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See Bonhams auction at Newport Pagnell, 19 May, for lot 226, LR132 offered in barn find condition, last taxed 1995
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20142/lot/226/
Only 2 now unknown cars leftLovely!
Note that it’s photographed in what I think is Queen’s Gate Place Mews in Kensington. If you are curious, take a look on Google street view to confirm the location. Perhaps this car has been slumbering in a nearby mews garage as the treasured property of someone who could no longer use it, particularly in London.
I hope it finds a good home.
Cheers Colin M34
Hi Colin,
If my memory serves me right Dan Margulies (classic car dealer) used to be in Queen’s Gate Place Mews. Perhaps it passed through their hands at some point and the photos are from then? Those white doors could well be where they were.
David
Hi David
….and indeed and of course the late Splendid Lagonda Lady, Robbie Hewitt used to work for Dan Margulies as his secretary.
I knew her before she sadly passed away….so did many others in the Club. I liked her.
Colin
Hi Colin,
I used to work in South Ken and I spent many a sunny lunchtime taking in the sights. Dan Margulies often had some gorgeous car or maybe two outside in the mews and more visible through the open doors. Those garages are bigger than you’d think from the outside. And Coys were just a bit further up the road at that time in Queen’s Gate Mews. All alas beyond my budget.
David
Hi David,
Yep these garages are indeed bigger than they look from the outside…perhaps ones in the vicinity were big enough to shelter a DB Lagonda Rapide Saloon safely for many years! I wonder how many other delightful low mileage cars lurk in similar circumstances?
Colin
Going back to the car…
Looks like it has been well stored, with paint-work in what appears to be good condition.
The garages in South Ken, round the corner from when I worked at Imperial, were cavernous and well constructed. Which may mean for once that a car has come out of storage in good condition.
Will be interesting to see this “barn fresh” car and of course the bench mark price it makes at South Kensington.
I hadn’t realised that there were any barns in South Ken…
I had a chat with Tim Schofield of Bonhams about this car.
He was very brief, he hadn’t seen it, his assistant had, and comments as follows and he has upgraded description from barn find to “fair”, if you know what the difference is, I don’t !
1. Paint-work described as fair, basically requires a bare-metal respray.
2. No obvious damage seen to body work, but not checked for electrolytic corrosion etc, etc.
3. Under car not inspected for rust and rot, they didn’t want to get dirty I was told! For sure, out-riggers, sills, floor-pans and maybe more or less will need doing ?
4. No access to engine, the engine pull release lever not opening bonnet, so catch jammed. Another example of this, seems a common problem.
5. The engine untested, and car not in use for 17 years.
6. Car with unconfirmed mileage of 67,000 miles
6. Interior was described as fair – looks ok in picture
Caveat Emptor of course, but a very rare car none the less and imho, the estimate will be quickly demolished. A great car and superb engine and fabulous shape, lovely!
Before I forget, and you all rush in to bid, please, please don’t forget there will be a buyers premium on top of the hammer price. In my opinion, it is always best if possible, to buy your car privately, when the circus element is more under control and the number of bidders is reduced and price is more controllable.
A second car for Tim I would guess to join his brood………
Simon
Simon,
If I wanted another Rapide, I would buy a car in better condition than 126, 132 or 137. 🙂
T
Tim,
Touche, and I hope no offence taken….
Trust your brood are tucked up nice and dry with this bad weather.
Will be interesting to see what this car makes, trust that you wil be going to the auction ?
Simon
I doubt you will ever find a more original LR than 126…
@ Simon, No offence taken at all (and I didn’t mean to give any contrary impression). Yes, I hope to be at the auction on the Saturday and the Concours on the Sunday.
@ Christian, I am not at all sure what you mean. By ‘original’ do you mean ‘original and unrestored’? If so, you may well be correct although a cynic might respond with ‘and, so what?’ If you mean ‘to factory specification precisely as per build sheet and build’ you might also be correct. But, a cynic might respond similarly. If you mean ‘to the factory specification as per build sheet but ignoring minor upgrades and improvements’ I doubt that you are correct. But, again, the cynics etc. etc..
My short point is this: If you want to buy a Rapide, my ‘counsel of perfection’ is to ‘buy the best car you can find and afford’ OR buy a ‘special build’ car OR buy a ‘special history’ car. If you are lucky enough to own already a car falling into one or more of these categories, why would you buy another comparable car – surely, you’d look for something better? :crazy:
…yes unrestored, not many which were laid up within 10 years of being made…but who knows… 😉
Got any spare coat hooks Tim?
Indeed, but (cynically) so what? I would agree that if one wanted a time-warp (true) barn find Rapide it would be hard to find a better candidate than 126. However, that doesn’t mean that many of the other 54 cars aren’t (now) in great original condition too (whatever definition one might adopt). And, buying a true barn find is not a job for the faint-hearted or the shallow of pocket.
The coat hooks are ‘bog standard’ AM parts – used on the DB cars. I might have some tucked away but, in any event, they crop up on ebay often enough. Have you tried Puddleduck?
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