1938 Lagonda V12 Saloon

4,480cc SOHC V12 Engine
175bhp at 5,500rpm
2 SU Carburetors
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Original U.S. Supplied Example
*Purchased new by Thorne Donnelley of the famed R.R.D. empire
*Offered with copies of factory records

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

For the history of the model, please refer to the V12 Drophead Coupe project in the collection. Lagonda's International successes created a broad basis of buyers, and a number of them, such as 14100, came new to this county. According to copies of the factory archive materials on file, it was ordered for delivery on July 29, 1939. As supplied, it wore a light blue exterior with coded blue grey leather interior and carpet and headlining to match. The wood trim was in Burr Walnut, and other interior detail features included a Phillips Radio, with telescopic aerials. Of technical note was that the engine was to be equipped with the latest 2nd sanction type sump and oil level indicator. Bumper mountings were included, but no bumpers, nor was a British style built in license plate required, suggesting that, in these respects, local accessories would be fitted in the US.

The purchaser was Mr. Thorne Donnelley of East 22nd Street in Chicago, and the car was guaranteed from August 28, 1939. Mr. Donnelley was part of the R. R. Donnelley and Sons concern which since the turn of the 20th Century had pioneered book and periodical printing to the most modern of designs, and could count Encyclopaedia Britannica, Time Magazine and Life Magazine, as well as Ford and Sears Roebuck among their clientele. Today, this company is better known simply as R.R.D. and has grown to a Fortune 500 company with revenues of many $1bns. Mr. Donnelley was the grandson of Richard Robert Donnelley, and took his name from his mother Laura nee Thorne.

According to the records the Sedan remained with Donnelley until April 1949 when it passed to W.W. Stout of McLean, Virginia. At this point the trail of the V12 goes quiet until it surfaced in the collection of Dr. Terry Bennett in New Hampshire until 1992. By then the Lagonda wore the same guise as we see today, a restoration with color choices far removed from its originals, and most likely dating from the late 1970s/early 1980s. Now well aged, its upholstery is torn in a number of places.

One of a number of cars secured by Frank Spain from Bennett, it has resided alongside two other pre-war examples of its breed for more than 16 years.