1938 Lagonda LG6

Rapide Drophead Coupe
Chassis number: 12372

The Lagonda LG6 was first displayed at the New York Auto Salon in October 1939 in preparation for the 1940 model year. The Lagonda, according to the press of the day, was one of the event's 'show stoppers.' Only 85 LG6 chassis were produced and just six were Rapides. The engine and chassis were developed by W.O. Bentley, who had just unhappily left Rolls-Royce after his company was taken over. He joined Lagonda with the express purpose of creating a luxury sports car, and this vehicle was the result. The wonderfully balanced coachwork was envisioned by designer Frank Feeley and built at the Lagonda factory. The 4.5-liter 6-cylinder engine is capable of delivering 140 bhp and a speed of 100 mph. Mr. Horace Ridgley Bullock of New York was this car's first owner. It is a three-owner car from new and one of only six LG6 Rapides ever built.

In Detail

Take an opera singer from Ohio, mix in some Scottish ancestry, add a little water from a river near Springfield, Ohio and what do you end up with: Lagonda.

It would seem a former opera singer might not know all that much about automobiles and manufacturing. But then again, when Wilbur Gunn came to establish Lagonda at Staines, Middlesex in 1899, not a whole lot of people did understand all that much about the still rather new automobile industry.

Over time, Gunn would show a good deal of business savvy and wisdom until, by the early 1930s, Lagonda had come to build a 4.5-liter M45 chassis that would provide customers with an affordable car and performance similar to that of a Bentley.

The M45 would become one of the most desirable cars to have by 1934. Because Lagonda made their own bodies, customers were able to experience a car of considerable quality without having to spend their entire fortune to own one. All of this made the M45 very popular, but it would cause Lagonda to try for more.

At the peak of the M45's popularity, the new Rapide would be introduced to the public in 1935. Although it was more expensive, it did provide customers with a car that had a much more powerful engine on a shorter chassis and made use of new Girling brakes. Then, in 1938, an evolution of the Rapide would be unveiled. It would be known as the LG6.

The LG6 Rapide would still have the 4.5-liter 'Meadows' six-cylinder engine. It would also include the normal dual SU carburetion and a four-speed manual transmission. However, the car would make use of an independent front suspension on torsion bar springs and Lockheed hydraulic drum brakes. When all combined together, the LG6 Rapide's performance fit the Lagonda reputation quite well.

While the majority of the earlier Rapide models were built on short wheelbases there was only a very rare handful that would end up being built on long wheelbases. In fact, only six would end up being built and one of those rare examples would be available for sale at this year's RM Auction in Monterey, California.

Chassis 123172 was the result of the work of Alan Good. He had taken the LG45 Rapide extended it and had created a truly elegant design complete with teardrop fenders and other aesthetic features that were quite popular at the time.

The LG6 had first made an appearance at the 1937 London Motor Show. However, production wouldn't get rolling until 1938. By the time the Second World War broke out for England in September of 1939, one six LG6s would be completed. One of those would be the one up for auction in Monterey.

12372, although built in 1938, would end up sitting around until 1940, when it would then be shipped to Allerton-Hickmott of Hartford, Connecticut. Upon arriving in the United States, the car wouldn't be sold right away. Instead, it would serve as a main showpiece at the New York Auto Salon. While on display, Horace Ridgely Bullock would become enamored by the car and would end up trading in his 1929 Rolls-Royce for the car.

The Lagonda seemed the perfect fit for Bullock who, besides being a very successful businessman, was also known to be something an all-around sportsman. He would be a major player in the America's Cup and other activities. Besides his enjoyment of outdoor activities, Bullock is perhaps otherwise best known for his enjoyment of good music and was largely instrumental in the promotion of the Lester Lanin swing band.

Bullock would end up owning the LG6 for more than twenty years. Then, in 1961, he would end up selling the car to Richard Roy, a New Jersey businessman and a classic-car enthusiast.

If Bullock owning the car for more than twenty years was rather impressive then Roy's ownership was something truly astounding. Roy would hold onto the car as part of his collection for a total of 46 years.

Then in 2007, Roy would end up selling the car to the owner of Lime Rock. Skip Barber would come to own the car and would almost immediately have the car sent for restoration. RM Auto Restoration would be contracted to do the work. The restorers would go to work performing a total restoration of the car. Very quickly it was realized that while much of the car was original it was really beginning to show signs of deterioration and severe aging.

The work would take almost a year and a half. But when it emerged it would go on to score a second in class at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours. Bearing a striking blue/green exterior and 'pigskin'Connolly interior, it would also go on to earn the 'Beaulieu Cup' which was for the most significant English car at the venue.

While the origins of the company certainly didn't seem to blend well, the LG6 Rapide; however, was almost the perfect blend of style, grace and power. Not only could it seat its occupants in luxurious comfort, it had the power and performance to make the trip enjoyable and exciting at the same time. Like a beautifully performed opera, the LG6 combined all of the senses and emotions to strike just the right note. As a result of this blending, 12372 would earn $544,500.

Sources:

'Lot No. 230: 1938 Lagonda LG6 Rapide Drophead Coupe', (http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r125&Currency=USD). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r125&Currency=USD. Retrieved 29 August 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, 'Lagonda', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 19 August 2011, 10:19 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lagonda&oldid=445646330 accessed 30 August 2011

'Lagonda History', (http://www.lagondaclub.co.uk/index.php?/history/P3/). Lagonda Club. http://www.lagondaclub.co.uk/index.php?/history/P3/. Retrieved 29 August 2011.

Drophead Coupe
Chassis number: 12334

Chassis number 12334 with UK Registration Number HFO 565 was sent to the original owner on August 24th, 1938 via London dealer University Motors. Ownership passed to P.J.C Endorry in 1957, then to D.S. Vernon in Chichester, and then to US resident Desmond Fitzgerald of Connecticut. It was later in the care of Terence Gooding of Sante Fe. From 1967 through 2005, its owners have been Lagonda Club members.

This 1938 Lagonda LG6 Drophead Coupe is painted in British Racing Green with a beige leather interior and matching convertible top. It was restored many years ago but has aged nicely. The design of the vehicle was handled by Frank Feeley with open coachwork by Lagonda.

In 2008 it was brought to the Automobiles of Amelia, presented by RM Auctions, where it was estimated to sell for $285,000 - $350,000. It was one of the highlights of the event, though several other cars at the auction brought in over a million each. It is an elegant automobile and possibly one of W.O. Bentley's greatest masterpieces. This gorgeous machine was sold at auction for the sum of $247,500, including the buyer's premium.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $225,000 - $300,000. Bidding reached $180,000 but failed to satisfy the car's reserve. It would leave the auction unsold.

by Dan Vaughan

deVille Saloon

Lagonda was established in 1906 and has been owned by Aston Martin since 1947. The company had financial issues during the 1930s and was bought by financier Alan P. Good, who outbid Rolls-Royce. He persuaded W.O. Bentley to leave Rolls and join Lagonda as designer. The large 4.5 litre engine became the power for this enormous and heavy car. Bentley was brought aboard to take Lagonda up a notch and improve the car technically, and that he did, with new suspension; a 140 horsepower engine; and new body designs. Production of the LG6 started in 1937 and continued until the outbreak of the war in 1940.

All Lagondas are rare: According to records, Lagonda built a total of 85 LG6s from 1937 until 1939. This particular car spent time in Germany, Austria, and England, and may be the only one built with a Frank Feely factory body stretched to a limousine chassis.

Wilbur Gunn was born in 1859 and grew up in Springfield, Ohio. He arrived in England in 1891, where he met Mrs. Constance Grey, his future wife. She was a widower who had lost her husband in 1896. Constance and Gunn married in 1897. In 1898 Wilbur added a single-cylinder petrol engine to his bicycle. Within time, the Lagonda factory would be built on the property of their house. The name Lagonda was named for a creek near Gunn's home. The name 'Lagonda' is Shawnee Native American for a place now called Buck Creek.

Gunn's motorcycle proved to be successful in international competition, and soon he expanded his offerings to include three-wheeled vehicles with larger capacity engines, ultimately building over seventy examples. In 1908, Gunn won the London to England reliability trial which earned him the Gold Medal for that year. In 1910, the Moscow-St Petersburg reliability trial was won by Lagonda.

When World War I broke out, the Lagonda factory was morphed to accommodate the war effort, primarily building shells. After the war, they returned to building automobiles and racers. Shortly thereafter, Gunn passed away, dying in 1920. Gunn's partner, Alf Cranmer, continued the operations. Cranmer had been with the company from 1904 until 1935.

At the 1925 London Motor Show, a two-liter hemispherical four-cylinder model was introduced. Its excellent braking and superior construction continued its reputation for power and performance. A more sporting version, the 'speed', was introduced two years later. In 1930 Lagonda adopted a supercharger for their 2-liter motor and achieved a 90-mph top speed.

In 1933 the Lagonda M45 was introduced at the London Motor Show. It came equipped with a Meadows engine of 4453 cc capacity. Lord de Clifford used a prototype to outrun a train traveling from London to Brindisi. The feat was done in 14 hours. Future versions of the M45 were later modified and entered into the 1934 Tourist Trophy, and all three entrants finished in strong fashion. Road-going versions of these vehicles were later offered to the public.

The 24 Hours of Le Man's race was, and still is, one of the most prestigious race events in the world. It was grueling for the driver, team, and automobile. During the 1920s and 1930s, Bentley and Alfa Romeo were the favored victors. In 1935 John Hindmarsh and Luis Fontes drove a Lagonda M45 Rapide 1,868.42 miles averaging 77.85 mph to an overall victory.

Sadly, this victory was not met with increased sales. Part of the decline was new speed restrictions of 30 mph across Britain. Declining sales sent the company into bankruptcy. The company was saved by Alan Good and the company was reformed as LG Motors. Their first introduction was the LG45 which was based on the M45. It was given Girling brakes and a softer suspension. In total, 278 examples were offered.

Rolls-Royce had purchased the bankrupt Bentley Motors, and W.O. Bentley stayed aboard for a few years before leaving in the summer of 1935. He joined Lagonda as Technical Director and was tasked with creating a new 4.5-liter engine for the Lagonda LG45. The result was a six-cylinder OHV unit that was powerful and refined.

In 1937 Lagonda introduced the LG6 and the Lagonda V12 at the London Motor Show. Production began the following year. W.O. Bentley had created the designs for the chassis featuring independent front suspension by long torsion bars making them much sturdier than their predecessors. The 4.5-liter Meadows engine was used but treated to improvements and modifications which increased the horsepower. The LG6 served as the replacement for the long-running 4.5-Liter Lagonda and did so in fine fashion. It had a top speed of 100 mph with a modern chassis and body that made it extremely desirable and appealing. It benefited from the skills and experience of the legendary W.O. Bentley which makes it one of the greatest automobiles ever constructed.

Records indicate that a mere sixty-three Lagonda LG6s were constructed between 1937 and 1939. Only 50 have survived. It is estimated that around half of the production were dropheads.

by Dan Vaughan

Wilbur Gunn, an aspiring opera singer living in west-central Ohio, decided he might have better luck in this career in cosmopolitan Europe. He emigrated to England around 1897 and soon married. His musical aspirations were not achieved, so in 1904 he gave up on opera, and established the Lagonda Motor Cycle Co., in Staines, Middlesex.

Along with singing, Gunn also possessed mechanical talent. One of his earlier enterprises was in producing steam-powered watercraft.

Gunn's automotive company was given a name that reflected his Ohio roots. Lagonda was the name of a small stream that flows through Springfield, Ohio, which has since been renamed to Buck Creek.

The Lagonda Company produced motorized bicycles, followed by three-wheelers, and from 1908 onward, produced proper four-wheeled motor cars.

The company developed a performance image that would continue beyond World War II. By the mid-1930s, the Lagonda added another feature to their automobiles - style. By this point in history, Wilbur Gunn was long gone, having passed away in 1920. After his passing, the company would go through several directors, and it faired reasonably well. During the 1930s, the fortunes began to decline, as the Great Depression began to take its toll on the economy. This, coupled with England's new 30 mph speed limit, set the performance car maker into receivership.

Control of the Lagonda passed to entrepreneur solicitor Alan, who soon hired Walter Owen Bentley. Bentley had been frustrated at the company he'd founded following its 1931 takeover by Rolls-Royce. He left his company when his contract expired in 1935. At Lagonda, Bentley quickly revitalized the mechanical and technical operations. He made upgrades to the Meadows 4.5-liter six-cylinder engine and created a new V12 powerplant.

Lagonda LG6

Another addition to the Lagonda company was 26-year-old designer Frank Feeley. Feeley would breathe new life into the Lagonda designs and use his youthful exuberance to enhance the exterior and attract new customers. Feeley would later work for Aston Martin during the David Brown post-WWII era.

The LG45 models were introduced in 1936 and would remain in production until 1937. They were fitted with the tried-and-true Meadows six-cylinder engine and chassis from the M45 model. Longer springs and Luvax dampers were fitted to give the car a more comfortable ride.

The LG6 followed in the late 1930s. These were elegant cars, drawing some of their inspiration from the LG45 Rapide drophead. They had extended teardrop fenders and modern sweeping lines. Along with elegance, they also benefited from the work of W.O. Bentley and had impressive performance.

Bentley redesigned the 4.5-liter six, which included a new crossflow cylinder head and twin magneto ignition. The result was upwards of 150 horsepower at 3800 RPM, and a top speed in excess of 105 mph.

At the 1937 London Motor Show, the LG6 made its public debut. Production followed a year later, in 1938, just prior to the start of World War II. In September of 1939, LG6 Rapide production had reached just six units. Many other traditional drophead coupes and saloons were produced, but only six Rapide's were built prior to the start of World War II. It is believed that 85 Lagonda LG6s were built between 1937 and 1939.

by Dan Vaughan