Forum Replies Created
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Hi Christian,
I would have warned you, but you’d already committed and so there seemed no point in doing so. Touring designed many cars that sported several different versions of their badging. So, care needs to be taken when buying replacements. Before you ask, I don’t have recorded somewhere discrete specs for the Rapide badging. However, it seems to me highly likely that they will be the same as those used on the DB4 series 1, 2 and 3.
Best,
Tim
Hi Francis,
Yes, that’s the one David mentioned near the beginning of this thread – it was found somewhere Kissimmee in Florida. By chance, I had been in the town a few months earlier – if only I had known about the car at the time! $35k was strong money if it was in pretty poor condition (which I think was the case).
Tim
Ah, I see. Well, as you will know, if there was a consequential dip in classic car values it was very short lived. For at least 18 months now, values have shot up, of course – the received wisdom is that cash converted into cars / art / wine etc. almost guarantees a better return than most investments AND it’s much safer. Plus, of course, you can drive the cars. 😀
Is 138 in pukka concours-winning condition? If so, that car was very cheap.
Obviously, the two of you know something (in particular) that I do not (or have forgotten) – what happened in September 2007?
That’s what I’d call good value in today’s market! IIRC, the Bonhams car a year or two back made that sort of money. Since then, values appear to me to have risen and (perhaps) the car that has just sold is better than the UK car (better paint, anyway 😀 ).
Me too (potentially). The problem, though, as I see it is that I have my doubts as to whether these characters have ever made any bumpers or wheel embellishers for a Rapide before. If that is correct, it will not be clear whether these products are any good unless and until orders has been completed and the new items fitted successfully (or not).
Tim
Peter,
I see the 2.6 litre saloon w/out engine and g/box on eBay today (but noted that it has been for sale on eBay on and off for months). I’ve been in contact with the seller but it’s very clear that a ground up restoration would be the only option.
I am aware of both the 2 door 3 litre saloon up there – NB It is (also) sold without an ‘identity’ – and the DHC screen. These are both from the same seller (who also uses this forum). He has been building a replica race car and, for reasons that are somewhat unclear to me, has needed to use various items from several post-war David Brown Lagondas (which he has broken) to achieve his aims.
As for the 2.6 block for sale on eBay, a well-known Aston Martin (Feltham) trader, posting on the AMOC forum, had this to say:
“BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU INTEND TO BUY !
there is a lot of cxxxp being sold at the moment, there are plenty of 2.6ltr blocks about, its 3 ltr used blocks that are scarce.new 3 ltr blocks are available new in VB6J form, they are also available for Mk111s aswell, as are cylinder heads for all 3, inlet manifolds for Mk111s in twin & triple carb form (can be ordered for DB2 & 2/4 engines), thermostat housings & water connections.
Bell housings will soon be available for Mk111 & DB2″I, too, consider all the post war David Brown Lagondas to be wonderful things. However, all the 2.6 models seem still to be grossly undervalued, to the point of being astonishingly cheap if you are talking about an average 2.6 saloon. True it is that megabucks are still being sought for a 2.6 litre DHC located in Belgium (I think), but I note that it has not sold after several years of advertising.
However, things are becoming quite different now re the 3 litre cars and the Rapide. For example, at the recent Bonhams auction held at NP a rather nice 3 litre 2 door saloon, needing little work and a few parts to make it a concours contender, sold for ?45k (inc BP), whilst (by way of comparison) a barn find rare (i.e. works demonstrator) DB MkIII went for circa ?60k. In recent times, the 4 door Mk 2 saloons have shot up in value, such that a good one will command ?40-60k. The DHCs make even more – I think that you’d have to pay circa ?80k now for a nice one with nothing to do. As for the Rapides, prices asked for excellent cars have now left the stratosphere and are moving very close to comparable ‘outer space’ DB4 money.
If anyone fancies, say, a DB 2.6 DHC as a very sensible alternative to the acquisition of a high value LG6 DHC, they ought to move pretty quickly, I reckon.
Regards,
Tim
It’s the same car discussed earlier in this thread, of course (just in case anyone hadn’t appreciated that fact). 🙂
All I know about this one is that it has been up for sale for some considerable time under the banner of several traders (I think), as well as privately, and the car has failed to sell. I don’t understand why Godin Banks keep buying in cars like this one and the other Lagonda that they have currently, which have been offered for ages elsewhere and failed to sell, but yet still seem keen to maintain the same (seemingly unattractive) price tag? When Justin Banks was on his own, he appeared to carve out for himself a niche in the market as a trader who would price to sell (otherwise) ‘sticky’ classic cars. He seems to have abandoned that business plan these days, curiously.
Anyway, from my perspective at least, a car like this one would never appeal and it seems that I may not be alone in this view. :crazy:
Hi there,
Re each of your discrete questions, …..
(1) The wheel embellishers are very difficult to source. If you find a set (off or on the wheels) such are usually too rusty to repair and rechrome – they are quite thin items. I recall that one Lagonda Club member a few years back said that he was going to have some sets of modern replacements made up but I do not know whether this happened.
(2) The ashtrays do turn up from time-to-time. i can’t recall whether I have a spare myself but will have a look when I’m next down in my store room.
(3) Tool kits are just about impossible to find – indeed, I remain unclear as to precisely what was included originally. Certainly, such would include I think: the starting handle; the drain tap tool; the Jackall pump arm; a grease gun; a set of W/BSF spanners; a plug spanner; a wooden handled screwdriver; a set of pliers; a tommy bar; and a wheel nut spanner. If anyone does have an original tool set for their DB Lagonda, do please let us know what it contains.
(4) I do have both the instruction manual that came with my car (which is not in great condition) and a spare that is in very good condition (which I am not keen to part with, btw). However, these items come up fairly frequently on eBay.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Tim
Damn!!! Just what I was looking for!
Soren,
Please don’t misunderstand me (and, I fear that you have already done so). I think that the internet is wonderful and agree wholeheartedly with much that you say. However, and I’m sorry to labour the point, it is manifestly the case (surely) that limits should be placed on the amount of information that we (as owners and enthusiasts) make available about ourselves and our cars. Would you publish your name and address with details of your car(s)’ specs, index number, chassis number, history, and security arrangements? I think it unlikely? 🙂
So, if I am right about that, it must follow, surely, that you agree with me when I say that we need to be careful and place limits. Personally, it seems to me that if you merely publish a gallery of pictures of cars with the index numbers redacted and (as you suggest) the ‘operative’ elements of the chassis numbers, such would not present much of a risk and would be a positive benefit to others interested in the marque.
Best wishes,
Tim
PS I believe that David has a very complete record (perhaps the best) of all the Rapides and their ancillary details. Though entirely a matter for him (and I crave his indulgence in even mentioning it), I suggest merely that he might be prepared to help you (off line) with your endeavors. T
Soren, David is way ahead of you on this one. I suggest you PM him on the subject.
Btw, personally I’m not keen on posting lists of ‘known’ car details on the internet. Of course, all of this information is ‘out there’ to be found. But, I don’t feel comfortable myself with assisting the bad guys by providing a check list of chassis number / index number / spec..
Regards,
Tim
Indeed – and, they deceive. But, if the car is as good as it appears in the photographs then it may represent a very good buy.
It looks it, but you know what they say about ‘looks’. 😎
In all seriousness, circa ?80,000 for a DB Rapide that is in better than ‘good’ condition would be a significant bargain, IMH0. For an ‘average to good car’, it seems about the right area. However, if the car needs significant structural and mechanical work and paint (think large version of DB4 frame and body + tricky de dion back end), the value plummets.