18th Oct, 2006 0:00
Kempton Park Racecourse
1936 Lagonda LG45 Drophead Coupe
Sold for £72,000
(including buyers premium)
Lot details
Registration No: KY 9409
Chassis No: 12117
Mot Expiry: June 2015
Notable as the first Lagonda design to be overseen by the legendary engineer and recently appointed technical director of LG Motors (Staines) Ltd - W.O. Bentley, the LG45 was introduced in late September 1935. Although sharing the same 10ft 9in wheelbase as its M45 Rapide and M45A predecessors, the newcomer boasted significantly reduced levels of noise, vibration and harshness. The chassis was a massive ladder-frame channel-section affair that featured repositioned cross members (to liberate more rear legroom), softer semi-elliptic road springs, adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers, two prefabricated bulkheads and a harmonic stabilising front bumper. Other refinements included one-shot Tecalemit lubrication and Girling four-wheel drum brakes. Powered by a modified version of the redoubtable 4453cc Meadows OHV straight-six engine (which had earned Lagonda victory in that year's Le Mans 24-hour race), the LG45 further benefited from a part synchromesh four-speed manual gearbox and strong Borg and Beck clutch. Initially available in Saloon, Tourer, Drophead Coupe or bare chassis guises, the model was among the fastest road cars of its generation (with most closed variants being capable of over 90mph and some open ones reputedly topping 100mph). Despite a fantastic 1936 season that saw four Fox & Nicholl prepared Works racers distinguish themselves in the French Grand Prix (1st in class), Belgian Grand Prix (1st in class), Ards Tourist Trophy (2nd in class) and BRDC 500 Mile Race (3rd overall), the LG45 was phased out of production the following year after some 278 had been made (though, 150 or so are thought to have survived to this day).
Finished in Maroon and trimmed in Blue/Grey leather, this splendid example has had such notable keepers as champagne producer the Comte Audoin de Dampierre and Brian Moore of the Littlewoods family and is powered by the more powerful/desirable 'Sanction 3' unit (complete with Harry Weslake crafted cylinder head). In previous ownership the car was treated to a new clutch drive plate (2002), black mohair hood by K. Baggs Trimming of Poole (2002), Longlife stainless steel exhaust (2003), fresh battery (2003), relined brake shoes (2004) and four Michelin double-rivet tyres (2005). Riding on wire wheels and sporting Lucas headlights, the LG45 is prominently featured in both 'Lagonda by Bernd Holthusen' (Palawan Press 1998, pp.278-281) and 'Auto Retro' magazine (March 1998 issue).
The car was previously sold by H&H at Kempton Park in 2006, at which time there was temporary confusion over its identity. This appears to date back to the 1970s when the well-known restorer David Dunn owned both this Lagonda (chassis 12117) and an almost identical one (chassis 12021). Much time and effort has subsequently been invested in the matter by both the vendor (who acquired the car in 2010) and The Lagonda Club, as a result of which the club is now totally satisfied that the sale car is chassis 12117 with history exactly as described above, and has therefore provided it with the replacement ID plate it required.
A car with such history deserves the best attention and 12117 has certainly received that in recent years. In 2008 the previous keeper, D. Hargreaves, invested some £12,000 in the vehicle via Axtell Ltd of Bromley. Since November 2011 the vendor has spent a further c.£30,000 with respected marque specialists BishopGray, during which the engine was extensively overhauled including the fitting of new pistons and replacement crankshaft. Work was also carried out on the suspension and the bumpers rechromed. At the time, the odometer read 21,900 miles, since when the vendor has just returned from a successful Fougeres Rally in France, and thereby contributed some 900 miles towards the obligatory running in process. A wonderfully elegant Post Vintage Thoroughbred, this magnificent Lagonda is currently regarded by the vendor as having an 'excellent' engine, 'very good' bodywork and manual transmission, and 'good' paintwork and interior trim, with 'a lovely patina on the leatherwork'. He is offering it for sale complete with a new MoT, hood bag, jack, starting handle, MOT certificates dating back to 1997, sundry invoices, starting instructions, a reprinted handbook and copies of its original build sheets and early service records.
PLEASE NOTE: The registration 'KY 9409' is now included with this vehicle.
Registration No: KY 9409
Chassis No: 12117
Mot Expiry: June 2015
Notable as the first Lagonda design to be overseen by the legendary engineer and recently appointed technical director of LG Motors (Staines) Ltd - W.O. Bentley, the LG45 was introduced in late September 1935. Although sharing the same 10ft 9in wheelbase as its M45 Rapide and M45A predecessors, the newcomer boasted significantly reduced levels of noise, vibration and harshness. The chassis was a massive ladder-frame channel-section affair that featured repositioned cross members (to liberate more rear legroom), softer semi-elliptic road springs, adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers, two prefabricated bulkheads and a harmonic stabilising front bumper. Other refinements included one-shot Tecalemit lubrication and Girling four-wheel drum brakes. Powered by a modified version of the redoubtable 4453cc Meadows OHV straight-six engine (which had earned Lagonda victory in that year's Le Mans 24-hour race), the LG45 further benefited from a part synchromesh four-speed manual gearbox and strong Borg and Beck clutch. Initially available in Saloon, Tourer, Drophead Coupe or bare chassis guises, the model was among the fastest road cars of its generation (with most closed variants being capable of over 90mph and some open ones reputedly topping 100mph). Despite a fantastic 1936 season that saw four Fox & Nicholl prepared Works racers distinguish themselves in the French Grand Prix (1st in class), Belgian Grand Prix (1st in class), Ards Tourist Trophy (2nd in class) and BRDC 500 Mile Race (3rd overall), the LG45 was phased out of production the following year after some 278 had been made (though, 150 or so are thought to have survived to this day).
Finished in Maroon and trimmed in Blue/Grey leather, this splendid example has had such notable keepers as champagne producer the Comte Audoin de Dampierre and Brian Moore of the Littlewoods family and is powered by the more powerful/desirable 'Sanction 3' unit (complete with Harry Weslake crafted cylinder head). In previous ownership the car was treated to a new clutch drive plate (2002), black mohair hood by K. Baggs Trimming of Poole (2002), Longlife stainless steel exhaust (2003), fresh battery (2003), relined brake shoes (2004) and four Michelin double-rivet tyres (2005). Riding on wire wheels and sporting Lucas headlights, the LG45 is prominently featured in both 'Lagonda by Bernd Holthusen' (Palawan Press 1998, pp.278-281) and 'Auto Retro' magazine (March 1998 issue).
The car was previously sold by H&H at Kempton Park in 2006, at which time there was temporary confusion over its identity. This appears to date back to the 1970s when the well-known restorer David Dunn owned both this Lagonda (chassis 12117) and an almost identical one (chassis 12021). Much time and effort has subsequently been invested in the matter by both the vendor (who acquired the car in 2010) and The Lagonda Club, as a result of which the club is now totally satisfied that the sale car is chassis 12117 with history exactly as described above, and has therefore provided it with the replacement ID plate it required.
A car with such history deserves the best attention and 12117 has certainly received that in recent years. In 2008 the previous keeper, D. Hargreaves, invested some £12,000 in the vehicle via Axtell Ltd of Bromley. Since November 2011 the vendor has spent a further c.£30,000 with respected marque specialists BishopGray, during which the engine was extensively overhauled including the fitting of new pistons and replacement crankshaft. Work was also carried out on the suspension and the bumpers rechromed. At the time, the odometer read 21,900 miles, since when the vendor has just returned from a successful Fougeres Rally in France, and thereby contributed some 900 miles towards the obligatory running in process. A wonderfully elegant Post Vintage Thoroughbred, this magnificent Lagonda is currently regarded by the vendor as having an 'excellent' engine, 'very good' bodywork and manual transmission, and 'good' paintwork and interior trim, with 'a lovely patina on the leatherwork'. He is offering it for sale complete with a new MoT, hood bag, jack, starting handle, MOT certificates dating back to 1997, sundry invoices, starting instructions, a reprinted handbook and copies of its original build sheets and early service records.
PLEASE NOTE: The registration 'KY 9409' is now included with this vehicle.
Auction: Kempton Park Racecourse, 18th Oct, 2006
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