1934 Lagonda Rapier Race Car Special

Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Chassis No: Unknown
Mot Expiry: N/A

For the 1934 motor car buying season, Lagonda introduced a new small, but quality sector model, the Rapier with Tim Ashcroft designed 1104cc 4-cylinder engine with chain-driven twin overhead cams and hemispherical combustion chambers, twin SU carbs, 4-speed pre-selector gearbox and a 75mph top speed for up to four in the open tourer coachwork. With 2 in main bearings, as used on Lagonda's 4.5, Rapier motors could rev up to 6000 rpm in safety. Early engines were built by Lagonda themselves, later ones by Coventry Climax. Lord de Clifford offered a semi-racing version with bored-out motor which was badged De Clifford Special.
After Lagonda had gone into receivership in 1935 and new owner Alan Good dropped the Rapier, Ashcroft and others, however, set up their own Rapier Cars Limited in the old Lagonda sales depot in Hammersmith and Rapier assembly from parts bought from Lagonda resumed. A supercharged version was offered from 1936, production ceased altogether in 1937, and the company was wound up in 1938 and finally dissolved in 1943, by when it is reckoned that some 470 Rapiers had been produced from the 500 sets of components originally ordered by Lagonda for their Rapier project. Even postwar, however, components were still being built-up into Rapier Specials.
The car being auctioned here started life as a Staines-built 1934 Lagonda Rapier, which, in the early 1950s, was transformed by the famous tuning guru and Downton Engineering chief, Daniel Richmond, into a supercharged single seater sprint and hillclimb car. It was certainly well modified by Richmond with two-stage supercharger and huge SU carb.
Today, some fifty years later, we are advised that the blower indicates about 15psi when the 1098cc 4-cylinder motor is on full chat with 7000rpm on the tacho. Whilst, according to the owner, the optimum fuel to use consists of a mixture of 35% petrol, 5% acetone and 60% methanol.
The normal Rapier pre-selector, 4-speed gearbox, for which some spares are available, is fitted. There are two sets of wire wheels with the car; twin rears with matching fronts, all 18in diameter and only used for shows; and, for competition work, a set of 16in wheels shod with Avons, which, the vendor says, seem to work quite well. The vendor tells us that the body, blue paintwork and black interior are all in fair condition, whilst the chassis, engine, blower and gearbox are in good order.