1923 Daimler D16 Landaulet: A Classic’s Electric Renaissance

1923 Daimler D16 Landaulet

In the quiet, rolling hills of southwest England, a small workshop called Silent Classics is quietly reinventing the world of classic car restoration. Led by Jack Kerridge, this dedicated team has taken on the challenge of transforming some of the most iconic vehicles from the past century into silent, electrified masterpieces. Their most recent build? A 1923 Daimler D16 Landaulet—a car that roared through the Roaring Twenties, now reborn as a whisper-quiet electric beauty.

A Vintage Love Affair

The 1923 Daimler D16 Landaulet is no ordinary classic; it comes with a storied past that adds to its charm. Originally purchased by the Duke of Hamilton from the prestigious London dealers Stratton Instone of Pall Mall, the car was intended for Miss Louise Lind-af-Hageby, the Duchess of Hamilton’s “Lady’s Companion.” This was a position of trust, often filled by single middle-class women, who served as personal assistants and travelling companions—a role akin to a Royal “Lady in Waiting.”

Miss Lind-af-Hageby, of Swedish descent, was frequently seen driving this stately Daimler around London. The car even made an appearance in the 1926 Lord Mayor’s Parade, carrying the Swedish Ambassador, a nod to Miss Lind-af-Hageby’s heritage. After years of service, the Daimler was put into storage in 1929, where it remained untouched until the outbreak of World War II.

Fast forward to 1959, and the Daimler found a new owner who intended to restore it but never got around to the task. It wasn’t until 1999 that the car passed into the hands of Simon Barringer, who began a meticulous restoration process. The body was removed from the chassis, and the mechanics were carefully attended to. The car was then reassembled, with the interior re-trimmed using the original fabrics as templates, and the exterior beautifully repainted in a striking combination of blue over gloss black. The car’s upright coachwork, buttoned cloth seating, and silk rope edgework harken back to an era of elegance and grandeur. The rear Landaulette roof even opens to allow for al fresco motoring—a feature that remains a delight for its lucky occupants. Today, this Daimler D16 is the only one of its kind still on the road, a rare gem with a unique history.

Marrying Tradition with Innovation

When the elderly owner of the Daimler approached Jack Kerridge at Silent Classics, she brought with her not just a car, but a piece of history. However, as much as she adored the car’s vintage charm, driving it had become nearly impossible due to its outdated mechanics and difficulty to operate. The crash gearbox and heavy steering made every journey a struggle. “She loved the car but just couldn’t manage it anymore,” Jack recalls. “The gearbox was a nightmare, and the steering? You needed to be a weightlifter to even turn the wheel.” So, how to preserve the car’s historical significance while making it functional and enjoyable to drive in the modern world? “We’re really proud of this one,” Jack says with a grin. “It took about six months, but we made sure everything bolted onto the existing mounts without altering the original chassis. It still looks like a 1923 Daimler D16, but under the hood, it’s a whole different story.”

The conversion process began with the careful selection of components that would respect the Daimler’s original architecture while delivering modern performance. At the heart of the new system is an Engiro motor, a powerful yet compact unit capable of transforming the driving experience. “We couldn’t find an off-the-shelf motor that fit perfectly, so we borrowed some ideas from our previous Fiat 500 projects,” Jack explains. “We paired the Engiro drive unit with Tesla battery modules and a Sevcon inverter. The setup works like a charm.”

But it wasn’t just about finding the right components—it was about making them all fit into a car designed over a century ago. The Daimler’s steering, notoriously difficult even by vintage car standards, was one of the first hurdles. “The steering was insanely heavy,” Jack says, shaking his head. “It was like trying to steer a tank. We managed to fit a power steering unit into the tiny space available, and now you can turn the wheel with one hand. It’s night and day.” Underneath the car, the real magic happened. The original steering box, bolted to the side of the engine, needed a new home once the engine was removed. “We fabricated a subframe that bolts right into the existing engine mounts,” Jack explains. “This subframe holds the steering box and provides a base for the battery box and coolant radiator. It was tricky, but we pulled it off, and it looks great.”

The Engiro motor was mated to the original gearbox, which Jack’s team decided to keep for its historical value and the added gear reduction it provides. “Most electric motors don’t have enough torque to drive the car directly through the rear differential, so we kept the original gearbox and locked it in third gear,” Jack says. “It gives the car enough grunt to pull away smoothly, and we’ve had it up to 50 miles an hour—though, to be honest, you wouldn’t want to go much faster with the brakes it has.

One of the most impressive aspects of the Daimler’s conversion is how seamlessly the new technology blends with the old. The interior remains almost entirely original, save for a few subtle additions that enhance the driving experience without detracting from the car’s vintage charm. “We didn’t want to clutter the dashboard with modern gadgets,” Jack says. “So we reverse-engineered the original fuel gauge to display the state of charge. We used Arduinos and a bit of electrical wizardry to make it work, and it looks fantastic.” For the charging port, rather than cutting a hole in the bodywork, they discreetly installed the charge port in the boot, maintaining the car’s clean lines. “We didn’t want to ruin the styling,” Jack explains. “The goal was to make the car look as original as possible, even with all the modern upgrades.” But it wasn’t just about aesthetics. The team also added practical features to make the car more user-friendly. One of these was an electric stepdesigned to help the car’s owner get in and out with ease. “The lady who owns the car isn’t as spry as she used to be, so we installed an electric step that extends when you open the door,” Jack says. “It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference.”

Fine-Tuning: The Return of the Daimler

Several months after the initial conversion, the Daimler returned to Silent Classics for some additional fine-tuning. This time, Jack’s father—a seasoned, retired, classic car restorer, and sceptic of electric conversions—joined him to assess the car’s progress: “To me, it still looks like a 1923 Daimler, which is good news.” One of the major upgrades during this visit was the enhancement of the braking system. The Daimler originally had rear brakes only, a design that was common in the 1920s but far from ideal for modern driving. “We considered adding front brakes, but it would have required significant engineering,” Jack explains. “Instead, we fitted a sensor on the brake pedal that triggers 100% regenerative braking. It has transformed the braking performance, making the car much safer to drive.”

The fine-tuning didn’t stop there. The team also worked on optimizing the motor’s performance to ensure it matched the Daimler’s character. “A lot of people think electric cars are all about speed, but that’s not what this car is about,” Jack says. “We tuned the motor so it’s not faster than it needs to be. It’s got plenty of grunt when you need it, but it’s a smooth, effortless drive, just as it should be.”

Despite the added weight of the electric components, the Daimler’s handling remains true to its original design. “The car is about 80 pounds heavier now, but the weight distribution is nearly the same as it was before,” Jack notes. “We’ve managed to keep the ride comfortable and the handling predictable, even with the added power and torque.” Valued at £140,000 ($180,000), this one-of-a-kind Daimler is a rare gem and a piece of living history. For more information on Silent Classics, visit silentclassics.com

SPECS

1923 Daimler D16 Landaulette Electric Conversion by Silent Classics

Base Vehicle:

Model: 1923 Daimler D16 Landaulette
Body Style: Landaulette (convertible top for rear passengers)
Original Engine: Sleeve valve internal combustion engine
Original Transmission: Crash gearbox (retained, locked in third gear)
Original Owner: Duke of Hamilton (purchased for Miss Louise Lind-af-Hageby)

Electric Conversion Motor

Type: Engiro drive unit
Power Output : 44 kW
Drive Type: Connected to original gearbox, providing gear reduction and maintaining historical integrity

Inverter:

Model: Sevcon inverter Gen 4 Size 6

Battery System

Battery Modules: Tesla Model S repurposed modules
Total Capacity: 26 kWh
Range: 150 miles
Battery Placement: Custom battery boxes installed on subframes, bolted to existing engine mounts
Cooling System: Integrated coolant radiator to manage motor and battery temperatures

Braking System

Original Configuration: Rear brakes only (common in the 1920s)
Upgrade: Regenerative braking system added, activated by a sensor on the brake pedal for enhanced stopping power
Functionality: Regenerative braking improves range and overall braking performance

Interior and Controls

Interior: Retained nearly all original features, with minimal modern modifications
Gauge Cluster: Original fuel gauge reverse-engineered to display the state of charge using Arduino technology
Driving Controls: Simple operation with a dash-mounted lever for forward/reverse and traditional accelerator/brake pedals
Electric Step: Twin electric, button-operated steps installed for ease of ingress and egress

Exterior Features

Bodywork: Restored to original
Roof: Landaulette design with a convertible top for rear passengers
Charge Port: Discreetly installed in the back to preserve the car’s original exterior design

Performance

Top Speed: Capable of up to 50 miles per hour (not recommended due to the vehicle’s vintage brakes and handling)
Weight: Slightly heavier than the original, with a weight increase of about 80 pounds maintaining nearly identical weight distribution