Show whole topic Mar 24, 2010 9:22 pm
Colin M34 Offline
Member
Registered since: Dec 01, 2007
Location: Suffolk, UK


Subject: Re: 16/80 Body
hi Folks

Alex is right. The full designation of the 16/80 that donated the T7 body which was put on my 1930 car was SWS10499.T7 . The first "S" stood for "Special", the "W" for "Wilson" (ie preselector) and as Alex correctly mentioned the third "S" was for 16/80, matched up with a T7 body.

Barbara, can you enlighten us and give us the exact combination of numbers and letters on your chassis plate? This should give us a clue. Also please just confirm yours is a 4 not a 6-cylinder car.

It would also be instructive to have the same for Oakley's car which I would expect to be OHLxxxx.T7

Just to add to my comments about enthusiastic salesmen wanting to sell a 3 year old development chassis as a new car, I have had some hilarious conversations with Lagonda Club Historian Arnold Davey, where he explained that at this time the company was so strapped for cash that they would do anything to get an order, after which the Works would have to scratch around for bits to fulfil it. Arnold said that this got so bad in 1935, that some really oddly specified cars were sold. I guess we will never know who bought Hans’s car from the factory but I’m sure he was pleased with it, especially if it had been a bargain!
Arnold also backs up the comment about 16/80s not being used in competition. Around this time there was a lot of snobbery about "Fizzers" and "Thumpers" - Rapiers and 16/80s were the former and 2 Litre, 3 Litre and M45s being the latter. I guess it would have been inevitable that someone of a sporting inclination would have been delighted to be offered a new car with the 'old' 2 Litre engine rather than having to put up with a "Fizzer".

Actually, I like my 16/80, it is so different from my High Chassis 2 litre. They are like chalk and cheese, and its fun having both.

Colin M34