Description
Car nº: 12075
The LG45 Tourer was awarded the accolade by many of being the most elegant British sports car of the pre-war era. First registered on 21st August 1936, and retaining the registration number 'DGJ 500' that was originally assigned, though rebodied this rare example still cuts an extremely chic and desirable silhouette almost 90 years later.
This fine motorcar presents and drives superbly. Under the extensive bonnet is housed a period correct 4. 5 litre Meadows inline six petrol engine, coupled to a four-speed right-hand-side change (as per the G9 unit) manual G10 gearbox, with synchromesh on second, third and fourth gears. This powerplant was fitted in relatively recent history as for a period of approximately 50 years the original petrol engine had been replaced with a four-cylinder ‘4LK’ Gardner diesel-powered unit. Though this at first would seem like an odd thing to do, owing to its light construction and economical performance, more than a few of these units found there way into privately owned motorcars - not just the Foden and ERF lorries that it was originally destined for. Such was the success of this apparently odd pairing, Gardner produced a variation of the 4LK that featured aluminium alloy cylinder heads and blocks mated to the standard magnesium alloy crankcase. Engine number 97507 was the one fitted to DGJ 500 and was swapped out once again in 2009 whilst undergoing an enormous restoration.
The 4. 5 litre Meadows engines are notoriously oily due to a tendency for the block to lift from the crankcase if not routinely tightened. Reassuringly this example is clean, though the wealth of bills in the history file would suggest this would be the case prior to even looking under the bonnet. With this being an LG. 45 ‘Sanction III’ unit it features twin Scintilla ‘Vertex’ magneto’s (replacing the coil and magneto arrangement in the pre-1936 cars). Additionally the twin S. U. carburettors by this point were bolted directly to the cylinder head which was a modification brought about by W. O. Bentley joining the Lagonda organisation the year prior. Further cylinder head improvements also included altered inlet and exhaust valve dimensions which created an engine that was more willing to rev and consequently also produced quite a considerable amount more power. Despite the extraction of more performance, there was also the added benefit of improved cooling due to additional water circulation provision at the rear of the block.
This particular motorcar was rebodied during the 1980’s by renowned marque specialist Jack Buckley having been commissioned by Mr Ted Townsley (who by 1989 owned three LG45’s). Nº 12075 started life as an open car and thus would have made sense to rebody in a similar style. The coachwork is somewhat similar to an earlier M. 45 tourer – whereby for example the spare 18” correct wire wheel is mounted at the rear, rather than on the offside wing/ running-board. Also, the door arrangement is akin to an M. 45 by which there is no drivers side opening and only a single door at the rear nearside. Both doors feature sculpted profiles to allow elbows to rest on the door tops.
The grey paintwork is lightly patinated to perfection whilst the brightwork is tremendous. The imposing radiator grille being unblemished, including the adjustable individual vertical slats. Period correct Lucas P100R headlamps are accompanied by a smaller central Lucas PLG40 spotlamp – this alone costing £966 when sourced during the rebuild in 2009. Original Lucas twin Windtone horns complete the front façade.
The interior is exquisite with a tasteful array of working dials housed in a non-fussy solid wooden dash. The red carpet is clean and bright with evidence of wear restricted to the driver’s side footwell only. The seats and door cards are trimmed in quality brown hide, evidently well nurtured rendering it soft and supple and yet whilst in superb order has mellowed sublimely. The hood, including rear screen, is in very good order and stows away neatly. It is concealed by a fine mohair cover and a matching tonneau cover in perfect order accompanies this too.
There is an astonishing wealth of bills accompanying the history file of this car. The total restoration is documented to have cost c.£115, 000 a little over a decade ago. It is a highly desirable and very fine piece of motoring history in superb driving and cosmetic order throughout.
