1934 Lagonda Rapier
The 'Zwick' Rapier which was campaigned both sides of WW2

Registration No: AUA 170
Chassis No: D10727
MOT: August 2025

• Re-bodied on the request of the then owner and aspiring trials driver Maurice Zwick when three years old
• Campaigned before WW2 as the Zwick Rapier on the Land's End, Exeter and Edinburgh Trails etc
• Raced at Goodwood, Silverstone, and Great Auclum after WW2 by John Marshall, Margaret 'Peggy' Harman, and AC Griffiths
• Supplied with a history file with numerous period photographs of the Rapier in competition

Introduced at the 1933 Olympia Motor Show, the Lagonda Rapier was intended to capitalise on the growing market for small capacity sports cars. Although based around a conventional ladder-frame chassis complete with all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension and four-wheel Girling 13-inch drum brakes, the newcomer boasted a highly advanced engine. The work of consultant Thomas 'Tim' Ashcroft the 1104cc four-cylinder unit utilised twin overhead camshafts to produce a quoted 50bhp @ 5,400rpm. Praised by the contemporary motoring press for its performance, refinement and agility, the model was supplied in bare chassis guise only and bodied via the likes of E.D. Abbott, John Charles, Maltby and E.J. Newns. Prohibitively expensive to manufacture, the Rapier was dropped when the Staines firm went into administration during 1935. Convinced that the reborn Lagonda (LG Motors Ltd) had made a mistake, Tim Ashcroft, William Oates and Nevil Brockelbank secured the rights to the small capacity sports car shortly thereafter. Operating as Rapier Cars Ltd of Hammersmith they contributed a further 46 cars to the total production tally of 470 before closing their doors in 1938.

Beginning life as an Abbott-bodied Tourer, chassis D10727 was road registered as ‘AUA 170' on the 10^th August 1934. Purchased by aspiring trials driver Maurice Zwick in 1936 (who would go on to contest five Monte Carlo rallies), the Lagonda soon proved a competitive mount. Buoyed by podiums on the Land's End, Exeter, and Edinburgh Trials during 1937, Zwick had the Rapier re-bodied (from the bulkhead back) and supercharged. With little to show for his endeavours in 1938, he side-lined ‘AUA 170' storing it at Thompson & Taylor's Brooklands premises during WWII. Purchased by Weybridge garage owner John Marshall, the Lagonda was converted into a circuit racer - complete with a lightweight body and strengthened engine internals - in time to enter the 1st BARC Goodwood Race Meeting in 1948. Campaigned by subsequent keeper Mrs Margaret `Peggy' Harman in 1949-1950 at Silverstone and Great Auclum etc, she entrusted its maintenance to Maurice Leo.

Initially used by the next owner Joe Branson, as a daily commuter, he went on to win the Lagonda Club's prestigious Arthur Fox Trophy aboard `AUA 170' in 1958. Somewhat tired by the time Charles Hoskins of Market Rasen acquired it, restoration work began in the 1980s and had yet to be completed when the gentleman who completed the restoration acquired the Rapier in 2004. Purchased by the previous keeper in 2016 from H&H, the Rapier required recommissioning at this stage and was provided with over £5,000 worth of expenditure that comprised new rear axle seals, front brake overhaul, new exhaust system, and a service. Purchased by the vendor most recently, the Rapier was again not running, with the vendor recommissioning the car, and since ‘AUA 170’ has thankfully been in regular use. Running and driving excellently for the photography session, the Rapier will be driven to the sale. Supplied with a history file with in-depth history details of ‘D10727’, instruction book, previous MOTs, a current MOT until August 2025 with no advisories, numerous period competition photographs, and the V5C.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452