1914 Lagonda 11.1hp Four-Door Tourer

• One of only four known survivors of the model
• Early example of body/chassis unitary construction
• Known ownership history
• Present ownership since 2022
• Restored since acquisition

The revolutionary design by Lagonda Motor Company founder, Wilbur Gunn, the Lagonda 11.1hp was introduced in 1913. Instead of the customary separate chassis, the steel body was reinforced with angle iron in an early form of unitary construction, predating the Lancia Lambda by almost ten years.

The 1,099cc four-cylinder engine of 67x78mm bore/stroke has overhead inlet and side exhaust valves operated by a single camshaft. The valves are opened by rocking tappet leavers and rods which pass through the water jacket. A skew drive works a plunger oil pump. Early in the car's history, the Lagonda carburettor was replaced with a Solex – probably in the 1920s – while the original Ruthardt magneto has been replaced with a BTH GA4. The car has a three-speed gearbox with brakes operating on the transmission and rear wheels, while the suspension has a front transverse leaf spring and rear quarter-elliptic springs. The car is fitted with what is thought to be the earliest example of a fly-off handbrake. It has Sankey artillery wheels with a spare mounted at the rear. Around 500 of these cars were built before the First World War but production was stopped in 1916. The Lagonda 11.1hp was regarded as a fine, reliable vehicle, and in competition events managed several class wins including a Gold Cup in the Colmor Cup Trial of 1914.

This car was first registered as 'DN 767' on 9th June 1914 to Anthony Thomas Howell, a wholesale fruit merchant of York. Ten years later it was owned by the new owner of his business, Frederick Thomas Burley. In 1949 the Lagonda was purchased by a garage in Yorkshire, eventually passing into preservation in Gloucestershire. It attended many VCC events before being acquired by the Stondon Motor Museum and was sold when the museum closed in 2007. The car comes with a complete history listing all owners.

It was purchased by the present owners in 2022 and completely dismantled. The bodyshell was in good condition and has been thoroughly rust-proofed and painted. All mechanical parts have been overhauled. The magneto has been rewound, new piston rings fitted, new copper tubes fitted to the radiator, rocker shaft ball races renewed, and the coachwork repainted.

Only four Lagondas of this model have survived: three two-seater coupés and this one, the only four-seater tourer. The car is now registered 'SV 6677' and has Veteran Car Club Dating Certificate No. 393, which was obtained in 1953.