Vehicle details

Additional Information / Service History

1939 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupe

Registration No: MG 6768

Chassis No: 14092

You really have to hear this car run to appreciate how quiet & turbine like the engine is; truly a masterpiece of engineering.  To drive it is a real pleasure with light steering & synchomesh on 2nd 3rd & 4th gears allied to powerful brakes.  Lowering the roof is as simple as pulling back two lever actuated catches & folding the hood straight back making for an eminently practical & luxurious tourer allowing 4 people to travel in complete comfort.  Simply put it is the pinnacle of pre war motoring.

Still covered in protective wax when purchased by Alfred Hill MBE at the July 2006 Buxton auction with H & H, this Lagonda soon found itself being completely disassembled down to the bare chassis for the first time since leaving the Staines factory. Stripped to a bare block, the engine was thoroughly overhauled with new parts including: crankshaft, con-rods, forged pistons, camshafts (plus associated bearings), valves / valve springs, timing chains, bearings, pulleys and various skew gears etc.

The clutch was renewed and the G10 four-speed manual gearbox rejuvenated with fresh bearings and sundry synchro hubs. The suspension was reconditioned with new bushes and attention paid to the torsion bars, rear leaf springs and dampers. The brake drums were overhauled with new linings and the back plates refurbished.

A new wiring loom was installed and the fuel system gone through. Ancillaries such as the starter motor, dynamo, ceramic seal water pump and carburettors were restored. Gaining a new crown wheel and pinion and differential bearings courtesy of LMB Racing, the Lagonda had its radiator and wheels / hubs reconditioned by CPA Services and Richard Bros respectively. Numerous photos on file also show the ash frame being repaired / remade and the aluminium bodywork restored to its ex-Works condition.

Retrimmed in Dark Blue leather with a matching mohair hood by J. Krych, the interior also gained a European walnut dashboard and door cappings. Following a bare metal respray, the original Drophead Coupe body had its brightwork refinished by S&T Electro-Plate. Sadly, Mr Hill died before 'MG 6768' had been properly run-in or debugged. Thankfully, the current owner whose garage has hosted various important W.O. Bentleys, Bugattis and front-engined Grand Prix cars proved an ideal new custodian.

Discovering that a huge amount of man hours and money had gone into the project, he set about fine tuning the result. Thus, the ingenious mechanism which secures the door in two planes is fully functional, the 'disappearing' rear luggage rack works as it should and literally every 'nut and bolt' underneath has been checked and tightened as necessary. A seasoned racer, the owner is a firm believer in preparation and even a cursory examination shows that the Lagonda has been suitably gone through and set-up. He has even added mesh guards to the underside of the wings to prevent stones flung up by the tyres causing any damage.

Starting readily for our test drive, idling happily and accelerating in a decidedly post-WW2 fashion, the V12 remains every bit as impressive as it must have done eighty-odd years ago. Having covered a mere 400 miles or so since its comprehensive refurbishment, the Lagonda still requires running-in (with the brakes yet to ‘bed in’ fully etc). The clutch actuated chassis lubrication system has been supplanted by a series of grease nipples and the hydraulic in-built jacks disabled (though, various correct-type jacks come with the car).

Collectors have traditionally been wary of W.O. Bentley's masterpiece but we believe 'MG 6768' to be among the very best examples available. Indeed, the owner’s mechanic has told us that he is happy to continue servicing / maintaining the V12 for a new owner. Drawing on the expertise of Bishopgray, LMB Racing and Mel Cranmer, the Drophead Coupe is a singularly imposing and impressive machine. Decidedly undervalued when compared to its Bugatti Type 57 and Mercedes-Benz 540K counterparts, the Lagonda is offered for sale with a continuation buff logbook, three massive files of invoices and numerous photographs of the restoration work.

RICHARD BIDDULPH

SALES & VALUATIONS

SIMONE DELLA CORTE

SHOWROOM MANAGER

MICHAEL KLIEBENSTEIN

EUROPEAN SALES and MARKETING

JAN KURTY

EASTERN EUROPE SALES and MARKETING

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