• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

What ‘Super Luxury’ Looked like in 1950

October 8, 2014 By Nadeem Muaddi

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Daimler DK400

Speaking of super luxury car interiors, check out this 1955 Daimler DK400 coupé featured in the August 1956 issue of Popular Science magazine.

This one-off show car belonged to Norah Lady Collins, an English socialite who married Sir Bernard Docker, chairman of The Daimler Motor Company Limited. Lady Docker, as she was known, had a taste for the finer things in life — especially automobiles. So when it came time to pick a car out for herself, she went all out and got it bespoke.

Popular Science explains:

As for the Daimler’s details—it has an aluminum alloy body and all metal work is gold-plated. The 6-cylinder engine has 167 hp. Roof panel and windshield are of heat-reflecting glass, upholstery is natural zebra hide, carpeting is unnatural nylon fur. Indirect lighting enhances the impression that you’re in a naughty French comedy. All in all, about the lushest piece of transportation since Cleopatra’s Barge—or until Lady Nora designs herself another car plated with platinum.

At the time of commission, the “Golden Zebra” DK400 cost the Dockers $50,000. That’s roughly the equivalent of $445,000 today — which, of course, is still cheaper than this year’s base-model Rolls-Royce Phantom, let alone the “Phantom Metropolitan Collection.”

Still, it’s interesting to see what that much money bought nearly 60 years ago, as well as what super luxury car interiors looked like back then as opposed to today.

For a closer look, check out the following spread in Popular Science:

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Daimler DK400
Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Daimler DK400
Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Daimler DK400

For more interesting articles about auto upholstery’s past, check out our “Industry History” section.

[via Modern Mechanix]

Filed Under: Archive, Industry History Tagged With: 1955 Daimler DK400, Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior, Popular Science, The Daimler Motor Company Limited

Primary Sidebar

anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation - Right Rail Ad 3
  • Albright's Supply
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • Hyde Leather
  • Leather Craft
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Keyston Bros

THR Favorites

The Hog Ring - This Car is Upholstered in Persian Rugs

This Car is Upholstered in Persian Rugs

How would an old school Mercedes-Benz look … [more] about This Car is Upholstered in Persian Rugs

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - VW Bus

JNG Creations 1961 VW Bus Resto-Rod

After converting a 1961 Volkswagen single-cab … [more] about JNG Creations 1961 VW Bus Resto-Rod

Repair Dashboards with Vacuum Forming

Most auto upholstery shops repair vehicle … [more] about Repair Dashboards with Vacuum Forming

The Hog Ring - What You Need to Know About Fleet Work

What You Need to Know About Fleet Work

Repairing vehicle seats for fleet service … [more] about What You Need to Know About Fleet Work

Auto Trimmers Sharing Lessons

Wisdom often comes from experience, and a lot … [more] about Auto Trimmers Sharing Lessons

What’s Your Type of Upholstery Shop?

Auto upholstery isn’t a uniform industry … [more] about What’s Your Type of Upholstery Shop?

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • This Family-Run Manufacturer is Raising the Bar for Convertible Tops
  • Queens of the Stone Age to Rock SEMA Fest 2025 in Vegas
  • PETA Claims Renault Is Going Fully Leather-Free — Is It True?
  • Trimmer Richard Buczynski Dies at 87
  • Ontario Car Scene Unites to Support Beloved Upholsterer in Critical Condition

Recent Comments

  • Edward Munday on Hidden Mouse Nest? How to Charge for the Extra Dirty Work
  • Jack on Keyston Bros. Acquires DLT Corporation
  • Brodie Smith on Aston Martin Just Introduced a New Convertible DB12
  • THE CAPTAIN on 6 Tips for Turning Callers into Customers
  • Dmei on Star Wars Seat Covers are ‘So Wizard’

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in