1932 Lagonda 2 Litre Continental Tourer

Lot details
Registration No: YY 1778
Chassis No: OH10149
Mot Expiry: May 2012

An American of Scots descent, Wilbur Gunn began his automotive career building tricars in the greenhouse of his Middlesex home. He formed the Lagonda company in 1906, apparently naming it after a river near his home town - Springfield, Ohio. And, though he passed away in 1920, the business initially continued to develop well, producing a range of sports models that led directly to Lagonda's historic victory at the 1935 Le Mans 24 Hours race. Having abandoned the premium car market back in 1913, the company did a complete volte face twelve years later with the introduction of the 14/60. Coachbuilt onto a ladder chassis, the Arthur Davidson-designed newcomer featured a freshly crafted 1954cc four-cylinder engine featuring twin, high-set camshafts and a detachable cylinder head - a first for Lagonda. Renowned for its powerful braking, the 14/60 could eventually be ordered in low or high chassis form, in Speed guise (with a tuned engine set further back in the frame), or supercharged for ultimate performance.

The final iteration of the much vaunted 2-Litre was the Continental, of which just 23 examples are understood to have been made between April and July 1932. Though production was split 50/50 between Saloons and Tourers, the Lagonda Club is only aware of seven Tourers still in existence today, making them a very rare model indeed.

It featured a handsome steel rather than fabric-covered, three-door, four-seater body, a distinctive slanting radiator and 18-inch centre-lock wire wheels. The engine's output of circa 70bhp was sufficient to endow the 30cwt Lagonda with a top speed of around 80mph. The twin-cam OHV engine drove through a four-speed gearbox with right-hand gate change. Braking was by large drums on all four wheels and suspension was by semi-elliptic springs and André Hartford friction shock absorbers all round. The price new would have been around £725.

The Continental on offer was first registered on October 25th 1932. It is arguably best known in Lagonda circles from its lengthy period in the hands of the Gostling family. It was apparently purchased by Harry in 1946, who retained it until his death, whereupon ownership passed to his brother Ian Gostling. Both men competed with the car during their tenure and the history file contains photos of Harry pressing on at both Silverstone and Brands Hatch. 'YY 1787' appears to have been treated to various upgrades during the Gostlings' ownership - they are said to have included larger brake drums, a bigger capacity oil pump and the downdraught cylinder head which was installed by Wessex Workshops in 1996. The Lagonda appeared in an article entitled 'Used cars of the road' that was published in the Autocar issue of June 24th 1953 - the writer noted that 'the handling of the car was one of its specially good features'.

The Lagonda was finally wrested from the Gostling family in July 1997, when it became the property of Gordon Colin Oliver. Subsequent owners include David Rose and Peter Zaslawsky, and it was from the latter that the vendor acquired 'YY 1778' during December 2009. In his care the bonnet and wheels have been refurbished and five new tyres and inner tubes fitted. He currently describes the Dark Blue bodywork and Black leatherette interior trim as "original", the paintwork as "loveable and very well patinated", the engine as "very good", the gearbox as "good", and the electrical wiring as "new". He is now selling this rare and apparently very usable British classic complete with sizeable history file and MOT into May of this year.