Highlights
- Very rare 16/80 with Kanalah Coachworks body featuring rear Dickie Seats
- Comprehensive restoration, including bare metal respray in British Racing Green
- Recent major mechanical overhaul by 'Bishopgray' with over £60,000 invested
- Engine, gearbox, differential and steering refurbished during work
- Fitted with Bonniksen Time and Speed meter
- Sportier appearance than the more common four-seater tourers
- Only three keepers ,with the current owner since 2014
The Appeal
The Lagonda 16/80 has a special place in the firm’s lineage as the only one fitted with an outsourced engine - albeit one heavily reworked by the firm - and one of the last produced before the series of ownership changes that whittled away at its independence.
Just 267 were built and this 1934 car was amongst the last to leave the Staines works. As a later car it has the desirable pre-selector box. Beautifully finished in British Racing Green following £60,000 restoration by the current keeper, it is a fabulous example with extensive maintenance investment and well documented history.
The car was bodied by Kanalah Coachworks as a two-seater roadster with rear ‘Dickie Seat.’ It is a really pretty example with a much sportier appearance than the more common four-seater tourers.
The vendor tells us that he is the fourth keeper, acquiring the car in 2014. It was resprayed in that year in fetching BRG. Between 2021 and 2022 it received £60,000 of renovation work by specialist Bishopgray that included engine, gearbox and differential work. The car also received attention to the steering and a new stainless steel exhaust. There is a new hood and tonneau and partial retrim by James Sexton Trimming.
With few miles completed since all that work and careful storage in between, this is a beautifully preserved example of these evocative vintage cars.
The vendor says:
“It drives really well, the steering has no play since parts were renewed, gear change is very positive, goes into every gear, it's a pleasure to drive.”
History and Paperwork
- First registered on 11th January 1934
- Very early history was lost during the post-war years
- Three registered keepers
- Current keeper since April 2014
- History summary provided by the current keeper below
- Acquired by the previous keeper in 1983 after reportedly standing on blocks for 20 years
- Restored in 1983 including engine rebuild, gearbox overhaul, bare metal respray, new fuel tank and wire wheels
- Full respray in 2014 during the current keeper’s ownership
- Placed in storage after garage respray a few months after purchase
- Remained in Petersfield until 2020, during which time new indicator lights were fitted
- Mechanical overhaul by 'Bishopgray' from 2021 to 2022, costing £60,000
- USB drive available containing a detailed breakdown of work and most invoices
- Handbooks included as shown
- Various old MOTs
- Owners Club magazine copies
- V5C in the current keeper’s name
- Registered as a Historic Vehicle
- VIN number S10549
- Various invoices from The Lagonda Club as shown
- DVLA records the car as fitted with a 2,107cc engine but vendor states it is 2L Crossley unit
The vendor says:
During the post-war years, all was lost, so the early history was lost. In 1952, it was owned by Dr ARL Abel, 48, Harley St. Then it was owned by Edward George Field from 1953. It was then owned from 1961 by David Dickson from Middlesex, who owned it until 1967, then the car vanishes. Also owned by Donavan Eastwood from 1983, in an unglamorous but very complete condition, having been standing on blocks for the previous 20 years, with a cracked block, the repairs can be seen on the USB. Restoration was carried out, including a full engine rebuild, the pre-selector gearbox was looked at, a bare metal re-spray took place, sprayed in British Racing Green, a new fuel tank, and new wire wheels were also fitted in 1983.
This stunning example was bodied by ' John Charles & Co Ltd ' of Kew Gardens, trading under the name of ' Kanalah Coachworks ', and is a two-seater roadster with two 'Dickie Seats' to the rear. This gives it a much sportier look than the more common four-seater tourers.
“The car has been in position since April 2014. It then went into storage after the garage resprayed the car, which was done after a few months. It stayed at Petersfield until 2020, when it was garaged. During its time in Petersfield, new indicator lights were fitted.
The Condition
- Bodywork fully resprayed in British Racing Green in 2014 and remains in very good order
- Some very minor stone chips to note such as to the nearside rear wing
- Underside of the car was coated during the same respray work
- New tan hood, tonneau cover and side screens fitted by James Sexton Trimming
- Painted wire wheels with matching classic-style tyres
- Burgundy leather interior mixes lightly aged and retrimmed elements
- Some new leather fitted around the 'Dickie Seat' area by James Sexton Trimming
- All seats were professionally cleaned by James Sexton
- Red carpets in good order
- Veneer dashboard presents well with evocative Smiths dials
- USB port has been fitted under the front panel
- The vendor states all instruments are working except the tachometer, which needs a cable replacement
- Features a Bonniksen Time and Speed meter
- Fitted with modern indicators as shown
- Chromework is bright and in good order, as can be seen in photos
This is one of the prettiest 16/80s that we’ve seen in a while, thanks to its sleek Kanalah bodywork with its versatile Dickie Seat. The presentation is aided by the vendor’s considerable investment in the car, notably the high-quality repaint in British Racing Green. Although that work was in 2014, the vendor’s sparing use and care have kept it in very good order.
The interior has been sympathetically renovated by specialist James Sexton Trimming. It neatly mixes lightly patinated features with renewed trim. There is a new tan roof, side screens and tonneau.
The vendor says:
“The exterior has been fully re-spray in 2014, in British Racing Green, the underside of the car has been coated at the same time. A new hood, new tonneau cover new side screens all fitted by James Sexton Trimming, invoices included.
“The interior looks good for its age, the back was addressed with some new leather around the 'Dickie Seat', seats were all cleaned by James Sexton, and we have fitted a USB port under the front panel. All instruments work, the only one that needs to be replaced is the tachometer cable. It has a Bonniksen Time and Speed meter.”
The Mechanics
- 2-litre overhead valve straight-six Crossley engine
- Pre-selector gearbox
- Twin HV-type SU carburettors
- Crossley-supplied engine reworked by Lagonda
- £60,000 of renovation work by Bishopgray in 2021 and 2022
- Differential renewed during recent work
- Steering system fully overhauled with new parts fitted
- New stainless steel exhaust system installed
- The vendor reports oil pressure of approximately 35psi when starting
- Steering is described as having no play since parts were renewed
- Gear changes described as very positive, engaging all gears smoothly
The 16/80 was the only pre-war Lagonda to receive an out-sourced Crossley engine. In typically fastidious Lagonda style, the firm stripped and rebuilt every unit and extensively reworked them to suit its requirements and standards.
As a later model this one features the desirable pre-selector gearbox and HV-type SU carburettors. Over the years, the mechanics have received considerable attention. The engine was rebuilt in 1983. Further work totalling £60,000 was undertaken by specialist Bishopgray in 2021 and 2022 including a full engine, gearbox and differential rebuild. The steering system was also attended to and the car received a stainless steel exhaust.
The vendor has used the car sparingly and stored it correctly since the work was completed. The result is a car that is reported to be in very good order, as you can see from the vendor’s comments below.
The vendor says:
“The 16/80 was equipped with a Crossley-supplied 2-litre overhead valve straight six, which was re-worked by Lagonda to their own specification.
“The car has hardly been used. It starts with the LO pressure at about 35psi, and it starts up really well. Since its overhaul, the car responds well.
“Since 2020, then in 2021 until 2022 the car has been with 'Bishopgray' for a major overhaul from the engine plus all ancillary, this incudes a pre selector gearbox, differential renewed plus steering system fully overhauled and new parts fitted, this includes a new stainless steel exhaust etc., a full breakdown and a copy of most invoices at over £60,000 can be seen on the USB. The total engine room, plus gearbox, all the way to the differential, has been fully overhauled.”
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