1937
Chassis num.1291/G10
- 1 of 278 ever made
- Restored chassis and bodywork
- Repainted in black, original colour
- The components and accessories should be either original or contemporary to the model and year
- History of the owner's reconstructed
- Royal representation
- Upgrades to the ignition and steering systems will improve the drivability of this beautiful old lady from 1937
- Recognized by the Lagonda register
The car
The car up for auction is a 1937 Lagonda with the license plate number LG45 DHC. It was imported to Italy in 2014 and registered in Rome. Despite being almost 100 years old, it is complete and in fair aesthetic and functional condition. This model is very rare today, with only 278 ever produced, and currently only 93 remaining according to the Lagonda register. This particular car is the cabriolet version, which was very popular in the USA. The car underwent a conservative restoration in 2021 that strictly followed the original specifications. The bodywork, chassis, soft top, and interior upholstery were restored, and the correct materials for the model were used. The car was repainted in its original black colour, and there are invoices available for the work that was carried out. The car now has significantly improved drivability, thanks to some modifications that have been made to it. It has an excellent starting point and can now be driven with relative ease compared to a contemporary car from 1927. The modifications include an ignition system with coils and distributors, as well as an electronic ignition. In addition to these, a power assistance system has been installed on the steering wheel components, further enhancing the overall driving experience.
The Lagonda register maintains a record of all brand owners and provides support for restorations and meetings.
The engine and all accessories appear to be original equipment.
The battery switch and the direction indicators are not original
The Lagonda brand
The company was established by an American named Wilbur Gunn. In the late 19th century, he relocated with his family to the United Kingdom. Gunn initially created a steamboat, called Giralda, which was one of the fastest on the Thames. Later, in 1898, he began producing motorcycles. In 1905, he shifted his focus to motor tricycles, also known as forecars, which were prevalent in England from the 19th to the early 20th century. These were vehicles with either three or four wheels, where the passenger seat was placed in front of the engine and the driver's seat was situated behind it. Gunn's Forecars gained a lot of popularity in racing and as a result, there were some export orders to Russia. Gunn then created what he called the 'Russian cars', which were the first Lagondas. The name 'Shawnee' refers to the Buck Creek area in the USA. Between 1914 and 18 the factory produced armaments, especially bullets, and then resumed car production at the end of the war with the 11.1. Gunn died in 1920 and the factory saw several owners in charge and nine different car models produced between the 1920s and 1930s, including the LG45. During World War II, Lagonda faced production issues caused by a severe shortage of steel. In 1948, David Brown, an industrialist who had recently bought Aston Martin, acquired Lagonda by responding to an announcement in The Times. He merged the two former competitors and formed the company Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. The Lagonda adventure in the Aston Martin orbit lasted until 1972 when it was sold to Company Developments Ltd. They created a sedan with futuristic and square lines, the Aston Martin Lagonda V8. The car caused a lot of talk due to its design and its abundant use of electronics. Production of the Aston Martin Lagonda V8 was discontinued in 1989 after only 645 units were manufactured. Most of the cars were sold in the Middle East. Following this, Lagonda stopped producing mass-produced cars altogether, except for a single SUV prototype in 2009. Currently, the brand is owned by Aston Martin.