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MG MGA - Lagonda Lust

1939 Lagonda V12 Medium Chassis Saloon...

http://www.sussexsportscars.co.uk/classic_cars/81/lagonda/

NOT an MGA, but in the spirit of great British automobiles (and British people). Nope, can't afford it, but I can still vicariously savor the perspective, aura, and patina of a classic motorcar and era.

Russ
Russ Carnes

Russ - This perfectly illustrates why we drive MGs - the Lagondas, Astons, and Jaguars are (mostly) out of our price range - so the MGA satisfies our lust and our pockets whilst we dream - no hang on - actually I think I would rather have my A than the Lagonda.
Cam Cunningham

Cam is spot on. In the 1930s the average Brit was driving an Austin 7; the sports minded Brit was in something like an MG P-type; many were still on 2 wheels; while others tried to make the transition from 2 to 4 wheels by going half way and settling for 3 wheels, such as the Morgan 3-wheeler. Drivers paid road tax based on their vehicle horsepower, so many opted for the smaller capacity cars. Lagondas and other large capacity cars were the preserve of the rich.

The attached photo is of my Father-in-Law in one of his many Morgan 3-wheelers.

Steve


Steve Gyles

I must admit that it would be quite a handful jamming hell bent for leather down a narrow back road like I can in my A!
Way back in 1972 I rescued and revived a 1946 Daimler D36L from behind a Shell station outside of Cambridge. I hand cranked it,(!)(5.6L straight 8, Wilson pre-select) cleaned the 'screen and drove it home on the rear (rod) brakes. I got everything working, polished and actually quite reliable, had it for about a year and while it was fun, huge, and difficult to drive in town, the wood, leather chrome and patina will always be in my memory! Yep, I sold it to get married, now it's worth about $200K.
Russ
Russ Carnes

If you can't afford the Lagonda, how about a very nice 1937 MG VA Tourer? Maybe a 1938 MG SA Tickford Drophead, or an MG WA saloon? MG made some beautiful touring cars and saloons in the 30's.

http://www.carpictures.com/MG/VA-Tourer-1937-09J8A284610394

http://www.prewarcar.com/classifieds/ad44371.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_WA

Ken

k v morton

My dad had a VA, which had belonged to the Wills tobacco family. When he went off on National Service, he set it on blocks outside his mother's house, and came back to find out she had sold it for ₤10. He apparently went mad and didn't ever cash the cheque (which he probably still has). He still rants on the subject 50+ years later.

dominic clancy

Arrrrrrgh! Painful as that must be to your father, though, you should both take comfort in the fact that he did come back.

Ken
k v morton

Aussie SA, VA, VA - middle car is MGCC Victoria overall Concours winner in 2010 - immaculate! Red SA is off on the next Peking to Paris run.
Mike


Mike Ellsmore

Any one of them a nice consolation prize if you can't afford the Lagonda. Still not inexpensive, though.

Ken
k v morton

Probably (to me) the most classy MG of all time:

1936 MG Airline PB Coupe

http://www.sussexsportscars.co.uk/classic_car/989/1936_mg_airline_pb_coupe/

Russ


Russ Carnes

I quite agree, but it might be a little small for someone lusting for a Lagonda?

Ken
k v morton

'Course any of the SAs in Mike's picture could be a great middle ground...
Russ
Russ Carnes

On the other hand, all of this is great fantasy.

I'll take my MGA anywhere, any time, any day.

I have done so for 40+ years and hope to share it with my grand kids when the get old enough to take it over.

Russ
Russ Carnes

What is amazing is how many of our children have already laid claim to our MGAs when we go to the great MGA resto house in the sky!!
Mark Mathiesen

The experience of teaching the little ones how to take care of our MGAs as they grow is priceless. Working together on any project, weather it is washing the car or mechanical work creates a bond and trust that can create an atmosphere where a young person, especially a grand kid can ask questions about life that they would not normally ask their parents or peers.
I look forward to more interaction with them, especially if we can develop enough interest in one of them to assure an entheusiastic home for our MGA when we can no longer take care of it our selves.
As I have mentioned before, my Dad bought our A new in 1959, we worked on it together through high school and until I moved away to my own family. I bought it from him in 1965. I had the good fortune to take my Dad for a ride in our MGA after Dad's not having seen if for quite a number of years. The ride recreated a bond that we had not shared in many years.
I'm waiting for the day that one of our young ones calls dibs on the A after adopting it themselves over time.
Russ Carnes

Talking of big cars and MG's here's a pic of my dad's SA around 1950 somewhere in Wimbledon. New, this had been the Mayor of Croydon's car. It now resides alive and well in Ohio - and having found the current owner I get updates every now and then.
Pete


Pete Tipping

My son has recently rented an industrial unit in an old cotton mill near here and he was looking for extra storage space in the mill when he happened upon this beauty (see pic.)

It is a 1938 Lagonda De Ville with the V12 engine that W.O Bentley designed when he went to work at the Staines factory in the mid 1930s after Rolls Royce bought out his own operation.

In the 1939 Glass's guide it shows this model cost 1635 when new. At this time and with this amount of money you could buy several decent houses!!

I've put him off seeking to buy it until he wins the lottery........................Mike


m.j. moore

It looks pretty complete, any history available?
Russ
Russ Carnes

Not sure if history is available but I'm seeing my lad at the weekend so will ask. The car and engine numbers are the same viz. 18018. I haven't seen it yet but from the pictures it looks virtually complete with no attempts at restoration. Here is a picture of the engine................mike


m.j. moore

Here is the dashboard.......................


m.j. moore

And here is the rear which to me is a little disappointing. It is a James Young body.

If it had been an LG45 I would have been very tempted!!........................Mike


m.j. moore

This looks like the car (chassis number 16018) sold by H&H at auction in 2007 when it went for £22,500 plus commission. It was then supposed to be taxed and tested and had had the engine overhauled. Not much seems to have happened to it since.

The car is supposed to be capable of 105 mph and I dread to think what the fuel consumption is.

Malcolm
Malcolm Asquith

This thread was discussed between 26/06/2010 and 08/07/2010

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