1936
LAGONDA
LAGONDA
The "Lagonda“ make was founded by Wilbur Adams Gunn, an expatriate American, with a keen interest in engineering and … opera singing. Gunn came to Britain in 1891. The name "Lagonda", of Indian origin, was that of a locality in Springfield, Ohio, from where Gunn originated.
Gun started to build motorcycles, first for himself and friends, in the greenhouse of his home in Staines, Middlesex. In 1899 he founded Lagonda Engineering Co. (LGC) and hired his first employee, Alfred "Alfie" Cranmer. In May 1904, Gun transformed LGC into Lagonda Motor Co Ltd and started to manufacture three-wheeled motorcycles. In April 1907, Lagonda saw its first bankruptcy. However, Gunn continued to trade under the name of Lagonda Cars and built the first four wheeled car.
In 1935, after another round of financial difficulties (which were very typical for the whole motor industry) the company was bought by Alan P. Good, a 29 year old lawyer. He persuaded the legendary W. O. Bentley to leave Rolls-Royce and join Lagonda as designer, taking along with many of his racing department staff.
THE LG 45 MODEL
In 1933 Alfie Cramer and his team started to develop a 4.5-litre car called M45. It featured a Meadows 6-cylinder 4467 cc engine, already used to good effect in the famous Invicta cars. It gave the M45 a top speed nearing 100 mph (160 km/h). The Motor magazine wrote that it was the fasted accelerating production car they had ever tested.
When W. O. Bentley joined Lagonda, for legal reasons now called LG Motors (Staines) Ltd, the development of the LG 45 was his first assignment. The first model was presented to the public in September 1935.
THE TEAM CARS
The introduction of the 4.5 liter cars lead to the now iconic Fox & Nicholls Team Cars. It is this design - manly, mean and fast looking - on which most specials were closely or loosely modeled when enthusiasts started to convert now tatty and rattly saloons into serious big boys toys.
CUU 55
CUU 55 started life as a saloon and was first road registered on March 9th, 1936. The car was first documented at the Lagonda Club in 1954, when its then owner, RAF Wing Commander Reid joined the Lagonda Club. In 1962 CUU 55 was acquired by Mr G Rose, who lived at Metham Hall, a stately house in Howden, Yorkshire. He then had the car rebuilt in 1973 as a special. Two years later, in 1975, it was acquired by a garage owner who raced the car, among others, at the Bentley Drivers Club Silverstone Race Meeting. In June 1983 he sold CUU 55 to Richard Fox, of Walter Fox & Part Ltd, Sheffield. Stuart J. Armitage, who worked at Fox, purchased the car in October 1985 and restored it over a period of five years. In November 1997 CUU 55 was sold through Coys. Photos featured in the sales catalogue show that the car still had the same sporty, highly attractive body it had been given in 1973.
The car has its original engine (LG45/178/S1) and enjoys the benefit of the later, W.O. Bentley-developed, synchronized G10 gear box. The sporty straight exhaust system produces a wonderful sound (road legal in Switzerland!).
PHOTO GALLERY
doing good speed despite the rain
Altitude 2'164 m / 7'100 ft
chasing modern cars :o)
FOR SALE
After many years of providing serious fun to the present owner, this fabulous example of vintage motoring is now for sale.
Suitable for tall drivers!
Much work has been done over the years, including a full engine rebuild, and so this LG45 is ready to be driven fast or at leisure, without any further preparation. A powerful yet smooth engine, surprisingly efficient brakes, the right noise from the exhaust system and the eye-catching looks will put smiles on your face.
Last but not least, the car comes with the rare, fantastic book by Bernd Holthusen plus some others. The stories of Lagonda, the early car industry and car racing, multiple bankruptcies, and a few calamities such as two world wars and the Great Depression, are all intertwined and make for fascinating reading during the winter months.
