JDHT Brings Sir Norman Wisdom's Barn Find Daimler to NEC Restoration Show

Held 21-23 March at Birmingham’s NEC, the 1954 Daimler Conquest Roadster is being displayed by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT). The car has been kindly donated to the JDHT by its current owner renown Speedway rider Des Lukehurst.

Any Daimler Conquest Roadster is rare with just 60 built between 1953 and 1957, but this car PYM 575, is especially so and surprised everyone when it reappeared in the 1980s. It was finished in December 1954 with the note ‘chassis’ making it destined for a coachbuilder. It is likely this car started out with a body built by Carbodies of Coventry, the famous builders of the iconic London Black Cab. This is backed up by the Carbodies body number which is still present on the bulkhead.

The car known as the ‘Leaping Greyhound’ after the grille emblem, was then sent from Coventry to Hooper and Co coachbuilders of London who then substantially rebuilt and restyled the car. This was at the bequest of either the factory or the first owner - star of stage and screen Norman Wisdom, or more likely for both for PR purposes. Norman was firm friends with Daimler owners Lord and Lady Docker and had appeared in films with Daimlers before.

Although PYM 575 was Norman’s own private car, it subsequently appeared in the 1956 film ‘Up in the World.’ The Hooper cars differ from standard Roadsters with subtly differing side and rear treatments, higher bulkhead and roofline to allow for more headroom and aluminium rather than steel rear body and front wings. The doors have rounded bottoms with different handle placements and the boot lid does not shroud the numberplate lights.

Once thought to be a one-off, at least one more Hooper bodied Roadster has since surfaced, curiously registered PYM 938.

Des used the car for local shows until ill-health forced him to park the Daimler in the same barn it had been restored in. Late in 2024, Des and his family decided that it was time to part with both his Jaguar XK140, which can be seen on the Jaguar Drivers Club stand in Hall 5, and this Daimler.

He wanted both cars to be seen and enjoyed by the public. Sadly, in January 2025, barely a few weeks after the cars were donated to the JDHT, Des Lukehurst passed away. The JDHT aims to recommission both cars in memory of Des, with work starting on the XK140 at the show.

The Footman James Barn Find display features 20 rusty relics that have been discovered all over the UK. Visitors are invited to cast their vote to choose their favourite to be crowned the ‘Best Barn Find’.

With over 1300 cars on display, visitors can also enjoy the UK’s largest indoor spring autojumble, Practical Classics World with motoring experts, over 160 motoring clubs with more than 110 of them live working at the show, 250 specialist traders, and the Classic Car Auctions by Iconic Auctioneers sale featuring around 230 remarkable vehicles.