Drive: Nice to Sainte-Agnes & return, 130km
Car: Daimler SP250
Story: Barry Green
Photos: Dawn Green
NICE, FRANCE, 2018: What a difference a day makes!
Today, unlike 24 hours earlier on our drive in the Beck 550 Spider, the weather is more temperate, and we have the safety net of a stowaway soft top should things heat up. What’s more, our elegant classic 2+2 sportster is, so I’m assured, not given to fuelling up.
The car in question is a Daimler SP250. When it first broke cover as the Dart at the 1959 New York Motor Show, the SP250 was voted (unofficially) the ugliest car at the show.
But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so they say, and to my mind the SP250 is an impressive expression of modernism. Just look at the bold, avant-garde styling, lustrous Gunpowder Grey paintwork and gleaming, chromed wire wheels! Automotive art.
The SP250 qualifies as the last unique model from Britain’s oldest car maker and the marque’s only true sports car. Moreover, only 2654 examples were made from 1959-64, making it a true limited edition. First, a few not so well-known facts: 26 units were acquired by the London Metropolitan Police and one of the roles was to “encourage courtesy on the roads” (not my words!).
In Australia, the Federal Police also bought a pair. The SP250’s talents extended to the racetrack – the brothers Geoghegan, Leo and Ian, won the 1962 Bathurst Six-Hour race for series production sports and touring cars in one at a canter.
With business unfinished in the Beck 550 Spyder, we’re determined to pick up from where we left off yesterday. So, we depart Nice and head straight up the Moyenne Corniche and onto the Grande Corniche to ride its roller coaster of switchbacks and hairpin bends. And take in the stunning panorama of the Cote d’Azur coastline at its sparkling, effervescent aqua best.
A shapely rear end (with fins for American tastes)…
Early impressions of the Daimler are highly promising. First, the broad and ever-present torque of the 2.5-litre V8 engine, which sees the SP250 pull eagerly out of 2nd and 3rd gear corners. Second, the bucket sports seats boast an agreeable blend of comfort and support, though the absence of seat belts of any kind takes some getting used to. Yes, it’s that authentic in period presentation!
The ride quality is supple; grip and braking impressive for age, and the handling proficient, but clearly this is not a car given to being chucked about. Not with the steering as heavy as it is, even compared with other classics that have similar unassisted systems. Lucky the Mota-Lita steering wheel is suitably large in diameter to assist with leverage.
We turn sharp-right onto the D37 towards La Turbie, cross through the village, bear left onto the D53 and delight in the sweeping bends in the direction of Peille. Less than 10km on, a road hairpins off to the right; the D22, that climbs over the Col Madone to Sainte-Agnes before descending to Menton and Cap Martin. It is tight and restrictive in places, takes in two or three tunnels and offers superlative views the whole way to Sainte-Agnes.
A small sign proclaiming, ‘Rallye Jean Behra. 77th Rally Nice Jean Behra National, St Agnes-La Tana 5.6km’ left over from a recent event, serves to confirm the road’s reputation as a cracking drive. To add to our enjoyment, we pretty much have the place to ourselves, save for a pair of gents photographing a Peugeot 508 roadside in great detail, a pair of large white dogs (Maremma) herding a group of free-range goats unassisted and a cyclist having a well-earned rest, who gave us the thumbs-up and friendly wave.
A modest claim
Another sign, ‘One of France’s prettiest villages’, welcomes us to Sainte-Agnes, at 780m the highest coastal village in Europe. As such, the views are five-star: of Menton, far below, across to the snow-capped peaks of the Mercantour National Park; over the French Riviera, from the Italian border to Roquebrune-Cap Martin. Looking south, in good weather it’s even possible to spot the island of Corsica seemingly anchored out in the Mediterranean.
With such topographic assets, little wonder Sainte-Agnes grew into a strategic stronghold in the 16th century which later extended to a vital part of the pre-World War 2 Maginot Line guarding France’s eastern border (albeit unsuccessfully). Today, the Ouvrage Sainte-Agnes survives as a museum open to the public.
Another bonus of touring in France
We have not arrived here by accident. The friendly folk at Rent a Classic Car Nice gave us the heads-up on the cracking drive and introduction to Le St Yves, a delightful restaurant serving a menu to match the stunning views. “Georges (owner) and Thierry (waiter) will look after you,” we were assured.
And so, it proves, over a long lunch. The various courses of excellence – fois gras, charcuterie salt pie, trout with almonds, wild boar stew and frites, cheese platter, crème brulee and lemon meringue tarte – are served efficiently and with a generous splash of Gallic humour and genuine bonhomie. The excellent cherry rose, dispensed on arrival, and 2015 La Seigneurie Du Medoc (superb Bordeaux red; just a glass, mind) to complement the main course, matched the to-die-for vistas from the deck.
A later stroll around the village to compensate for our uncharacteristic gluttony took us through medieval gardens and chateau ruins and unlocked even more epic vistas, then back to the restaurant carpark where we bumped into a group of older folks carefully inspecting the Daimler. Between their basic English and my atrocious schoolboy French, we chatted animatedly but sans clarity.
One gent pulled out his wallet and proudly showed me a photo of his red MG Midget. “I used to have one!” I exclaimed, which he most definitely understood, and, for a moment, no further words seemed necessary. The group stayed around to hear the Daimler’s little V8 fire up, and warmly waved us out of sight, no doubt tracking our course down the mountainside by the characteristic, throaty burble on over-run.
Not the ideal road for the SP250
It’s been said that the SP250 is best experienced embracing a gently curving road, as you enjoy the wind in your hair, and view over the deeply sculpted bonnet. I’ll second that. Given its modest total of cubic centimetres (for a bent-8), the Daimler delights with its ever-ready response and flexible torque delivery.
There’s nothing exotic by way of suspension (period-typical control arms, front coil springs, live axle and rear leaf springs), but handling is a delight for a sports car pushing towards its sixth decade. The unservo-ed, four-wheel solid disc brakes proved progressive and effective, and I’d imagine a match for pretty much any other roadster of its day.
To encapsulate, the Daimler SP250 possesses an engaging drive to complement its dare-to-be-different design and timeless style. Would I have one? In a heartbeat. Would I love to drive those roads again? Absolutely.
Looking back the way we came
Basic price new: $US4259 (new)
Engine: 2.5-litre OHV V8
Power: 105kW @ 5800rpm
Torque: 214Nm @ 3600rpm
Transmission: 4-spd manual
Weight: 940kg
Drive: Rear-wheel
0-100km/h: 8.8secs