Single family ownership for the last 65 years
1936 Lagonda LG45 Rapide Tourer

• A true supercar of its day
• One of only 25 built (24 surviving)
• Present family ownership since 1958
• Professionally restored in the early 1990s

The 4½-Litre Lagonda was one of the most accomplished sports cars of the 1930s, as a succession of high-profile race wins, culminating in victory at Le Mans in 1935, amply demonstrates. Introduced at the 1933 Olympia Show and based on the preceding ZM 3-Litre model, the M45 deployed Meadows' 4½-litre, twin-plug six to good effect, saloons being capable of reaching 90mph and tourers the 'ton' under favourable conditions.

A team of three specially prepared short-chassis cars (effectively the soon-to-be-announced M45 Rapide) prepared by Lagonda main agents Fox & Nicholls performed creditably at the 1934 RAC Tourist Trophy at Ards, and the following year one of these TT cars driven by John Hindmarsh and Luis Fontes won the Le Mans 24-Hour endurance classic outright.
Under the technical direction of the great W O Bentley, recently departed from Rolls-Royce, the big Lagonda became more refined, the M45's successor - the LG45 - gaining synchromesh gears, flexible engine mounts, and centralised chassis lubrication among many other improvements. Intended as a prestige, upmarket model, the LG45 was aimed squarely at the Bentleys built by W O's erstwhile employer. Endowed with such impeccable pedigree, the 4½-Litre Lagonda quickly established itself as a favourite among the wealthy sporting motorists of its day.

In its road test published on 10th April 1936, The Autocar declared: "The 4½-Litre has always given a fine performance; in its latest form it provides all the performance that anyone can reasonably require, and at the same time has been silenced, smoothed out and made a much more comfortable car, so that in comparison with the earlier versions it is hardly recognisable on first driving it. It can only be said that the appeal of the car has been considerably widened, for the people who today set great store by noise and a harsh suspension are greatly outnumbered by those to whom refinement in a fast car is far more desirable."

For some though, this more refined 4½-Litre had moved too far away from the original conception, among them being Lagonda company director and former racing driver Dick Watney, previously with Rootes. It was the perfectionist Watney who conceived the Rapide, considering that the big Lagonda had grown too sober; the 4½-Litre's obviously fine performance notwithstanding. Stylist Frank Feeley – whose fruitful post-war career with Aston Martin would commence with the DB2 – was briefed to create an eye-catching, four-seater sports car on the production LG45 chassis without either shortening the frame or employing too many special components. Announced in September 1936, less than six months after the company's takeover by Alan Good and Dick Watney, the result was the greatly lightened Rapide, powered by a 'Sanction 3' engine. The latter incorporated the previous 'Sanctions' (improvements), adding a redesigned cylinder head and revised carburettor/induction arrangements to the package. For 'Sanction 3' the compression ratio was raised from 6.68:1 to 7:1, or 7.5:1 for any owner willing to prepare his own high-octane fuel! There was also an improved exhaust system.

Lagonda's own coachwork was among the most handsome offered by any manufacturer, and for the lightweight LG45 a 'no frills' open tourer body adorned with cycle wings was the only type specified. The most eye-catching British sports car of its day, the Lagonda Rapide went every bit as fast as its sensational looks suggested.

"The whole appearance of the car was flamboyant and extrovert, so much so there was some muttering about it being a car for a 'Promenade Percy'... This was dispelled forever when the top speed reached on road test was published... 133.5bhp at 3,400 rpm... 108.2 mph... rest to 50mph in 9.4 seconds and to 60 mph in 13.2... a eulogistic test..." - Davey & May, Lagonda.
The car we offer was ordered on 28th October 1936 for delivery within four weeks but was not despatched until 4th January 1937. It was ordered finished in black with Mulberry interior and a black hood. Also specified were bonnet locks, an extension to the tonneau cover, and a concealed ignition switch. The Record Card notes: "Rear seat cushions and rear squab are to be fitted with press button attachment so that both of these can be left at home by the owner when he wishes to carry excess luggage."

'12170/R' has been in our vendor's family's possession since June 1958, as confirmed by the two old-style logbooks on file. Before that the car belonged to one Richard A Pryce of Yeovil, Somerset (from 1953), who had bought it from Davies Motors. Prior to Mr Pryce it was with a Dr Glyn Owen of Eccleshall, Staffordshire from the late 1940s.

The Lagonda Club's Arnold Davey has confirmed that '12170/R' is a genuine Rapide tourer. It is believed that a G10 gearbox was fitted in the 1950s prior to the vendor's ownership. There is a good history file with the car containing a (not complete) mileage and service log from 1959, the mileage at that time being estimated as 42,000 (current total 87,000).

In the early 1990s the Lagonda was restored by marque specialist Cedar Classics (Derek Green and David Ayre), including a replacement cylinder block (original with car). There are photographs of a bare-metal repaint on file together with older photographs taken pre-restoration when the car was painted black. Also on file are bills from the vendor's local workshop, Gillams of Wincanton, for further bodywork repairs in the 1990s. Completing the paperwork are copy instruction/handbooks; copy build sheets and factory service records; Lagonda Club registers, spares books and correspondence; press cuttings and road tests; Profile Publications' Lagonda; some old MoTs; and a V5C document.

One of few 1930s automobiles capable of comfortably exceeding 100mph, the Lagonda LG45 Rapide was one of the most exciting and elegant British sports cars of the period and a true supercar of its day. With so few made, '12170/R' represents a possibly once-in-a-generation opportunity to acquire an original and well documented example of one these fabulous cars.