Description

1950 Lagonda 2.6-litre Saloon

A low mileage car; few owners; Aston Martin Service Exchange engine just 9,000 miles ago; engine runs; nice project for restoration

Harold Radford of Melton Court, South Ken supplied this 1950 2 ½-litre Lagonda saloon having ordered it through Brooklands of Bond Street.  It was first registered in Radford’s name on 5^th December 1950, to be sold almost immediately to Mr Hamilton-Smith of Windlesham, Surrey as a new car. It was put into his name on the 16^th December – a nice Christmas present indeed.

The original bill of sale lists a price of £2,429 including purchase tax for a car finished in grey with yellow upholstery – an interesting combination and presumably one built to order! The accompanying buff logbook shows it was taxed every year until 1967.

By 1971 it was in the hands of Mr Gillam of Totsfield, Kent, with bills on file from Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd listing various parts purchases during his ownership.

Further letters from Aston Service Dorset (Capt. Ivan Forshaw) point to a new owner in 1979, a Miss Hills from Grays in Essex who acquired the car through dealers’ Terry and Barry Bone. They suggested it would look very smart once the retrim was finished and a fresh coat of paint applied. Maybe she wasn’t so struck on yellow seats…

Among the file of papers, which includes considerable information on the model itself, we also find the factory service record which lists a service exchange engine fitted in 1959 (notes say ‘reconditioned engine fitted same number used’) along with a major overhaul.

A further invoice, again from the factory from April 1967 shows yet another service exchange engine being supplied, along with a huge list of chassis works including steering and axle overhauls – listed at 41,113 miles some 9,000 miles ago according to its current reading. The total charge was £820.

There is an MOT on file from 1979, so it has been on the road in living history, but quite when the coachwork deteriorated to its current state we cannot say.

The vendor purchased it in 2014 as a project, with half a mind to make it into a Lagonda Special, but has since had his head turned in a different direction.

The good news is that he has had a look inside the top of the engine and it appears as one would expect after so few miles. He has very recently had it running from a remote fuel supply and reports good oil pressure. A video of it running can be found by copying and pasting the following link…https://we.tl/t-qLmZWLNR1X

Clearly in need of remedial attention to the bodywork, it is a long way from beyond redemption and has all the signs of a mechanically sound vehicle. The doors and associated wood frame will need work, as will the sills, but the main chassis appears solid.

So many of these handsome and charismatic Lagondas have been broken for their engines that it would be a shame for this car to suffer the same fate. With lots of history and loads of potential, this looks like an affordable way into the exclusive brand of Aston Martin Lagonda.

For more information – contact matthew.parkin@brightwells.com