Show whole topic Mar 23, 2014 10:54 am
SRD Offline
Member
Registered since: Mar 12, 2012
Location: -


Subject: Rare 1939 V12 Coupe, Hooper Bodywork for sale at NEC 12/13th April
Silverstone Auctions have a "barn find" V12 coming up for auction at the NEC Restoration Show on April 12/13th

It is the ex-Ellard, Hooper-bodied FHC, 14083, fitted with what appears to be a genuine 4-carb engine (presumably retro-fitted by the factory). Paint scheme is not one I like, but the red colour, is probably original.

The concern might be that this car will be bought to be made into a racer, or at least that is where the engine might go.

As a one-off two-door FHC by a top coachbuilder, and with that ultra-desirable engine, it might indeed be a financially viable proposition, quite apart from being a rare survivor.

The car has been poorly stored, several pictures in the past year or two, including Practical Classics, show the same open barn with poor standing.

Estimate is £75-100k

Registration: FLD 1

Chassis Number: 14083

Engine Number: 14083

Number of cylinders: V12

CC: 5509

Year of Manufacture: 1939

Estimate (£): 75,000 - 100,000

Saleroom blurb below;

"This beautiful Lagonda V12 2 door 'Hooper' saloon is a unique car specially built for the wife of the owner of Hooper Bodies Ltd. (the most noted British body builder of the era) and first registered in August 1939. It features a 5509cc 'Rapide' 4 Carburettor engine and coachwork similar to the standard pillarless saloon found on post-war Rolls Royce, Bentley and Daimler chassis which embodied the traditional Hooper 'Razor Edge' design. Stored throughout the War the car was eventually sold to Mr. Harry Ellard in March 1952 at a mileage reading of 19,266.

Henry Ellard, known as Harry, was a highly successful engineer who built up the 'Henry Meadows' Wolverhampton enginering and engine producing business. He designed for the metal pressing business in the Black Country and was so successful that many of his designs are still being produced today. Becoming extremely wealthy during his life, the Midlands entrepreneur was able to start his hobby of collecting outstanding cars that had been well engineered and reflected great workmanship. The Lagonda certainly met this criteria as he was to own 6 cars, but this rare and special car was his clear favourite. He owned this car throughout the rest of his life as a part of his very significant collection until his final days when the entire collection was sold off in July 1984 by Colliers Bigwood and Bewlay at auction. This car was to feature on the cover of the catalogue which offered his amazing and treasured collection. By this stage the car had now covered a documented 39,809 miles from new.

The condition of the car at that sale was described in the catalogue as 'generally very good' and the new owner, Don Williams, was to enjoy the car up until 2001 when it changed hands to our current owner and vendor. It has been in storage ever since and now requires a complete restoration.

So, in summary, we are offering an extremely rare and very highly regarded matching numbers and highly original Lagonda, which includes it's original and collectable registration number 'FLD 1' (which we are told is transferrable) and the original buff log book showing just 3 former keepers and a genuine mileage of circa 40,000 from new."



Attachments:
a.jpg
Downloads: 1093
Filesize: 60.99 KB
b.jpg
Downloads: 896
Filesize: 47.35 KB
c.jpg
Downloads: 930
Filesize: 52.29 KB
d.jpg
Downloads: 885
Filesize: 61.94 KB
e.jpg
Downloads: 920
Filesize: 50.74 KB