To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Paris event, 6 February
2019.
Estimate:
€200.000 - €250.000
- Displayed at the Aston Martin stand during the 1962 New York
Auto Show
- One of only 55 produced, and one of just six built in left-hand
drive
- Winner of Trofeo Automobile Club Como at the 2017 Concorso
d'Eleganza Villa d'Este
- Displayed at the Concorso d'Eleganza Kyoto in 2018
Purchased by David Brown in 1947, Lagonda had all but disappeared
by 1957 as DB4 production dominated the company's activities. In
1961, however, a new Lagonda, named the Rapide, was announced. This
was a true sports saloon in the best tradition of the Lagonda name,
thanks to its twin-carb version of the 4.0-litre DB5 engine and
lightweight alloy Superleggera body.
Chassis no. LR/110/L is one of only six left-hand-drive examples
built and was presented on the Aston Martin stand at the 1962 New
York Auto Show. Originally ordered in Black Pearl over Red Connolly
leather by Group Captain Hugh Marsland Groves of Sarasota, Florida,
the Rapide was sold through Aston Martin distributer J.S. Inskip of
New York. Group Captain Groves clearly cherished his Rapide driving
some 21,814 miles in three years before Aston Martin modified the
air intakes and added the handsome bonnet vents presumably to make
the car even more useable in Florida's warm climate. Although the
Rapide was ordered in automatic, at some point it was converted to
manual and now sports a period-correct David Brown four-speed
gearbox.
By 1989, the Rapide was with Melvin Ritter in Arizona, who then
sold it to an Aston Martin Service dealer in California. The
extensive history file shows that LR/110/L was imported to the UK
in 1990, before being exported to Australia in 1993 upon sale to
Paul Sabine of Victoria. It was Mr. Sabine who undertook the
extensive body-off restoration of the Rapide, including a
bare-metal respray. After passing to at least two other Australian
owners, the Lagonda returned to Europe. Prior to displaying the car
at Villa d'Este in 2017, the new owner spent some CHF 65,960 to
prepare the car cosmetically and mechanically. This work included a
top end engine rebuild, suspension and recommissioning work. A
further �9,268 of service work was completed in the last 12
months.
Offered for sale with an extensive history file dating back to
1962, including restoration invoices and photographs, this Aston
Martin Lagonda Rapide represents a fantastic opportunity to own a
rare and beautiful David Brown classic in excellent mechanical and
cosmetic condition.To view this car and others currently consigned
to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa19.
