Show whole topic Feb 03, 2008 3:26 pm
Colin M34 Offline
Member
Registered since: Dec 01, 2007
Location: Suffolk, UK


Subject: Restoration of a 12/24 Lagonda
Dear All,

The 12/24 category of this forum looked empty and lonely so I have ventured to post some pictures of my first Lagonda. I found this car in 1975 - or rather I found the derelict remains of what had been turned from a saloon into a pick up truck during WW2 and was then abandoned some time in the 1950's. The first photo shows what I found. This is taken on the drive of my 1936 semi-detached house.

I bought the car from a local blacksmith called Bob Norman. He first got the car in 1929 when it was 4 years old! Sadly Bob is no longer with us.

The second photo was taken about 1980 and shows me sitting with utter disblief in the body I had just found through meeting somebody at the Beaulieu Autojumble. It came off a 1923 10HP Hillman and it fitted! In fact it fitted so well that the price went up - and I had to sell the 1932 Morris Minor in the picture to pay for it. This is the other end of the drive of my semi and we had just lifted the body off the trailer which was parked outside.

By the way this is a much younger me and those who know me will have to judge whether I have aged gracefully or not...

The third picture was taken some months later and as you can see, it's coming together nicely. The garage behind was where I did all the work through the winter after I had found the body. A few weeks later it passed the MOT test and it was on the road!

Later that year I found the rambling 18th century house I still live in and car restoration had to take a back seat whilst the house had to be restored. It caused immense amusement to visitors that at one stage the house had half-demolished walls and scaffolding round the roof whilst the Lagonda engine had been removed and was on a trolley in the living room!

Once it was finished, I used the car a great deal. This included taking it to France a couple of times and winning the Lagonda Club Fox and Nichol trophy with it in 1988. These are very rare cars and a delight to drive, though very slow.

I sold it in 1991. The house is now secure and warm.

Maybe I will post more about this car later.

Colin

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Car as found.jpg
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12-24 Lagonda body.jpg
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Restoration underway.jpg
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Filesize: 90.78 KB