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• Sold on behalf of a deceased estate
• An exceptional example that runs and drives well

The Lagonda car company was founded in 1906 in Staines, Middlesex by the American Wilbur Gunn (1859-1920), who named it after a river near his hometown of Springfield, Ohio. Gunn had started out building motorcycles. In 1907, he launched his first car and in 1910 won the Moscow to St. Petersburg Trial driving a 16/18bhp model. Having established its reputation, Lagonda concentrated mainly on the production of light cars before reverting to sporting and luxury models in the mid-1920s with the introduction of the 14/60. This four-cylinder, 2.0 litre model was joined in 1929 by the first Lagonda six-cylinder engine, the 3.0 litre, but by the mid-1930s, the Meadows-engined cars were seen as the way forward. Introduced at the 1933 Olympia Show and based on the preceding ZM 3.0 litre model, the M45 which deployed the Meadows' 4.5 litre, twin-plug six-cylinder to good effect with saloons being capable of reaching 90mph and tourers even hitting 'the ton' under favourable conditions! A team of three specially prepared short-chassis cars (effectively the soon-to-be-announced M45 Rapide) prepared by Lagonda main agents, Fox & Nicholls, performed creditably at the 1934 RAC Tourist Trophy at Ards and the following year, one of these TT cars driven by John Hindmarsh and Luis Fontes won the Le Mans 24 Hour endurance classic outright. Endowed with such an impeccable pedigree, the Lagonda 4.5 litre quickly established itself as a favourite among the wealthy sporting motorists of its day - World Land Speed Record holder, Sir Malcolm Campbell was one of many high-profile M45 owners - and over 80 years on, this model and the M45R Rapide in particular, remains a much sought-after classic.

This lovely Lagonda M45 with the desirable factory T7 touring body was first registered on 28th October 1933. Reading the information from the HPI certificate the car was repainted in 1991, changing the colour from green/black to all green. We believe that this M45 was purchased by Mr. Simon Carrel in 2011 and was stored in Wargrave, Berkshire from June 2013. It has been used sparingly since and the longest trip he did with the car was for a weekend in the West Country for a friend's wedding. While at Wargrave the car was started regularly, and any minor problems were dealt with by Mr. Carroll and the larger work was carried out by Historic racing specialist George Fowles keeping the car running and driving superbly. Recently the car has been recommissioned which included replacing the battery, cleaning the fuel system and rebuilding the carburettors. This lovely example is finished in green with green leather interior and has been kept to its original specification. This is an exceptional example which is totally reliable, ready to be used and has all the style one would expect from a 1930's Lagonda. Consigned by John Tomlin