1940 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupe

Lot details
Registration No: JPG 654
Chassis No: 16063
Mot Expiry: None

If not W.O. Bentley's greatest achievement then certainly his final masterpiece, the Lagonda V12 was unveiled at the October 1936 Olympia Motor Show (but not officially launched for another year). Intended to marry limousine refinement to sportscar performance, it was based around a cruciform-braced chassis equipped with independent front suspension, a Salisbury hypoid back axle and Lockheed hydraulic drum brakes. Powered by an advanced overhead-camshaft 4480cc V12 engine allied to four-speed manual transmission, the Lagonda flagship boasted 100mph plus performance. Available in 10'4", 11'0" and 11'6" wheelbase lengths, just 200 or so were made before production ceased during 1940.

According to information kindly supplied by the Hon. Registrar of The Lagonda Club, Arnold Davey, chassis number '16063' was among a batch of approximately twenty cars that were still under construction when WW2 broke out. Put into storage at Flood St, Chelsea until summer 1940 (when the government sanctioned its completion), the 11'0" wheelbase car was clad with Lagonda's own saloon coachwork. Retained by the Works as a demonstrator, the V12 was road tested in the September 1941 issue of Motor Sport. Purchased by its first private owner, North Country comedian Frank Randall, during 1945, the car was to remain in his possession for a decade. Known to have passed through the hands of A.A. Russell and Tom Pinguey thereafter, '16063' was acquired by its previous keeper Dr F.W. Landgrebe of Clwyd Wen, Glamorgan in 1962. Reportedly treated to an extensive engine overhaul by Cotswold Engineering during 1992, the Lagonda was later stripped back to a bare chassis. Confronted with a rotten ash frame, the decision was taken to rebody the V12 in the style of a Vanden Plas drophead coupe (the famous coachbuilder's design was the only convertible one the seller could find for the 11'0" wheelbase chassis). Thought to retain its original factory coachwork from front bumper to A-posts and then from rear seat to tailpipes, the restoration / conversion work also saw '16063' repainted and re-trimmed. Upgraded with a "Jaguar four-speed overdrive gearbox" so as to allow more relaxed high-speed cruising (a straight forward modification given the original unit's separate location), the V12 has apparently had its instruments recalibrated to suit. Off the road since 2001 with starter motor problems (after seven rebuilds the offending component has now been replaced by a more modern alternative), '16063' is variously described by the vendor as being in "sound" (bodywork), "good" (gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim, wheels / tyres) or "excellent" (4480cc engine, chassis) condition. Though, he concedes that the paint "needs work".

PLEASE NOTE: The vendor has informed us that the original gearbox for this vehicle is available via separate negotiation.