What a car! The story of Lagonda is very special even by British standards. After earning his name after winning the grueling 1910 Moscow-St. Petersburg rally with the Lagonda 30HP Six, Lagonda decided in the following years to focus on manufacturing smaller models with smaller engines. . Those models were less successful than the larger models. The company later decided to focus on cars with the larger engines. This example was delivered new as Saloon de Ville and was later converted into Rapide. The Rapide is powered by a 4.5 liter engine initially designed by Meadows and later refined by W.O. Bentley, indeed the founder of the car brand of the same name. The car was converted in 1994 by a specialist into a true-to-life replica of the Lagonda LG45 Rapide. The work was carried out at a high level and the result is a beautiful car to see and a car that is technically in very good condition. It was one of the 278 built Saloon de Ville’s from that period.
The bodywork looks beautiful. It is a beautifully designed body that is very well crafted. The fits are beautiful and the sheet metal is in excellent condition. The wheels were newly manufactured during the conversion and look beautiful. The paint has been sprayed very well and looks beautiful. The exhausts are newly manufactured and give the car a beautiful appearance. Also things such as the chrome moldings, headlights and windows all look to be put through a ring. The car is also equipped with a convertible top that is easy to operate and connects everywhere as it should. The hood is of heavy quality and looks beautiful.
The interior has been completely reupholstered with red leather and matching red carpets. The car also has a rear seat. The dashboard has been completely reworked and looks beautiful. The counters are correct and are manufactured by Smiths. The seats are comfortable and the leather is wonderfully supple. The leather has developed a beautiful patina and the rest of the interior is also in neat used condition. A car like this is of course extremely suitable for participating in long-distance rallies. The previous owner has successfully participated in several multi-day tours and has built in a trip master for this.
The technology has always been maintained by a specialist in Belgium. The engine can be characterized as a typical W.O. Bentley engine: built to last and very powerful. The engine excels in enormous elasticity and a lot of torque at low revs. During the restoration, things such as the brakes and the undercarriage were completely renewed. The car runs beautifully and is very powerful for that time. The car has successfully participated in several multi-day tours in France, Portugal and Italy in the past. After the first meters it is immediately clear why this car should be used as a base. The engine runs beautifully silky smooth, the chassis is comfortable and the car is exceptionally fast for the period.
In short, not only a fantastic car to see, but also a very well-maintained and driving example that is welcome at all major and important events.
