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This is a well known car, LR105, the works Mk2 prototype.
Like everything at AML, it depends where you want to start the birth process of the Rapide design ?
A reference to the Brown Bomber (LAG50/113), and by Tony Tocock, is given below. originally suppossed to have been fitted with the failed V12 Lagonda engine.
http://www.lagonda1949-1958.co.uk/TonyTocock/Tocock.html
The two cars which he has included pictures of, clearly still have the post-war Lagonda radiator, both date from the period 1951-52. I do like the look of LAG50/114. The first car was broken up in 1963, a great shame, you could seat four people on the front seat!
I would imagine that there were other cars used, most likely the 4-door 3.0 litre Lagonda’s, made until 1958; and of course they have the same chassis design as the earlier 2.6 litre cars. But that is just conjecture of course
David, I think it is anyone’s guess whether they used 101 as a development chassis or a mule. That car was so heavily used for publicity, didn’t get much of a chance to sit around long in 1961 or ’62.
An Austin Westminster is a good reference point. The key issue was the long chrome grill used on 1950’s Lagonda’s, which was incorporated into the design, and then compressed, giving an exotic look to the Rapide front.
Clearly, with a Touring prototype, an AML Mk2 prototype (105), the standard car – if indeed such a thing exists; and several cars with extra small horizontal vent grills.
There were a lot of thoughts at the time about the front of the car. Then of course there was the inhouse AML designs as well, after the Touring front end design was rejected, 105 being one of several different possibilities.
You also shouldn’t forget, that the double headlamp look was very fashionable in the early 1960’s, with many car makers including Ferrari, Edsel, Facwel Vega, Gordon Keeble, Lancia, Ford, Humber etc all using it. Some preferred the Chinese eye look, others a more conventional style.
Tony many thanks.
Well the pair have sold, lets hope the saloon stays in one piece looks to be in good order.
Simon
I asked the seller to take a few more pictures including the engine and interior.
The V12 4.5 litre Lagonda engine is present.
Also some interior pictures, which show a remarkable level of preservation and overall good order.
I wouldn’t set any store by the many mistakes which the DVLA makes on car paperwork, that is all normal on older cars.
The price is rather than on the high side at 70k, for a middle length chassis de Ville, and a car that no doubt requires a bottomless pocket.
The dhc has now been purchased by a car wheeler/dealer, so still at risk.
He wants 10k for the dhc, purchased a few weeks ago.
The saloon does not belong to him, it belongs to a friend of his, who has had it for 15 years and done nothing with it. The saloon is a rare complete car, very unsual to find today like that.
I recommended that he puts the saloon into H&H auctions where it could well net 7-9k for it as a complete car, and then someone who genuinely loves the car, will restore it. The last one in similar condition sold for 8.8k, a few months ago.
imho I don’t think this person will do anything with either car. The dhc is not a simple engine/gearbox / instruments replacement. Having seen the car, it was a great deal more work than that.
But at 20k, they won’t get any takers, more likely 12.5-13 k will be the top price, and most of that skewed to the complete saloon…
Lets hope that these two fine cars find some suitable homes for them.
This car has now reappeared on eBay, after selling for 6200 GB pounds.
It is being sold with a complete 1951 2.6 litre saloon, for 20,000 GB pounds……:) 🙂
Yet another chancer has bought several of these fine cars. The white dhc purchased in the last couple of weeks from Oselli
See :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=181038471744
This was an amateur league game, it actually was employees of the company.
BTW, I wouldn’t expect more than a 1 page item, pretty rare of course and have let the club know already.
he ho,
The listing has now been removed by eBay.
Which vehicle is providing the right part, if it is not a Land-Rover ?
Peter hi
The owner is asking 50k for the car. Car is LB290/1/49 and engine number is VB6H138 (but maybe mistaken with numbers on plate for engine, hard to see)
If you look carefully then you will see this is a Mk 1 dhc, my guess is early-mid 1954.
There were 55 made in the 3.0 litre run from 1953-57. The last five of which were made in 56-57, which puts your car as one of the last ones made.
However not counted in this total are the 20 of the last 2.6 cars which were were bodied by Brooklands with the later 3.0 litre body in 1953, I don’t know how many of those were with dhc body.
I have been reading up on this area, several books available, but there is no coherent picture.
What is apparent is that the dhc cars were always treasured and looked after, more so than the 4-doors.
This car brings the known count up to 32 3.0 litre dhc’s.
There were only 310 3.0 litre cars made in total, have checked with the club registrar on this.
Peter hi
The English testing system was causing him problems, and you are correct his system gives separate braking for front and rear wheels.
On his car he always needed a lot of effort when applying the brakes and every year the handbrake would fail the MOT. According to the inspector, as the car has a single circuit system, the handbrake is also the emergency brake should the hydraulic system fail. If it had a dual system the handbrake is then a parking brake and in theory the handbrake should pass at a lower figure.
According to Robin, who has both a five speed Tremec box and a rebuilt engine, his car is fairly quick, the change in the braking system has given him better stopping ability.
Having been in a fair few DB cars, their stopping ability sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. I plan to investigate this option, cost effective and reasonably straightforward to fit. Would be interesting to compare two 3.0 litre cars, one with the standard single circuit and the other Robins car.
As you say, I wonder if there is a real difference, maybe you are right and there is none ?
Ken hi
I was considering this modification for my 3.0 dhc with front disc’s, but it is is far from simple. and potentially pretty expensive
If you want d a degree of extra safety, then why not fit a dual circuit system. You will have a little more space for fitment of the servo’s, if you have an engine with original exhaust layout, and not a Ford or Jaguar replacement.
The owner of a 3.0 litre 4 door, Robin Allum has done this, and there is a good article on the other Lagonda web-site, and he feels the car now stops much more reliably and quickly.
http://www.lagonda1949-1958.co.uk/RobinAllum/Allum5.html
Simon
Thats fine for 6 lock buttons for me please.
Now, I can stop looking for them. Although I imagine, a source will turn up once they are all made….
Many thanks for this initiative, it is greatly appreciated.
Peter hi
Some clarity on the two Dutch cars, see the two links to Ron Press’s web-site, they are both from 1955:
1. http://www.lagonda1949-1958.co.uk/609HYK/609HYK.html
This car dates from 04/1955 and a fair amount of hard to find chrome trim missing from the body-work. With engine VB6H/406
2. http://www.lagonda1949-1958.co.uk/TYE349/TYE349.html
This car dates from 9/05/1955 and is LB 290/1/108 with engine VB6H/259, the car comes with a later engine, which was changed by Lagonda in 1960.
So two different cars.