1935 Lagonda M45 Pillarless Saloon, Registration no. BTN 575

* One of the fastest British sporting cars of its era
* Formerly part of the Brinley 'Brin' Edwards collection
* Last used in 2016
* Engine and clutch require inspection/repair

The 4½-Litre Lagonda was one of the most accomplished sports cars of the 1930s, as a succession of high-profile race wins, culminating in victory at Le Mans in 1935, amply demonstrates. In 1934 a team of three specially prepared short-chassis cars (effectively the soon-to-be-announced M45 Rapide) prepared by Lagonda main agents Fox & Nicholl performed creditably at the RAC Tourist Trophy at Ards, and the following year one of these TT cars driven by John Hindmarsh and Luis Fontes won the Le Mans 24-Hour endurance classic outright.

The Lagonda car company was founded in 1906 in Staines, Middlesex by the American Wilbur Gunn (1859-1920) who named it after a river near his home town of Springfield, Ohio. Gunn had started out building motorcycles in the garden of his house in Staines with some success, including winning the 1905 London to Edinburgh Trial. In 1907 he launched his first car and in 1910 won the Moscow to St Petersburg Trial driving a 16/18hp model. Having established its reputation, Lagonda concentrated mainly on the production of light cars before reverting to sporting and luxury models in the mid-1920s with the introduction of the 14/60. This four-cylinder, 2.0-litre model was joined in 1929 by the first of Lagonda's own sixes - the 3-Litre - but by the mid-1930s the Meadows-engined cars were seen as the way forward. Introduced at the 1933 Olympia Show and based on the preceding ZM 3-Litre model, the M45 deployed Meadows' 4½-litre, twin-plug six to good effect, saloons being capable of reaching 90mph and tourers 'the ton' under favourable conditions.

This Lagonda M45 pillarless saloon was purchased in Birmingham circa ten years ago by previous owner, the late Brinley 'Brin' Edwards, whose private collection forms part of this sale. It was driven back to his home in Cornwall and since acquisition has been used only for the occasional wedding and school prom. On the Lagonda's last outing (in 2016) the clutch began to slip, and we are also advised that the engine has overheated and will need inspection/repair. Brin gifted the car to the current vendor. Accompanying documentation consists of an SORN and V5C Registration Certificate. Sold strictly as viewed.