeccable condition,” says Todd Hunter spokesperson for Turners Auctions.

The rebuild of the vehicle in 2001 saw the Daimler stripped down and rebuilt from bare metal. The original XK engine was replaced with a six-cylinder unit from a 1993 Jaguar XJ40. The engine now drives through an electronically controlled automatic gearbox and the brakes have been upgraded with an ABS anti-lock system.

The original wood veneer has been stripped and re-lacquered to a high polish and new seats were fitted, dressed with New Zealand leather. Other modifications include two air-conditioning systems, soundproofing, tinted glass and various castings for carrying royal standards and flags.

Other notable dignitaries who have been transported in the Daimler include the Belgian Royals in 2002 and the Dutch Royals in 2006.

Numerous heads of state have also been transported in the Daimler including Ireland’s President Mary McAleese, Filipino President Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Tarja Holonen, President of Finland and President Wahid of Indonesia.

And a car of this pedigree could also have fitted into a Prestige Auction very nicely. Every 3 months, Turners Penrose branch hold a Prestige auction full of the top makes and models from around the world. The next auction will be held on December 5th. If this auction is anything like the others this year there should be no shortage of Lamborghini Maserati, Aston Martin, and the usual plethora of BMW, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz product... All in all we have over 20 of the world's most exclusive marques available, totalling over $1.5 million in value all being sold on Saturday, 5th December.