1939 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupe

The Lagonda marque was founded in 1906 by Wilbur Gunn, a Scottish-American and former opera singer. He became a British national in 1891 and worked as a speed boat and motorcycle engineer in England. He named the car after the Shawnee settlement in modern day Springfield, Ohio, his town of birth. He launched his first car in 1907. Lagonda was in financial trouble in the mid-1930s and put up for sale. It was purchased by a young lawyer named Alan Good, who then persuaded W.O. Bentley to leave Rolls-Royce and join Lagonda to redesign the marque.

The W. O. Bentley-designed Lagonda V12 was one of the few British vehicles of the 1930s that could exceed 100 mph in standard tune.

Even with their stylish vehicles fitted with mechanical prowess, the company fell on hard times due to the economic turmoil of the 1930s. In 1935 they entered bankruptcy and was rescued by a young solicitor named Alan Good. Good recruited W.O. Bentley who was working for Rolls-Royce / Bentley at the time. Mr. Bentley joined a team that included the talented designer Frank Feely, who was already working at Lagonda when Alan Good took over. Freely was made responsible for the elegant factory bodywork, and together with Mr. Bentley, they would create some of the ultimate in British prewar grand touring cars.

The Lagonda V12 was first seen in 1936 and did not commence deliveries until 1938. Only 189 were built before the outbreak of World War II. The V12 was given an advanced chassis with double-wishbones independent suspension in the front and was available with a variety of coachwork, including saloons, convertibles, and limousines.

This particular example left the factory as a drop head coupe finished in black paint with buff leather and fawn convertible top. It was exported directly to the United States and sold to a J. Luchs of 25 East 86th Street in Manhattan. Luchs acquired the car on October 12, 1940 and was given a one-year warranty, which was customary in those days.

Before being sent to the US, it was given a special center lamp and horn brackets, sun visors and Lucas Mellotone horns.

Little is known about its subsequent history; at some point it was owned by Robert C. Bacon of Boston, Massachusetts. The present owner acquired the car in the mid-1990s. At that time, it was in its current livery.

This is one of nine V-12 dropheads built prior to the factory closing on September 26 of 1939. Several cars were moved from the factory and put in storage, later exported and sold for much-needed capital for the war effort.

Descriptions and pictures by conceptcarz & bonhams