1936 Lagonda 3 Litre Continental Open Tourer

For sale by auction on Saturday 31 August 2013 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Lagonda company 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. 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. 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 followed in 1927 with the 2
litre Speed Model which was available supercharged in 1930. Very
powerful brakes set a new tradition which the company was never to
abandon.

A 'semi-sports' model of the 14/60 led in 1927 to a new. much
more sporting design. the Speed Model. using a revised version of
the 2 litre engine in a lighter sports four-seater open body.
Offering Bentley looks and performance for half the price. it was
an instant success and transformed the company's image to the one
we recognise today. A top speed of 80mph was guaranteed and was
achievable. given a suitable road.

In 1926 the company had introduced a six-cylinder car. the
16/65. which used a longer wheelbase chassis very similar to the
14/60. but fitted with a push-rod engine of 2. 4 litres and had very
few parts in common with the smaller one. It was tuned very
conservatively to propel stately saloons and limousines.
Performance was indistinguishable from the 14/60.

The final car of the 1920's was the 3-litre using a 2931-cc
6-cylinder engine. This continued until 1933 when the engine grew
to 3181cc and when coupled with some attractive. preferably open. br/>coachwork. proved a winning combination leading to some success in. br/>for example. the Monte Carlo Rally in the early thirties.

Originally built as a "Silent Travel"
pillarless saloon. Type ZMBS ST34. in 1934. records show that the
Lagonda on offer today was acquired by a Philip Dennis Fernandes
Ferreira and used regularly between his homes in Northamptonshire
and Nottinghamshire.

In 1962. the engine was overhauled by
Boneham & Turner of Mansfield and shortly after. the current T4
body was fitted. reputedly from a 2 litre T4 Continental that was
in the process of being stripped for competition. It had a
new radiator. new SU carburettors and re-built wheels
It was also re-trimmed while still incorporating the
original saloon seating making for an extremely comfortable touring
experience as the owner and his wife can confirm. This
configuration is reportedly unique and appears to embody many of
the finer characteristics that have been utilised by Lagonda over
the years.

The present owner has covered over
25. 00 miles in the past five years. including several long
distance tours with the Lagonda Club . without missing a beat


The comprehensive history file details
extensive correspondence between the owners over the years as well
as all works undertaken. the details of which are lengthy and
extend to many pages.

The question is what does one want a
classic car for? If it is to polish relentlessly and tow to car
shows then this is possibly not the car for you - although the
basis for a potential winner is certainly all there. If the answer
is bags of elegance and character. fully sorted mechanics and the
kind of go anywhere reliability normally associated with more
modern cars. then look no further.

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