Description
The Daimler DK400 Golden Zebra Coupé is one of the most exotic and rare examples of post-war British automotive craftsmanship, built in the mid-1950s as a bespoke luxury showpiece. Based on the Daimler DK400 chassis, this one-off coupé was created by Hooper & Co., the renowned British coachbuilder, for Lady Docker, the wife of Daimler’s then-chairman, Sir Bernard Docker. The car’s name, “Golden Zebra,” reflected its flamboyant styling and highly unusual interior treatment, which made it one of the most talked-about and controversial luxury cars of its day.
The DK400 platform was Daimler’s flagship luxury car chassis at the time, introduced in 1954 to replace the earlier DE36. It featured a 4.6-litre straight-eight engine, an evolution of Daimler’s long-standing design, known for its smooth, refined power delivery rather than outright performance. The transmission was Daimler’s signature fluid flywheel and pre-selector gearbox, which offered seamless, clutchless shifting, ideal for the effortless driving experience expected of a luxury coupé.
The body of the Golden Zebra was a dramatic two-door coupé built by Hooper in their signature “Empress” style, with sweeping lines, a low roofline, and curved rear wings that gave the car an elegant, almost American-inspired grand touring look. The exterior was finished in gloss black paint, set off by lavish 24-carat gold trim, including the radiator grille, headlamp surrounds, door handles, and even the spokes of the wire wheels.
However, it was the interior that made the Golden Zebra truly infamous. It was upholstered in real zebra hide, including the seats and interior panels, giving the cabin a wild and exotic flair that was deliberately designed to shock and impress. The dashboard and interior trim were finished in gold-plated metal and ivory, creating a stark contrast with the black-and-white upholstery. Every detail was hand-crafted, and the materials used were as opulent as they were controversial.
The car was unveiled at the 1955 Earls Court Motor Show, where it drew enormous attention—and criticism. It was widely seen as a symbol of post-war extravagance, particularly in contrast to Britain’s still-recovering economy. The Dockers had a reputation for commissioning outlandish vehicles to promote Daimler’s luxury image, but the Golden Zebra marked the peak of this approach. Its extravagance ultimately contributed to Sir Bernard Docker’s dismissal from the Daimler board in 1956.
Only one Daimler DK400 Golden Zebra Coupé was ever built, making it a true one-of-a-kind vehicle. Despite its notoriety, the car was mechanically sound and retained the same refinement and engineering quality expected of a Daimler. It was, however, never intended for production—it was a show car, an exercise in publicity and indulgence.
Today, the Golden Zebra remains a famous and controversial piece of British motoring history. It survives in preserved condition and has been displayed at classic car events and museums, often cited as one of the most extravagant and unusual coachbuilt cars of the 1950s. Its legacy endures as a bold symbol of the luxury and excess that defined a particular moment in Daimler’s story.