Footnotes

• This low chassis 2-Litre was offered for sale in December 2001 at Bonhams' Olympia auction (Lot 786) where it was purchased by the current vendor. Originally one of the supercharger-equipped models, chassis number 'OH9859' retains its original and extremely rare fabric-covered four-door tourer coachwork, which has been preserved as part of a no-expense-spared, 'ground upwards' restoration. Carried out with the aim of producing a usable car - not a concours winner – the latter included boring and stroking the engine to approximately 2.4 litres and installing a new solid billet Allen crankshaft, new Cosworth con-rods and pistons, and high-lift camshafts. A new downdraft, cross-flow cylinder head was specially cast (in iron) and gas flowed, and a pre-war Rootes-type Wade supercharger acquired (the original was missing). The engine has been bench tested at Membury and produces 148bhp.
  
  The supercharger's original orientation/position was vertical in front of the engine while the dynamo sat beneath the radiator protruding forward. It was discovered that the Wade blower would not fit in the 'correct' position but would fit under the radiator so the positions of the dynamo and supercharger were swapped, making the Lagonda look a bit like a blown 4½-Litre Bentley.
  
  The car came with an Alvis Speed 20 synchromesh gearbox fitted, which has been retained, while the clutch has been converted and is now a Borg & Beck (Land Rover) unit. New wheels of correct diameter (the car came with undersize wheels) were fitted and shod with new tyres. All rot was removed from the bodywork, which was strengthened and re-covered in new fabric, while the interior received new leather seats and panelling. Proper Lucas P100 'Bulls Eyes' were sourced and installed, and all the chromework re-plated.
  
  'PL 6619' was restored with a view to Vintage competitions and we are advised that all the modifications are VSCC accepted because they were possible in pre-war days. Sadly racing is no longer possible for the vendor, who lives overseas and is 'getting a bit long in the tooth anyway!' However, he says that as a driving car the 2-Litre is tractable, extremely fast (0-60mph in under 11 seconds) very reliable and great fun. It has enormous torque and will pull up any hill in 3rd gear, and easily outperforms any standard 4½-litre Lagonda. As one Lagonda Club member has remarked: 'it is surely the fastest 2L(S) in the world.'
  
  Completed earlier this year at a cost exceeding £120,000, 'PL 6619' is offered with an extensive history file, sundry restoration invoices, current MoT/tax and Swansea V5C document. A wonderful opportunity to acquire 'the car Lagonda should have made.'
  

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Category: Motoring / Motor Cars

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