• David Bracey
    27 September 2016 at 14:54 #52128

    Lord Howe drives a standard saloon Lagonda over 100 miles in an hour. The attempt takes place at brooklands.

    I’m not sure if the link to this excellent piece of film will play directly when clicked but a bit of playing about should get you there. Right click then ‘Save As…’ Then play from your saved position.You may need to go into settings and save in the correct format for your pc first. Worth the effort.

    http://www.movietone.com/N_POPUP_Player.cfm?action=playVideo&assetno=89288

    Fabulous, if brief, bit of footage.

    27 September 2016 at 17:18 #52129

    Great clip – Thanks for posting

    27 September 2016 at 17:48 #52130

    Well found David, a great piece of film.
    According to Arnold’s history of the marque’, the V12 FPK 550 (quite a famous development and press road test car) covered 101.5mph in the hour and that included the time took slowing down and stopping for a puncture and changing the wheel with the cars own jacking system !
    At the same ‘hour record attempt’ an LG6 demonstrator driven by Stan Ivermee covered 95.87mph !
    For lovers of Lagonda saloons it is sad to note that FPK 550 has been converted to a V12 Le Mans replica.
    Mark

    David Bracey
    27 September 2016 at 20:44 #52131

    Mark, a terrible shame indeed. It must have been a fabulous saloon.

    Alec Rivers-Bowerman
    27 September 2016 at 22:28 #52132

    Speaking of FPK550 (or misuse of this registration)
    http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/162188,12699/1939-Lagonda-Rapide-Tulipwood-Boattail-Racer_photo.aspx

    David Bracey
    28 September 2016 at 05:29 #52133

    alecrb wrote: Speaking of FPK550 (or misuse of this registration)
    http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/162188,12699/1939-Lagonda-Rapide-Tulipwood-Boattail-Racer_photo.aspx

    That’s an ‘interesting’ colour – or perhaps it’s just the photo. It looks to be a very shiny, lacquered, copper colour.

    DavidLG45
    28 September 2016 at 08:07 #52134

    It is clad in tulipwood hence the colour. More photos:
    http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/default.aspx?carID=12699&eventID=190

    David Bracey
    28 September 2016 at 14:04 #52135

    Thank you DavidLG45. That explains it perfectly. Anyone know what the inspiration behind this unusual bodywork was? It must of been an incredibly complicated undertaking. Not to my taste to be honest, but I can admire the craftsmanship.

    Alec Rivers-Bowerman
    28 September 2016 at 16:19 #52136

    |It seems to be a copy of this car.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispano-Suiza_H6#/media/File:HS_1924_Tulipwood_sx.jpg

    h14
    16 October 2016 at 10:19 #52148

    Many thanks for the Movietone clip, great to see a V12 in action prewar.

    Regarding FPK550, what a shame for such a historic car to end up as a special. That said, at least it isn’t a fake Le Mans, and the design and execution appears excellent (if misguided!).

    I’ve been compiling a register of V12s, and this one is a mystery! Firstly, the only chassis number I can find quoted is 19221, which is evidently spurious. Does anyone know the actual chassis number, and engine number?

    My notes indicate that FPK550 was reregistered as NPJ680, famously butchered by Stanley Mann. Are they indeed one and the same car?

    Incidentally…has anyone else noticed that this car has weirdly been converted to beam front axle?!

    Laurence

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