1956 Lagonda Tickford 4-door Saloon

We haven’t tried to start or drive this RHD manual Lagonda 3-Litre, so we can only attest to its cosmetic condition. 

In common with many cars from the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles, it comes with very little in the way of history or service records, but it does have Bonhams’ auction notes from the date of its 2012 purchase immediately prior to entering the vendor’s collection. Given that the car has covered 33 miles since those notes were written and that the car has spent the intervening years kept warm and dry in a private collection, we think the following comments are as pertinent now as they were in 2012.

“This Lagonda 3-Litre saloon has had only eight owners, all documented.

The vendor purchased 'LPM 949' from Grundy Mack (now the Classic and Sportscar Centre) of West Knapton, Yorkshire in June 2006, since when it has undergone extensive refurbishment and upgrading. Between November 2011 and April 2012, Aston Motorsport of Westbury totally rebuilt the engine with Omega pistons, unleaded cylinder head conversion and a new oil pump, and fitted a Tremec five-speed gearbox complete with hydraulic clutch. The carburettors have been overhauled and are supplied with fuel from a new aluminium tank (made by Axminster Specialist Panels) by a new Burlen Fuel Systems SU fuel pump.

The radiator has been upgraded with a high efficiency core and the braking system now has a dual-circuit master cylinder with twin servos. It should be noted that the engine has covered around 500 miles since the rebuild and is not yet run in.

The dynamo has been replaced with an alternator and the electrics changed to negative earth. Electronic ignition was already on the car when purchased, and the distributor has been refurbished by The Distributor Doctor. 

The windscreen wiper motor has been upgraded to enable intermittent wipe control by a rotary switch mounted to the right of the steering column under the dashboard, which has been re-varnished by The Wood Workshop in Calne. Speedy Cable refurbished the speedometer, clock, tachometer and oil pressure gauge in 2012.

The seats and door cards were re-trimmed and the headlining replaced by South West Auto Trimming of Calne in 2010. A new laminated front windscreen was fitted by Trinity Engineering, Cobham in 2006. The radio is the original one, upgraded with modern internals by the Vintage Wireless Company and fitted with an MP3 input. The old valve unit in the engine bay now houses the ignition control box. There is a Falcon Predator Mk2 immobiliser fitted.

The car was re-sprayed in 1981 but the offside rear wing has had to be repainted following a poor repair by a previous owner; although the correct code was used, the paint match is not good but this is about to be rectified. Described as in generally good condition, this extensively refurbished and upgraded Lagonda 3-Litre is offered with old-style logbook, sundry restoration invoices…It should be noted that the previous speedometer unit had recorded 104,000 miles; the current reading is 4,008.”

This grand and rather stately sports saloon has light-green over dark-green two-tone paintwork and cream leather upholstery. 

This motor car is being sold as part of a private overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams’ temporary admission customs bond.  In addition to the ‘hammer’ price, the winning bidder must pay a bond release fee (£350) and also import tax/duty.

In the UK, cars over 30 years old are subject to the lower rate of 5% import tax on the final selling price if purchased by a private individual. A company buying this car will always pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT on the ‘hammer’ price.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable upon proof of customs/tax payment in the other country.

The bond release fee (£350 payable direct, post-auction, to the CARS shipping company) will produce a NOVA from HMRC, this document is formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK. The vehicle is not registered anywhere. You must register the vehicle with the DVLA. Upon request, The Market can suggest some companies who can help with this process.

This vehicle has been on static display in the Middle East for a number of years, and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section. In all cases, the documents shown are photocopies, unless otherwise stated. We do not have the originals.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is strictly sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for viewing by appointment weekdays 10am - 4pm, and we advise you (or your appointed engineer) to inspect it at our HQ near Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

This car presents very well and the bodywork is devoid of any significant dinks, dents, creases or folds that we can see. 

The panel gaps and shut lines are consistent and even, and all four doors close with satisfying weight and precision.

The chrome-work, wheels, badging, lights, lenses and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all very impressive, although there is a little foxing in evidence on the chrome trim around the windows.

The two-tone green paintwork is also pretty decent overall, although a slight colour mismatch on the boot lid and adjacent rear wings suggests that the paintwork may be making an unscheduled bid for three-tone status.

There are a few spots of nascent bubbling here and there, but certainly nothing of any real consequence, as far as we can tell. We found a few outbreaks at the base of both rear doors and in places on the wheel arches behind them and, to a lesser extent, on the rear wings above them.

There is a paint chip on the rear edge of the n/s/r door and a few stone chips in the usual places – around the grille and on the forward-facing aspects of the rear wheel arches. There are a few cracks to the paint on the ‘A’ pillars.

Something of indeterminate provenance has been spilled on top of the n/s/f wing and has stained and discoloured the paint. We have no reason to doubt that it would capitulate if threatened with a polishing machine in the hands of a competent operative.

The car’s interior is really very impressive indeed and there would seem to have been no expense spared in its restoration and preservation.

The cream leather seats are barely showing anything as vulgar as a crease, let alone any kind of ingrained patina. 

The seats, front and back, are comfortable and supportive.

The richly glossy wood on the dashboard, door cappings and other inserts is particularly good, with no cracks to the lacquer or splits in the wood that we’ve been able to find.

The carpets and mats, though in need of a thorough clean, appear to be intact and in fundamentally reasonable nick. A section of carpet is loose and hanging down in the passenger footwell, and some wires are exposed as a consequence.

The fabric headlining has some holes in it, primarily along the sides, which may or may not have been caused by visiting moths and their voracious offspring. 

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t started or driven the vehicle.

The boot looks to be in very good order and contains some spare mats and a box of various spares and other bits and pieces.

The engine and engine bay are sufficiently clean and shiny to merit a 5-star food hygiene rating, never mind a glowing mechanics report.  Everything appears to be present, correct and in its right and proper place.

The undersides of the car look to us to have plenty of structural integrity. You will, of course, want to reach your own conclusion.

The car doesn’t come with any history or service records beyond what is shown in the photography section. 

Currently, it has neither an MoT certificate nor a V5, although it does have an online MoT trail going back to 2005. It also has a clear HPI check, some copies of Lagonda handbooks and technical manuals, various descriptions of the car prepared for events and shows, and a feature article about it in the March 2011 edition of Classics Monthly magazine. 

It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this. 

None of the paperwork shown in the gallery constitutes any kind of current licensing or registration documentation.

We have had a number of Lagonda 3-Litre Sports Saloons come and go through the unit here at HQ, and a few of them have come from this very collection. 

We don’t recall seeing a better example than this fine car, which we believe to have been the 255th of just 430 3-litre iterations ever built. 

When new, this car cost £3,684, which was the price of a 3-bed semi-detached house in the Home Counties at the time.

It’s easy to see why.

The quality and craftsmanship built in to these rare, opulent, hand-made, Tickford-bodied Lagondas is conspicuously apparent in this example, which appears to be a very well restored and preserved car - provided, of course, that the engine, electrics and mechanicals are amenable to recommissioning and as good as the rest of it. 

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £15,000 - £10,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £350 NOVA fee.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.