Descrizione
I've owned this car for three years and it has been a pleasure to have. I am offering it for sale because I have decided to reduce my collection of cars and so I am offering both this Lanchester and my 1933 LA10 as well in order to make room for Something Else - further details below. Others may follow for sale too although these are the only two Lanchesters I have.
It's difficult to resist writing this advert in the style of some of the dealers, so if you are seduced by this sort of writing , here goes (for a paragraph or two).
We know from the comprehensive history file with this vehicle that it was originally registered in Yorkshire and is one of the cars close to the end of production, chassis no. L63784. After 5 years, it was sold to an elderly spinster in Suffolk who sent her chauffeur to inspect it as a replacement for her LA10. She bought it, eventually passed away and left the car to her chauffeur, whose son inherited it and it sat in a shed for some time until 1996 when it was bought by the previous owner to me, who bought it and carried out a fastidious restoration, being a very able woodworker and with a good eye for detail.
This restoration covered every aspect of the car, comprehensively documented with invoices including a rebore to plus 30 with new pistons, rebuilding the dynamo and starter, kingpins, suspension bushes, suspension links, springs, radiator recondition, fitting hardened valve seats, reconditioning the gearbox, shock absorbers, well over £4000 on body restoration, timing chain and wiring loom from the D. L. O. C. plus much much more. Being an expert woodworker, the owner made a new dashboard of solid hardwood to match the original plywood dash which had delaminated and the thick wad of invoices comes to a fairly eye watering sum. The car won first prize for me in the Post War Class 46-55 at Biggar Show in 2015 on account of its originality. All the instruments work, including the electric clock. The only departures from complete originality are a separate switch for the wiper motor, windscreen washers, flashers working in tandem with the semaphores and a hidden 12 volt power socket, useful for battery charging to the car or phone charging from the car !
That's the end of copying that style of advert - you know there's always more to a story so here's the next part.
I bought the car because I really like Lanchesters but I'd never had an LD10. Seriously overpriced when new, they are indeed beautifully made but having been restored almost 20 year before, some attention was now required. I have fitted a new control box, replaced the small core plugs in the cylinder head and block face, fitted a new head gasket, sourced new hubcaps from the UKs LD10 expert - they're not identical to the originals which are included but are very acceptable, repaired and adjusted the 101 things that needed it and covered 336 miles quite happily as out today with the car it has just gone to 97000. The mileage at the restoration was 91265.
A set of good Avon tyres are fitted. The front seats could do with some improvement to the existing leather and some small sections of the alloy at the door shuts would benefit from being rubbed down and repainted. The exhaust system is solid and leak free but could possibly do with being replaced in stainless steel as visually it is a bit tired. However, these are minor considerations when looking at the overall condition of the car. It drives well, starts readily, changes gear well and the fluid flywheel has plenty of urge to "go".
Included with the car are a selection of original tools - jack, starting handle, original type spanners correct to the car as well as the original type of footpump. There is a copious amount of literature and handbooks and the car has its original "Ace" number plates which set it off well. Have a look at how much a set of new ones cost today! The registration is not transferable and a selection of parts are included with the car. I have a cylinder head, substantially complete and a spare distributor and some other bits and pieces which are correct for the car. A new DLOC badge is also supplied, although not fitted.
At what is effectively Austin 7 money, these Lanchesters are in a different league in terms of travelling and driving comfort. This car can be used as is or further improved to be one of the best LD10s on the go. Located at Dumfries, South West Scotland, on the A75. I hope you'll become as enthusiastic about these cars as I have been.
I am looking to acquire either a 1935/ 37 Riley 12/ 4 saloon or a 1946/ 47 Rover P2 14 or 16, so exchanges or part exchanges involving one or both of the Lanchesters would be a possibility for, preferably, a car in similar condition. I am already rebuilding two 1 1/ 2 litre RMs and so am somewhat
reluctant to take on more serious rebuilding work at present. Probably for sale in due course will also be a 1980 Triumph Dolomite 1500SE I have owned for nine years.
