TVJL Sep 01, 2016 6:19 pm
Subject: Re: 1953 Brooklands 2.6 /3.0 litre dhc

Weeeeell, it looks very nice and I'd like to see it achieve a good price.

However... non-original engine; non-original gearbox; non-original steering wheel; lots of non-original stuff going on under the bonnet (servo, air filters etc.); lots of non-standard trim business on the outside (hubs, embellisher, paint, upholstery, hood etc. etc.).

For my money, why not keep things as David Brown intended? In any event, my guess is that this degree of non-originality may impact adversely on the hammer price (that could have been achieved otherwise had things been restored in a different way).

SRD Sep 03, 2016 10:08 pm
Subject: Re: 1953 Brooklands 2.6 /3.0 litre dhc

Many Brooklands Cars had their engines upgraded b y the factory in period from 2.6 to 3.0 litre - I don't believe that will impact the price. A typical factory upgrade with use of the old 2.6 litre thermostat housing rather than the new oblong 3.0 litre and they kept the 2.6 litre radiator as well.

The cigar shaped air-filter missing.

The Smith snail heater sited in wrong place

Jackall master cylinder restored and no effort made to add original style sticker (these are available)

Trico glass windscreen wash bottle and pump moved.

Gearbox probably steering column type originally and many upgraded or converted to floor change and that is worth paying extra for - again a point in its favor..

Brake master cylinder should be silver color

Servo upgrade or perhaps they mean it had one installed ?

The bonnet stay rod in my opinion should be body color and not gray ?

Bonnet release/close mechanism was painted black originally and not silver passivate

Spark plug shrouds should be black

Lagonda motif to end of bonnet should be red paint infiilled.

The front over riders look like incorrect replacements..

Interior a few observations, the few Brooklands cars I have seen, all have distinctive door cars with stripped effect to trim. Also noted on my own early 3.0 litre Coupe.

Pedal rubbers missing - lazy available from excellent club spares

Many other rubbers missing, wonder what the bushes will be like to suspension, they will all need replacing.

handle to door as we both know is plain incorrect beneath door capping

Seats are correct style

Walnut veneer is horrible American walnut and this is inappropriate, not for me !

Chrome collar to top of steering column is a replacement. It should be black and given this was a steering column gear shift orginally, it will have a specific type with mounting hole to side.

However, given all of this, this stuff is reversible and someone will have spent the better part of the lower estimate having it restored.

I have spent a lot of time and effort with my 2nd dhc searching and working hard to find correct items for either missing or damaged parts. However, not every owner wants to go to all that time and effort.

it will be interesting to see what it sells for, this will be the 3rd dhc to go up for sale this year and the price is moving northwards...

TVJL Sep 04, 2016 1:12 pm
Subject: Re: 1953 Brooklands 2.6 /3.0 litre dhc

Agreed (for the most part). You make my point for me (in loooong form). Grinning

SRD Sep 05, 2016 6:00 pm
Subject: Re: 1953 Brooklands 2.6 /3.0 litre dhc

Given all of the above, I still think it will do very well, these cars are so rare and highly desirable, trust this is short enough.. Grinning

TVJL Sep 08, 2016 5:24 pm
Subject: Re: 1953 Brooklands 2.6 /3.0 litre dhc

Yup, and I hope that you're right. Grinning Grinning

SRD Sep 13, 2016 2:23 pm
Subject: Re: 1953 Brooklands 2.6 /3.0 litre dhc

Car dealership, Er ? AML Ltd or more specifically Lagonda Ltd as first owner

Car featured in many key adverts in 1955 and 1956 - history ?

Continuous history from new ?

That the car was a rare beast in its condition, unlike so many seen which are wrecks even if complete, was a given, the original interior with some work was all saveable.

As to the loan of the car to Fangio for several years, it may have had a marked effect, how much it was, we have no idea, but several people were very keen and that was their choice of course.

In my opinion what helped that car, was product placement (good advertising, pictures, write up and several excited people), AML Bonham's was the correct auction, pre- Brexit.

TVJL Sep 14, 2016 9:29 am
Subject: Re: 1953 Brooklands 2.6 /3.0 litre dhc

You will have to remind me which entity - precisely - owned the car that was loaned to Fangio. I don't recall when Lagonda Limited ceased to exist but I thought it was at a date earlier than this car's manufacture.

IIRC, that 'good advertising, pictures, write up' came very late in the day e.g. I recall that much of the original marketing and other historical material was omitted from the first run of the Bonhams blurb.

I was at the auction and the number of bidders on the car was modest. The car was a good project, for sure, but I think that the biggest factor at play was pure bloody good fortune. Grinning

SRD Sep 14, 2016 6:24 pm
Subject: Re: 1953 Brooklands 2.6 /3.0 litre dhc

Build sheet dated 1955 with Lagonda Ltd on there, so not much to discuss on that point

We all need lady luck in our lives sometimes Grinning Laughing

However, Bonham's AML auction can always be counted on for a few high flyers, and I think it is a good auction to put cars into if placed correctly and with sensible here to buy estimates.