Fantasy Junction

Description

1934 Lagonda M45 Tourer
s/n Z11226 Engine No. 12670/2976
Black with Burgundy Leather

The Lagonda M45 is the archetypal 1930s British sports car. Handsome, rugged and fast, this expensive motor car caught the rich sporting fraternity’s imagination. Although only in production for two years, it continues to have a tremendous following, especially after a mildly modified M45 run for the factory by the Fox & Nicholl team won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1935.

This car, an M45 Special Bodied Tourer, is an elegant and fast four-seater on a shortened 10-foot chassis, combining both great performance and stylish lines. Pre-war Lagonda service records confirm that M45 chassis Z11226 originally carried a closed factory body. Sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, the car entered the vast collection of Harry Ellard, who stored nearly 100 cars at his factory, some owned for nearly 50 years prior to his death at the age of 87 in 1984. His entire collection was subsequently auctioned, and this car was acquired at that time by Tony Longmate, proprietor of respected classic car restorers Oaklands, for his own use.

At the time the rolling chassis had not been run in decades, and the saloon body had deteriorated. In 1985, Oaklands started a slow but comprehensive 15-year restoration, finally completed in 2000. The ash-framed, fabric-covered body now on the car was based on a sporting three-litre Lagonda of the early 1930s and features a re-trimmed interior, a new double-duck hood and tonneau.

The engine (no. 12670/2976) is a correct M45 Meadows 4½-litre unit but is not original to this car. It was fully rebuilt during restoration and had only accumulated 1,500 miles when it was acquired by the current owner in 2008. It is mated to an original four-speed Lagonda gearbox (T8 322/5485) and has a high ratio 3.3 rear axle for fast touring. All components, instruments, etc. are correct, period Lagonda. As the car had been off the road for a considerable period, its original registration number BGT 269 had to be re-applied for and was granted by the DVLA in 1995. There is a photographic record of the rebuild and a log book detailing every outing made by Mr. Longmate.

The previous owner spent in excess of a further £60, 000 over the last two years in cosmetic and mechanical upgrades on the car to prepare it for mild competition, long-distance touring and shows. The work was carried out by Greenwood Motorsport, who have maintained the car in top-notch condition. The engine, brakes and suspension were tweaked, the crown wheel and pinion replaced, the car rewired, an overdrive unit fitted for relaxed cruising at 90 mph, correct-style spats fitted to the front wings, and twin spare tires fitted for rally use. In addition, an ingenious hidden compartment was created behind the seats to carry the full set of side screens.

The car was much admired in the paddock at the 2008 Le Mans Classic, where the previous owner used it as his support vehicle, and the car performed impeccably in the grueling Flying Scotsman Rally from London to Edinburgh. The car is on the button, cosmetically sharp and has a VSCC buff form and MOT.

Information courtesy of RM Auctions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608