1933 Lagonda 16/80 S-Type Special Six

For sale by auction on Saturday 31 August 2013 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
Lagonda was founded in 1906 in Staines. Middlesex by an
American. Wilbur Gunn. who had named the company after a river near
to his birthplace in Springfield. Ohio. United States. Mr
Gunn had originally built motorcycles in the garden of his house in
Staines with reasonable success. including a win in the 1905 London
- Edinburgh trial. In 1907 he launched his first car; the 20-hp. br/>6-cylinder Torpedo. which he used to win the Moscow - St.
Petersburg trial of 1910. This success produced a healthy order for
exports to Russia which continued until 1914.

The first of the company's sports models was launched in 1925 as
the 14/60 with a twin-cam 1954cc. four cylinder engine and
hemispherical combustion chambers. The car was designed by Arthur
Davidson who had come from Lea-Francis. A higher output engine came
in 1927 with the two litre Speed Model followed by a Sports Touring
model. the 16/80. The first part of its name referred to
its fiscal horsepower rating of 16 with the second number
in its name referring to the car's bhp. However. one well informed
owner suggests that it may have referred to the car's claimed top
speed of 80mph. The car was unusual in being the only Lagonda
to be offered with a Crossley engine; however. each
engine purchased was stripped down by Lagonda. checked and fitted
with twin SU carburettors. according to their own specifications
before becoming the heart of a 16/80.

In 1933 the option of an E. N. V pre-selector gearbox
became available as fitted to this elegant example on offer today
and. with fewer than half of the original 260 made surviving. it is
a pleasure to be able to be associated with this one.

According to the kind assistance of the hugely
knowledgeable Lagonda Owners Club. S10325 left the factory with
saloon coachwork; although this was changed early on to its current
open touring configuration as detailed in the buff log book dated
1959. The comprehensive history details extensive communication
between the legendary Captain Forshaw of the club and a number of
its previous owners. 1966 saw a full engine re-build by Baldyne
with a continuous programme of works and paperwork right up to the
present day. In 1970. the body was re-built into the configuration
you see now. The Tony Robinson-built T7 canvas coachwork is
reminiscent of the style of Vanden Plas and even comes with P100
head lamps. Pre-selector gearboxes were only an option in the early
half of 1933 and so this example came with a normal four-speed
manual unit; however. in 2002. Smithy Engineering were employed to
research and install a period ENV pre-selector gearbox which
appeared to work well on test. Indeed. many thousands were spent
with this specialist firm over the years with a re-cored radiator. br/>overhauled ignition system. installation of an electronic fuel pump
and clutch overhaul. Many overseas trips have been undertaken
in this elegant tourer taking in Ulster. Norway and the Fougeres
Rally in France. all attesting to its reliability and ease of
ownership.

This Lagonda comes supplied with a hood. hood-bag and tonneau
cover as well as a comprehensive history file detailing every
invoice and letter right back to the early 1960's. A VSCC
eligibility document confirming its condition as 'Standard' can
also be found as well as a V5C and current MoT test certificate
valid for 12 months. With few of these around. this competitively
priced S-Type Special Six drives well and has the history to back
it up.

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