1939 Lagonda LG6 Rapide

- Probably the most beautiful automobile from England before the war

- A special rarity with only 6 examples produced

- The ticket to all top-class events worldwide

- Well-managed documentation about its history

- Technically unmodified and with its original engine

- Particularly authentic with a beautiful patina

This car

This Lagonda LG 6 Rapide was built in 1939 to the highest standards of British craftsmanship and is, in the eyes of many collectors and connoisseurs, the most beautiful pre-war English car ever - then as now. This example still has its original engine, has been well maintained over the past decades and is exceptionally well documented with many contemporary documents. Its exclusivity makes it an entry ticket to all top-class classic car events worldwide. This is a rare opportunity to acquire the pinnacle of the British automotive industry.

Model history

In 1935, the new owner of Lagonda, Alan P. Good, took over the factory out of bankruptcy. He had also hired W.O. Bentley at Rolls-Royce as technical director and poached a top-class team of engineers. His claim was: "We will build the best car in the world in two years." As a result, all Lagonda vehicles under the technical direction of W.O. Bentley, all Lagonda vehicles were increasingly equipped with state-of-the-art technology. This included a hydraulic dual-circuit brake system, independent suspension, adjustable shock absorbers on the steering wheel and a fully synchronized four-speed manual gearbox.

The robust and proven Meadows six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 4.5 liters, which had already proven its qualities with a LeMans victory, provided the LG 6 model series with a superior drive. It was then refined by W.O. Bentley, including a flexible engine suspension. In order to ensure that the engines ran absolutely smoothly, the most modern machining equipment of the time was used. And after 10 hours of operation on a test bench, the engine was dismantled again, measured and reassembled.

The LG 6 Rapide was built on a so-called short chassis and the engine was given a higher compression ratio of 7.5:1, which resulted in a remarkable output of 140 hp. The streamlined body of the Rapide is an unsurpassed design by Frank Feeley, which was already considered one of the most beautiful pre-war English cars in its day.