LOT 542 *N

1963 Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide Sports Saloon Registration no. not registered Chassis no. LR/135/R Engine no. 400/135

Sold for £51,750 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

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Lot 542^*,N

1963 Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide Sports Saloon

The Beaulieu Sale: Collectors' Motor Cars & Automobilia|10 September 2022, 14:00 BST|Beaulieu, National Motor Museum

1963 Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide Sports Saloon
Registration no. not registered
Chassis no. LR/135/R
Engine no. 400/135

• One of only 55 made
• Delivered new in the UK
• Stored since acquisition in 2008
• Requires re-commissioning

Footnotes

Aston Martin revived famous Lagonda name in 1961 with a luxurious four-door sports saloon that took its appellation from one of the marque's most exalted models of the late 1930s: the Rapide. This new car was very much David Brown's personal project. The Rapide's sales brochure, which, unusually, was signed by him personally, stated: "It has long been my ambition to build a car which would be equally suitable to drive or be driven in..."

Beneath the Rapide's Superleggera aluminium coachwork (by Touring of Milan, the carrozzeria responsible for the Aston Martin DB4 sports car) was a lengthened (by 16") DB4 platform-type chassis re-engineered to accept De Dion rear suspension, the adoption of which allowed rear compartment space to be maximised. Powered by a 4.0-litre (236bhp) version of the Aston Martin DB4's twin-cam 'six' that would later power the DB5, the Rapide certainly lived up to its name with brisk acceleration and a 130mph-plus top speed. Dual circuit, servo assisted disc brakes restrained this excellent performance while fittings to the traditional interior included electric windows, picnic tables to the rear, filler cap remote opener and a radio as standard. The Rapide's price when new was £5,000, some 25% higher than that of the Aston Martin DB4, which itself was not exactly a cheap automobile. A mere 55 units, almost all of which were equipped with Borg Warner three-speed automatic transmission, were built before production ceased in 1964.

Chassis number '135' was completed in August 1963 and sold via Brooklands of Bond Street to first owners Howard Fairbairn & Partners of Knightsbridge, London. Accompanying build details show that the car was finished in Goodwood Green with fawn interior trim and equipped with a Motorola radio and armrests to the inside of both front seats. The Rapide has had several different UK and overseas registrations since. In 1988 ownership passed to one Andrew van Nimwegen of Norfolk, while the AMOC Register (published 2000) records the owner at that time as L Cesteleyn in Belgium. The current owner purchased the Lagonda from K Den Haan in Belgium on 31st January 2008 (copy bill of sale on file, as well as old Belgian registration). Kept in storage since acquisition, the car will require re-commissioning before further use and thus is sold strictly as viewed.

Please note that if this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. It will also require a NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrival) and an additional fee of £350 (plus VAT) will be charged on the Invoice to prepare the NOVA. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department or our recommended shippers.

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.
Buyers Premium and Charges
Buyers' Premium and Charges
Like the vast majority of auctioneers Bonhams charge what is known as a Buyer's Premium. Buyer's Premium on all Automobilia lots will adhere to Bonhams group policy:
27.5% up to £20,000 of hammer price,
26% from £20,001 to £700,000 of hammer price,
20% from £700,001 to £4,000,000 of hammer price,
13.90% on the balance thereafter. This applies to each lot purchased and is subject to VAT.
For Motor Cars and Motorcycles a 15% Buyer's Premium is payable on the first £50,000 of the final Hammer Price of each Lot, and 12% on any amount by which the Hammer Price exceeds £50,000. VAT at the standard rate is payable on the Premium by all Buyers, unless otherwise stated.
Some lots may be subject to VAT on the Hammer Price. These lots will be clearly marked with the relevant symbol printed beside the lot number in the catalogue.
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import License or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such License or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancelation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Payment Notices
For payment information please refer to the sale catalog.
Shipping Notices
Please Note the Automobilia department do not ship out purchased lots, please contact them to be advised of recommended shippers.
All lots not collected at the sale will be charged an Uplift fee as the lots are taken back to storage in Guildford.
All lots marks with 3 diamonds that remain uncollected after the sale are taken to a storage facility in Guildford, separate to the Bonhams Guildford office.
Lot Symbols
•
EXEMPT FROM VAT
Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.
IMPORT LOW RATE
VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.
AR
ARTISTS RESALE RIGHT
Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium.
N
NOVA DECLARATION
MOTORCYCLES If purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (SHIPPIO) to undertake the NOVA and C88 (customs) application if applicable on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £125 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice.CARSIf purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (CARS) to undertake the NOVA on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £250 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice.
Ω
IMPORT HIGH RATE
VAT on imported items at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium.
AUTOMOBILIA
All lots will be charged £10 + VAT Uplift and storage at £1 + VAT per day per lot.
◊
UPLIFT AND STORAGE CHARGES
£25 + VAT uplift and storage at £5 + VAT per lot per day.
◊◊
UPLIFT AND STORAGE CHARGES
£50 + VAT uplift and storage at £10 + VAT per lot per day
◊◊◊
SPECIALIST SHIPPING AND STORAGE
All lots marked with 3 diamonds will require specific shipping and storage arrangements, as they are either extremely heavy or large items, they will be removed by Autofreight Ltd, who provide independent uplift and storage services for larger lots. There are charges for this service and for storage in their warehouse in Guildford, Surrey, at the buyers expense.
Please contact John Wood, Autofreight Ltd, by phone 01483 222256, or email [email protected] for further information, details of costs and charges or to arrange collection from GU3 3HD.
Shippers or Agents wishing to collect on behalf of the purchaser must provide written instruction from the client before Bonhams will release the lot(s). All purchases are at Buyers risk from the fall of the hammer.

*	Import low rate
	VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.
N	NOVA declaration
	If purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (CARS) to undertake the NOVA on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £350 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice.

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9 September 2022, 10:00 - 17:00 BST
10 September 2022, 10:00 - 17:00 BST

Lot symbols

*	Import low rate
	VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.
N	NOVA declaration
	If purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (CARS) to undertake the NOVA on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £350 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice.