Lagonda M45 T7 Tourer - 1934
Chassis n° Z10646
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
Estimated : € 220.000 - 280.000
Sold for € 212.750
'Lagonda cars have always upheld a reputation for effortless fast touring and the pride of ownership which fine detail work and distinguished coachbuilding can give. The 4½-Litre model retains these characteristics, but scores considerably over its forebears by its high power-to-weight ratio. The chassis is no bigger than the three litre car, and there is no suggestion of clumsiness, heavy steering or the other drawbacks which often accompany the large engined car.' - Motor Sport, January 1934.
The Lagonda car company was founded in 1906 in Staines, Middlesex by the American Wilbur Gunn (1859-1920) who named it after a river near his home town of Springfield, Ohio. Gunn had started out building motorcycles in the garden of his house in Staines with some success, including winning the 1905 London to Edinburgh Trial. In 1907 he launched his first car and in 1910 won the Moscow to St Petersburg Trial driving a 16/18hp model. Having established its reputation, Lagonda concentrated mainly on the production of light cars before reverting to sporting and luxury models in the mid-1920s with the introduction of the 14/60. This four-cylinder, 2.0-litre model was joined in 1929 by the first of Lagonda's own sixes - the 3-Litre - but by the mid-1930s the Meadows-engined cars were seen as the way forward. 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 short run on one of the first of the 4½-Litre Lagonda models, with an open four-seater body, left a vivid impression not only of brilliant acceleration and sheer performance, but of a car delightfully silent and easy running in a way that can be achieved to the fullest extent only by a big-engined machine working well inside its limits,' reported The Autocar in 1933. As the foregoing contemporary quote clearly demonstrates, these exceptionally handsome big-engined Lagondas created a considerable impression when new, and here we offer a fine example of this elegant and very British post-Vintage thoroughbred.
Chassis number 'Z10646' was sold new in April 1934 and registered in the UK as 'LJ 9777'. The first owner's name is recorded in various forms, but he is believed to have been naval officer Commander Hugh Stewart Shaw, DSC, RN. The car enters the Lagonda Club records for the first time in July 1961 when owned by Commander H S Shaw, who kept it until at least 1966.
By the end of 1979 the Lagonda was in Belgium having been bought by Willy Vernimmen at Paradise Garage in London. It was registered in the name of his wife, Mrs Gabrielle Maes, in November 1980. The current owner bought the car from Mr Vernimmen in 1997 and registered it with old Belgian number 'G112T'. Since then the Lagonda has been maintained with no expense spared and has participated in numerous events with the current owner, including the National Classic Tour where it won in Division 1.
Exceptionally comprehensive, the history file contains numerous photographs of the Lagonda in action and a vast quantity of invoices for work carried out to keep this beauty in excellent running condition, which included re-upholstering the worn front seats in correct Burgundy leather. Also contained therein are various publications featuring this Lagonda, including 'Oldtimer Plus' magazine (2006); the road book of the National Classic Tour (2017); cover for the Terre di Canossa – International Classic Cars Challenge program (2013); and the 'Gazetta di Reggio' for the Terre di Canossa.
Lagonda M45 T7 Tourer - 1934
Chassis n° Z10646
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
Estimated : € 220.000 - 280.000
Sold for € 212.750
'Lagonda cars have always upheld a reputation for effortless fast touring and the pride of ownership which fine detail work and distinguished coachbuilding can give. The 4½-Litre model retains these characteristics, but scores considerably over its forebears by its high power-to-weight ratio. The chassis is no bigger than the three litre car, and there is no suggestion of clumsiness, heavy steering or the other drawbacks which often accompany the large engined car.' - Motor Sport, January 1934.
The Lagonda car company was founded in 1906 in Staines, Middlesex by the American Wilbur Gunn (1859-1920) who named it after a river near his home town of Springfield, Ohio. Gunn had started out building motorcycles in the garden of his house in Staines with some success, including winning the 1905 London to Edinburgh Trial. In 1907 he launched his first car and in 1910 won the Moscow to St Petersburg Trial driving a 16/18hp model. Having established its reputation, Lagonda concentrated mainly on the production of light cars before reverting to sporting and luxury models in the mid-1920s with the introduction of the 14/60. This four-cylinder, 2.0-litre model was joined in 1929 by the first of Lagonda's own sixes - the 3-Litre - but by the mid-1930s the Meadows-engined cars were seen as the way forward. 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 short run on one of the first of the 4½-Litre Lagonda models, with an open four-seater body, left a vivid impression not only of brilliant acceleration and sheer performance, but of a car delightfully silent and easy running in a way that can be achieved to the fullest extent only by a big-engined machine working well inside its limits,' reported The Autocar in 1933. As the foregoing contemporary quote clearly demonstrates, these exceptionally handsome big-engined Lagondas created a considerable impression when new, and here we offer a fine example of this elegant and very British post-Vintage thoroughbred.
Chassis number 'Z10646' was sold new in April 1934 and registered in the UK as 'LJ 9777'. The first owner's name is recorded in various forms, but he is believed to have been naval officer Commander Hugh Stewart Shaw, DSC, RN. The car enters the Lagonda Club records for the first time in July 1961 when owned by Commander H S Shaw, who kept it until at least 1966.
By the end of 1979 the Lagonda was in Belgium having been bought by Willy Vernimmen at Paradise Garage in London. It was registered in the name of his wife, Mrs Gabrielle Maes, in November 1980. The current owner bought the car from Mr Vernimmen in 1997 and registered it with old Belgian number 'G112T'. Since then the Lagonda has been maintained with no expense spared and has participated in numerous events with the current owner, including the National Classic Tour where it won in Division 1.
Exceptionally comprehensive, the history file contains numerous photographs of the Lagonda in action and a vast quantity of invoices for work carried out to keep this beauty in excellent running condition, which included re-upholstering the worn front seats in correct Burgundy leather. Also contained therein are various publications featuring this Lagonda, including 'Oldtimer Plus' magazine (2006); the road book of the National Classic Tour (2017); cover for the Terre di Canossa – International Classic Cars Challenge program (2013); and the 'Gazetta di Reggio' for the Terre di Canossa.