Footnotes

David Brown's take-over of Lagonda in 1947 allowed production of the latter's W O Bentley-designed all-new model to commence the following year, while simultaneously making Lagonda's 2.6-litre twin-cam 'six' available for the new Aston Martins. An advanced design employing a cruciform-braced chassis with independent suspension all round, the Lagonda was available as a saloon or drophead coupé, both with coachbuilt bodies. The interior with its leather upholstery, plentiful walnut and quality fittings stood comparison with that of the very best in the luxury car class.

When the new 3-Litre model was announced in 1953, coachbuilders Tickford assumed sole responsibility for body production. The newly enlarged engine now produced 140bhp, an output good enough for a top speed in excess of 100mph despite the gain in weight over the '2.6'. Expensive to produce and necessarily exclusive, the luxurious Lagondas did not sell as well as their manufacturer had hoped, though high-profile owners included HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (two dropheads) and actor Peter Ustinov (just the one).

The accompanying guarantee form copy shows that, chassis number 'LB/290/1/213' (see below) was built as a Series II saloon and supplied new via Charles Sidney Ltd to the Newcastle Chronicle & Journal Ltd. Its first registration number was 'DGB 1'. Various subsequent owners are listed up to September 1972, one of them the News of the World newspaper, while servicing notes record the installation of a service exchange engine in August 1967, by which time the registration had changed to '126 EBB'.

In 2005 it is understood that the Lagonda was comprehensively rebuilt and fitted with the body from a Mark 1 saloon ('LB/290/68'), which was converted to drophead configuration during the rebuild. A measure of the restoration's quality at the time may be gained from the fact that the Lagonda won the 'Car of the Show' award at Tatton Park in 2006 and 2007. The current DVLA-issued VIN number dates from 2005, on the chassis plate is also listed LB/290/68/213, which appears to be a combination of the chassis and body used in the restoration. ('SABTVRO' numbers are assigned by a vehicle registration office when the original identity of a bodyshell or chassis frame cannot be determined.) Accordingly, prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to the originality and correctness, or otherwise, of this vehicle's components prior to bidding.

The car appeared at auction with Historics in October 2011 and the current owner acquired the car from Aston Martin Works Service in April 2012. The invoice copy describes the car as finished in Silver with Grey trim and Black hood, and records the mileage as 70,910 (current mileage is recorded as 70,914).

Having been stored for the intervening period, the car will require some re-commissioning prior to road use. Now being offered for sale from overseas, the car will attract the low import duty rate of 5% if it is to remain in the UK and require re-registering.