1936 Lagonda LG45 Tourer

Lot details
Registration No: UB 5577
Chassis No: 12086
Mot Expiry: April 2008

Notable as the first Lagonda design to be overseen by 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. A massive ladder-frame channel-section affair, its chassis 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. While other refinements included a Smiths 'Jackall' system (the controls of which were normally housed in a side-mounted 'dummy' spare wheel cover), 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).

According to information kindly forwarded by the Hon. Registrar of The Lagonda Club, Arnold Davey, chassis number '12086' was supplied new to marque concessionaire Kevill-Davies & March on 6th June 1936. Apparently one of just twenty-five LG45 cars built to Sanction 2 specification, it was fitted with engine number 'LG45/254/S2' and tourer body number '7213'. Originally finished in dark grey with blue leather upholstery, the Lagonda's first private keeper is recorded as Charles Ewins-Barwell-Ewins of Marston Trussell Hall, Leicestershire. Subsequently owned by Roy Galway of Farm St, Berkeley Square, London W1 (circa 1938) and R. Napier Martin of Great Bromley Lodge, Essex (February 1947), '12086' was last serviced by the factory on 6th July 1948 at 26,357 miles (or so the accompanying copy records would suggest). Thought to have migrated to Africa the following decade, it was wearing the Northern Rhodesian number plate 'B 5445' by 1959. Relocating to Zambia shortly thereafter, the LG45 came to the attention of Doug Mitchell in 1964. A General Post Office engineer on a tour of duty, Mitchell was also an avid old car enthusiast who spent countless evenings and weekends over the next four years restoring '12086' to something like its former glory. Having successfully completed the Shell Copperbelt Reliability Rally on several occasions, the Tourer followed Mitchell and his family home to England in 1972 (though, its convoluted journey involved a lengthy detour via Venezuela). As well as passing through the hands of dealer Rod Leach and auctioneer Mike Carter later that decade, the Lagonda also underwent a respray (dark green) and retrim (beige leather) before appearing in Paradise Garage's London showrooms during autumn 1978. The next spring - some forty-three years after he had collected his father's then brand new LG45 saloon from the factory - the vendor took possession of '12086'.

Promptly re-registered as 'DE 444', the Tourer has become a very well known car in Lagonda Club circles over the last twenty-eight years. A veteran of countless rallies and tours including the Lagonda Club's fiftieth and sixtieth anniversary runs to Le Mans to celebrate the marque's victory there in 1935 not to mention the 1999 Alpine Rally, 2001 Northern Rally, 2002 Isle of Man Rally and 2003 Peak District Rally, the LG45 has been well maintained. Still sporting the same livery with which it left Paradise Garage, '12086' has since received considerable attention to its paintwork (1982, 1992, 1997), weather equipment (1984), engine (1990, 2002, 2006), G9 right-hand change gearbox (1990), radiator (1999) and back axle (1995, 2003) etc. Indeed, its last overhaul saw the engine treated to cleaned crankshaft oilways, sundry new bearings and replacement fuel pumps. Like many a surviving LG45, the Tourer has had its Smiths 'Jackall' system and steering wheel-mounted shock absorber controls disabled for ease of maintenance (though, the shock absorbers themselves were serviced only last year). The vendor is also at pains to inform us that the Lagonda lacks appropriate door pockets for stowing its sidescreens (an oversight dating from the late 1970s retrim) and may have inherited its front seats from a contemporary Rolls-Royce or Bentley. Still bearing the same chassis and engine numbers with which it left the factory, '12086' now sports the number plate 'UB 5577'. A stunning motorcar, this well travelled Lagonda is offered for sale with MOT certificate valid until April 20th 2008, historic class (free) road tax valid until April 2008 and a professionally written history booklet complied by MotorHistorica.