Current ownership since 1966, 1934 Lagonda 4½-Litre M45 T7 Tourer

REGISTRATION NO. BGW 254

CHASSIS NO. Z10791

"Lagonda cars have always upheld a reputation for effortless fast touring and the pride of ownership which fine detail work and distinguished coachbuilding can give. The 4½-Litre model retains these characteristics, but scores considerably over its forebears by its high power-to-weight ratio. The chassis is no bigger than the three litre car, and there is no suggestion of clumsiness, heavy steering or the other drawbacks which often accompany the large engined car." - Motor Sport, January 1934.

Having driven this car we can only echo the sentiments expressed by the Motor Sport road tester. This M45 covers the miles effortlessly, with its light, accurate steering, quick and easy gearchange and powerful servo assisted brakes. As one looks out over the long bonnet the feeling of strong, powerful and effortless British engineering quality is quite inspiring.

The 4½-Litre Lagonda was one of the most accomplished sports cars of the 1930s, as a succession of high-profile race wins, culminating in victory at Le Mans in 1935, amply demonstrates. Introduced at the 1933 Olympia Show and based on the preceding ZM 3-Litre model, the M45 deployed Meadows' 4½-litre, twin-plug six to good effect, with saloons being capable of reaching 90mph and tourers 'the ton'.

Fitted from new with Lagonda’s in house T7 Tourer coachwork and sold new in 1934, Lagonda records show ‘BGW’ to have been erected on the 24th August 1934. The known ownership history of this car goes back to 1954 when it was purchased by a John Buchanan from a garage in Southampton. Correspondence on file show the car to be somewhat scruffy by this point but Buchanan was still able to use the car for continental touring, for which then as now it was ideally suited.

When Buchanan went to work in Nigeria in 1956 the car was sold onto Ronald Richards before passing to Squadron Leader Terry Lockwood in 1957. Seeing the innate quality of ‘BGW’ whilst recognising the fact it was rather tired by this point, Lockwood embarked upon a full restoration of the car, as shown by numerous correspondence and invoices on file, from the Lagonda Club and various specialists. At the completion of this restoration in circa 1965 ‘BGW’ was painted a striking shade of yellow.

In 1966 the current owner of ‘BGW’ had been searching for a good T7 bodied M45 for some time when he spotted this car for sale. His Father had sadly died leaving him some money and, wanting to spend this on something his Father would wholeheartedly have approved of, he settled on a T7 bodied M45. Having heard that ‘BGW’ was a very good example and that Lockwood probably would part with it, ‘BGW’ was purchased from Lockwood.

Over the ensuring near 55 years of ownership ‘BGW’ has been used for touring both in the UK and on the continent with most recently a rally to France being undertaken in 2019, with circa 30,000 miles being covered over these many years. Throughout this period it has lived up to the reputation of the model of effortless high speed touring. For much of this period it has shared garage space with a Talbot AV105 Coupe, the vendor considering this the ultimate pair of 1930s British sportscars, complimenting each other perfectly.

Whilst being used to the full, the volume of specialist invoices on file shows that ‘BGW’ has been very well cared for in all respects, for example having a body off re-paint a more sober and traditional British Racing Green and having a body rebuild at the same time. Whilst a complete engine rebuild was carried out by our sister restoration company, I.S. Polson, in 2010 around a new block and a good original M45 crankcase, what is believed to be the original crankcase to the car (numbered M45/148) was set-aside at this point and is offered with the car. At the same time the rear axle was rebuilt, whilst more recent work has been carried out by Lagonda specialist David Wall. Such is the quality of ‘BGW’ that it was featured in marque expert Geoffrey Seaton’s book on Lagonda with the caption “Correct in every detail, this beautifully restored M45”.

Only reluctantly offered for sale due to the owner downsizing, ‘BGW’ offers a new owner the chance to have one of the fastest and most coveted of pre War British sportscars - the Lagonda M45, with the most sought after T7 coachwork, offered from nearly 55 years of single connoisseur ownership.