Reg/No: TYL 575 (London Central)
The 1955 Daimler ‘Golden’ Zebra is possibly one of the most extravagant of any car ever built. With ivory-coloured paintwork, all exterior trim being gold-plated, REAL ivory interior trim, and the seats covered in zebra skin, it wasn’t the most inconspicuous of vehicles. It was ahead of the trend for the diamond-encrusted ‘bling’ mobiles often tailored to celebrities in more recent times, although tailored to a more sophisticated clientele.
The car had been dreamt up by Lady Norah Docker, a Daimler director who gained notoriety for her extravagant tastes. The basis for the car was a DK400 limousine rolling chassis, and its bodywork and interior were the work of the craftsmen at the Hooper coachworks in west London. The interior included a vanity case, manicure set, cocktail cabinet, a concealed telescopic umbrella, and when asked why she had chosen real zebra skin for the seat upholstery, her reply was ‘ because mink is too hot to sit on.’