Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
14th June, 2023 13:00
1932 Lagonda 3 Litre Tourer
Estimate
£60, 000 - £80, 000
Registration No: APH 633
Chassis No: Z10405
MOT: Exempt
Entered from a private collection
A comparatively late 3 Litre with the stronger 'ZM' type chassis and enlarged engine
Thought to have been rebodied as a Tourer during the 1950s
Mechanically very sound and will be driven to the sale
A derivative of the earlier 16/ 65, the Lagonda 3-Litre was unveiled in 1928. Progressively developed in line with its smaller 2-Litre sibling, the model made the transition from 'High Chassis' to 'Low Chassis' specification early the following decade. A somewhat conventional ladder-frame design utilising all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension, friction shock absorbers and four-wheel drum brakes, the rakish Lagonda was nevertheless impeccably built. Powered by a 2, 931cc OHV straight-six engine allied to four-speed manual transmission, the model was a true Thoroughbred (a point reinforced by Lord de Clifford's fine performances aboard a Works 3-Litre on the 1931 Monte Carlo and 1932 RAC rallies). Eager to boost sales for the 1932 model year, Lagonda began experimenting with an innovative Maybach transmission which permitted clutchless gearchanging and yielded eight forward ratios. However, the downside to such sophistication was a significant weight increase not least because of the need for a new specially reinforced `ZM' type chassis frame. In an attempt to restore performance, the Staines manufacturer subsequently increased the 3-Litre powerplant's bore from 72mm to 75mm increasing its capacity to 3, 181cc. Although, the Maybach gearbox equipped `Selector Special' was short lived, the `ZM' type chassis frame and enlarged engine remained a feature of 3-Litre production until it ceased in 1934. More information to follow
