Mossgreen - Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia (#124MG) - Selected items... Cars... 1934 LAGONDA M45 RAPIDE. Single family ownership for 82 years Chassis No: Z11212 Engine No: 7L 40230-S The Lagonda name these days is synonymous with that of the Aston Martin marque. Lagonda, however, had an illustrious history in its own right which precedes its purchase by David Brown and merger with Aston Martin in 1948. The pre-war Lagondas manufactured at Staines in Surrey, England were always renowned for their sporting pedigree and as early as 1928 a Lagonda had finished in 11th place at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race. At the 1933 Olympia Motor Show, Lagonda introduced a new model to its range, the 4 1/2 litre, M45. The following year, the Rapide model, the M45R was launched, and the publicity material of the time hailed it as, “The fastest unsupercharged standard British car.” In 1935 a Lagonda M45R (chassis number Z12111) won at Le Mans. Before this though in November 1934, chassis number Z11212 (registered as BLA 903), the company demonstrator used by Warwick Wright, the Lagonda Sales Director had been taken from the showroom in Piccadilly and prepared for a high speed endurance run at Brooklands. The endeavour was to attempt to achieve 1,000 miles in 12 hours. Of the 203 completed laps this Lagonda M45R, driven by Roland Hebeler from the Fox & Nicholl racing team and F.J. Stephenson from Lagonda, 164 had been driven at a speed averaging over 90 mph. At this stage though, unfortunately, the record attempt was called to a halt after hours of continuous torrential rain. Photographs and reports of the nevertheless impressive run appeared in the November 16th issue of ‘The Autocar', the November 20th issue of ‘The Motor’, and on the front cover of the December 1934 issue of ‘MotorSport’ magazine with the caption “Amphibious Motoring”! In early 1935 the car was purchased by C.S. Dyer from the aforementioned Warwick Wright at the Lagonda showroom to where it had been returned after its efforts at Brooklands. It was immediately shipped to Fremantle in Western Australia where its new owner lived. The car was driven by C.S Dyer on a regular basis until he died in 1958 whence in 1959 registration was transferred to his son who is still the current owner of this splendid sports car. By this stage the red M45R had travelled some 90,000 miles. In 1969 minor reconditioning work was carried out to both the body and the upholstery. Since 1969 the car was used sparingly and always well maintained. In 2005 the original Meadows 4.5 litre engine which developed 135 bhp at 3,800rpm and was capable of a little over 100 mph developed an irreparable crack between its 5th and 6th cylinders. After two years searching for a replacement block without success the Meadows and its accompanying T8 gearbox were replaced with a modified Jaguar 4.2 litre engine and gearbox. At the same time the vehicle was totally reconditioned over a period of 30 months by a leading classic car restorer on the Sunshine Coast at Caloundra. It was also then that the mechanical brakes and steering were modified to ‘power assist’ to improve the handling and performance of the more powerful engine which is rated at 260 bhp at 5,500 rpm. This Lagonda M45R, chassis number Z11212, remains today in its original colour and very much as the current owner's father purchased the car 82 years ago. This important and highly desirable machine with incredible provenance and background is now offered for sale for the very first time in its history.”