Lot details
Registration No: PL 9564
Chassis No: OH9938
Mot Expiry: Dec 2006

"Although conversant with the excellent road capabilities of the ordinary speed model, the performance of the supercharged car came as something of a revelation, for, while the acceleration has been improved out of all knowledge, flexibility is so good that the engine can be throttled down to give a road speed of 5mph" (The Motor, July 29th 1930)
A development of the Lagonda 2-litre that was driven by Andre D'Erlanger and Douglas Hawkes to 11th place overall at the 1928 Le Mans 24-hour race, the 'Low Chassis' model was introduced the following year. Benefiting from a redesigned front axle (complete with rerouted braking system) and rear suspension spacers etc, its reduced centre of gravity resulted in notably sharper handling. Powered by a 1954cc 'twin-cam' four-cylinder engine that boasted hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined overhead valves, the 'Low Chassis' was reckoned to be good for 80mph (though this was somewhat coachwork dependant). Concerned that rivals such as Alvis and Sunbeam were beginning to offer cars of similar performance, the Staines-based company unveiled a supercharged derivative at the Brooklands Fete on 19th July 1930. While, the attendant demonstrator wore a Powerplus single-rotor assembly, the majority of 'blown' production cars were specified with either Cozette No.9 (4psi) or Zoller (5-7psi) units.
Finished in black with burgundy leather upholstery, this particular example is variously described by the vendor as being in "good" (interior trim, bodywork, paintwork) or "very good" (engine, four-speed manual gearbox, electrical equipment, chassis) condition. Although, little is known about its early history, a surviving letter from Dorset County Council states that it was first registered on July 1st 1931 to Lagonda Ltd, 1 The Causeway, Staines. Passing into the hands of Lagonda Club member T.D. Whately by January 1949, PL 9564 had apparently lost its blower but gained a new hood. Dropping out of circulation again in the early / mid 1950s, its next recorded keeper - Alan Croucher of Shortlands (Kent) - kept it for almost thirteen years between July 1957 and January 1970. Indeed, he only relinquished it to Ivan Forshaw (former Lagonda Club spares' registrar and subsequently proprietor of Aston Service Dorset) on condition that the latter undertook its restoration. Too busy to perform the work himself and keen to fund a house purchase for his son (in whose name he had registered the car), Forshaw retailed the 2-litre to RAF fighter pilot Douglas Stuart Balfour Marr in July 1971.
Deputy leader of the Red Arrows no less, Marr found few opportunities to tinker with the dormant Lagonda until the summer of 1973 (by which time he suspected it had been lying idle for six years). Faithfully completing a 2,000 mile round trip from Lincolnshire to Devon via Prescott and Dorset etc, PL 9564 was rewarded with a chassis-up rebuild. Prolonged by Marr's stint flying Harriers in Germany, the rejuvenation was not completed until 1980-81. Found to be very original, its three-door open tourer coachwork was recovered and reupholstered by Antique Automobiles Ltd of Baston (Cambs). Tasked with rebuilding the correct-type but non-original engine (thought to herald from a c.1930 blown 2-litre), Lynx Engineering were also responsible for manufacturing / fitting the replica Cozette supercharger (complete with more modern / durable innards). Sourced via Forshaw, a substitute four-speed Lagonda gearbox (complete with Lagonda Club supplied second and third cogs) helped return PL 9564 to factory specification.
Similarly cosseted by its next keepers, Mr & Mrs T Wakeley of Godalming (Surrey), the 2-litre received a new honeycomb radiator core, replacement propshaft, front axle overhaul and blower check-up etc during their nigh-on seventeen year custodianship from October 1982 to May 1999.
Forming part of the present owner's collection ever since, it was treated to an extensive engine rebuild by Sigma Engineering of Gillingham (Dorset) in 2003 (re-bore, new pistons, liners, valve guides, seats, balanced cranskshaft / conrods etc) at a cost of some £4,960.86. While, last December the same firm was also commissioned to fit new tyres and repair the fuel system etc (the relevant invoice totalling some £1,929.15). Believed but not warranted to have covered just 86,000 miles from new (correspondence on file shows that Squadron Leader Marr put his own usage at 3,000 miles), this handsome Lagonda is offered for sale with green log book, V5C registration document, instruction book, Lagonda Club spares list, various photocopied road tests, history file and MOT certificate valid until December 15th 2006.