Diesel Lagonda

Sir,

Reading the (Obituaries in your March MOTOR SPORT I notice that the late Lord de Clifford, OBE, used Lagonda cars and in particular, a Gardner diesel engined Lag for the Monte Carlo Rally. I purchased a Lagonda pillarless saloon, LG45, 1937, which I understand was used, when new, by the Gardner brothers as a test bed for their diesel engines. Could it be that the late Lord de Clifford used a works car and might it have been the one I have? The registration number of my car is JM 3066, chassis No. 12216/G10, first reg. 6.4.37. I am told the car has had Perkins diesel engines since the Gardner, and it had an XK Jaguar unit when I bought it. The oldest log book I have only dates back to October, 1946 and shows a ‘first owner’ as Henry Mason Bibby of Heswall. Does anyone know the car and any of its history? This delightful car is now in very good health as the last owner refurbished the interior with Connolly hide, new carpets and roof lining and she should be running on petrol again this summer after using diesel oil for most of her life.

Walsall, Staffs
Ronald Smith