Richard Branch

5 December 2015 at 15:57 #51581

Hi Colin & Stephen,

Thanks for the kind comments about the 16/80. Regarding the gears I agree, mine feels like 3rd & 4th are very close whereas the gap between 2nd & 3rd is wide. I am finding changing up through the gears is fine, and best done quickly making for a snappy change. Confession… I don’t actually know if I am utilising the clutch stop but as I find it so easy to change up I am not too concerned. 😉

Going back down the box 4th to 3rd is easy but I am finding that I need a good boot full of revs to get down into 2nd from 3rd. I guess it’s the wide gap between the ratios to be aware of.

Regarding the need or otherwise for heal & toe, I suppose if I am slowing down I can do all the braking and then sort out the gear afterwards but it’s nice to know one can do it if necessary. It feels to me as though the brake pedal is exceptionally high in relation to the accelerator. I’ve looked at pictures on the web and while it does seem on other cars the brake is not so high. What do you think?

Richard Branch

5 December 2015 at 09:10 #51577

Lovely sunny day yesterday so I spent a great morning driving her around the quiet back roads of Berkshire. Just need to master the “black art” of that crash gearbox now. And trust me, I will!

Incidentally, heel & toe seems physically impossible because the brake pedal sits almost 3″ higher than the centre throttle. Is that typical? I would expect the brake pedal to align with the accelerator more or less when it’s pressed down and fully applied?

Richard Branch

1 December 2015 at 11:36 #51573

Update – went over the barn this morning for a tinker and found that No1 was not sparking properly. Swapped the plugs for a clean set and all’s fine. Also, should add that she started second turn which is pretty good considering that she’s not been started for 6 weeks and it’s cold weather. Sounds sweet running on all six so I’m a happy man. Now just need a nice dry day to get her out for a decent run… 🙂

Richard Branch

21 November 2015 at 13:23 #51569

Ok chaps, hands up and big apology time. Since I started this thread I have not been back to the Lagonda to test out my theory about the retard/advance. I have been exceptionally busy at work with events, conferences, customer meetings and new people starting (good for business but less good for my hobby) and… with the car being in a secret, secure storage unit to which I don’t even have the door and alarm access codes, I’ve just not been able to get back to drive it.

This week my new guys are in France on training, I have no customer visits, conferences, or exhibitions to attend and I plan to get to Marlow and start up the car.

I will report back. 🙂

Richard Branch

17 November 2015 at 18:09 #51567

Thanks Mark, much appreciated.

I was spoilt when I bought my Aston as I was handed a file of papers going back to 1960 (it’s a 1958 car) so pretty well everything to with a couple of years of it being new. I was also given every buff & green log book from new so I have the full ownership history.

It seems I will have fun trying to trace the history of 16/80 BPA 334 though. Prior to Dennis, from whom I bought the car, it was owned by a chap called Harold Cross who was a senior engineer at Austin, Longbridge works. Apparently he in turn acquired it from the MD of a supplier to Austin in exchange for certain contracts being awarded in their direction! I’d love to know the full story…

Richard Branch

16 November 2015 at 18:36 #51565

Hi Mark,

Thanks for taking the time to check. As you say the photo is (according to the caption) mid 20s and I assumed the ‘Lagonda Cars’ sign over the entrance door would have suggested that their status as a dealer would have increased through to the early 30s.

When you wrote to the local paper what did you say, was it literally ‘does anyone know this car?’
Rgds Rich…

Richard Branch

12 October 2015 at 21:58 #51513

I appreciate the advice, thanks although I have to say “rolling road” yikes, I didn’t realise they had people skilled in magnetos and stuff or do you just do it yourself while the chaps run the rolling road. 😮

Richard Branch

11 October 2015 at 18:48 #51511

Thank you to you both the help and advice, I will check everything that has been said. p.s. Yes it’s a farm but only in name, no animals and the building is modern dry and climate controlled.

Richard Branch

10 October 2015 at 12:57 #51503

Thanks Lawrence, I think there’s one on eBay or Amazon at ?45 at the moment so I will “invest” in that.

Any more for any more?

Richard Branch

10 October 2015 at 12:56 #51502

Fair enough, it’s staying as it is! 😆

Richard Branch

8 October 2015 at 16:15 #51496

Bringing this back on topic i.e. “Greetings” 😉

I have now joined the Lagonda Club thus closing the circle of my initial post on here (about a red 16/80), finding a car, thanks especially to Peter for bringing it to my attention, Chris, Colin and other members for guidance. And now joining up. I am impressed with how easy it was to join on-line (unlike AMOC) and spend a few quid on my club badge!

Sorry I couldn’t get along to the AGM last week, it would have been good to meet you all but it would have been without my car as I only picked her up this week.

Now I’m a fully fledged owner and member get ready for a barrage of questions on here, I’m a bit of a forum chap.

Finally, I’ve got the Lagonda 2,3 & 3.5 Litre Cars in Detail by Arnold Davey and also An Illustrated History 1900 – 1950 by Geoffrey Seaton. What other books would you chaps recommend?

Rgds Rich…

Richard Branch

7 October 2015 at 19:53 #51493

Gentlemen, I am trying to work out what the contraption that looks rather like a ship’s bell is in front of the dark red car? try as I may I can’t figure it out! Bill forgive me for butchering your excellent pictures! 😉

Rgds Rich…

Richard Branch

2 October 2015 at 13:15 #51479

Not a thing of beauty is it? :help:

Richard Branch

30 September 2015 at 21:27 #51474

Thanks chaps, I’ll post up more when I get it. On that subject, I may not get to the AGM this weekend as I only get the car on Saturday so it may be at an event later in the year before I meet some of you. 🙂 Rich

Richard Branch

21 September 2015 at 16:17 #51460

Thanks Christopher, and thanks for satisfying my curiosity! It is indeed a lovely looking car, they must be very proud of it!