A History of the Lagonda Car Company
Founded in 1899 at Staines, Middlesex, by Wilbur Gunn, an expatriate American, the company diversified from its original steam engines into the new motor cycles in 1900, followed by three-wheeled tricars in 1904. These lasted until 1907 when their market suddenly collapsed. Gunn then converted his products to four wheels, which grew steadily larger, culminating in a 4.5 litre 6, and started an export business to Russia, triggered by a notable success in the 1910 St. Petersburg to Moscow rally.
The 11.1
Agreeing with Henry Ford that the future of the motor car lay in cheap cars, the 11.1 HP Lagonda of 1913 was a complete reversal of policy and was the first car to do away with the chassis frame. The original tiny coupe was followed by a four-seater and a van in 1914, just before car production was stopped by the government. After the war the 11.1 was enlarged to the 11.9 HP, still chassisless but larger. This in turn was succeeded by the 12/24 which used very similar mechanical parts but had a rudimentary chassis which made it easier to carry out bodywork changes.
The 14/60
Another change of policy in 1925 brought in the 14/60, the first car to use Lagonda’s twin high-set camshafts in a totally new engine and chassis. It also moved the company’s products into a much more expensive bracket. It was joined the following year by a six cylinder model, the 16/65, which, surprisingly, had a totally different pushrod ohv engine, with very few parts in common. The company’s fondness for motor sport led to a much faster version of the 14/60 called the Speed Model 2 Litre in 1927. This is the car most readily associated with the make at the time and was an instant success, offering Bentley performance at a much cheaper cost. The 16/65 was redesigned to have a 3 litre engine, initially as a dignified saloon, soon followed by the Special which followed the Speed Model design concept, as applied to the longer chassis.