Rare Lagonda sold before going under the hammer at Birmingham auction

AN extremely rare 1939 Lagonda V12 Hooper due to headline a classic car restoration auction at Birmingham’s NEC has been sold in a six-figure deal even before going under the hammer.

An unnamed investor made Silverstone Auctions, which is handling the sale, an offer it couldn’t refuse.

The two-door saloon, once owned by a famous Midlands collector, was featured in TheBusinessDesk.com’s Motoring column earlier this month. It has been stored for the past 13 years and was set to be one of the star lots at tomorrow’s auction.

The unique car, a highly original and matching numbers example, had been estimated at between £75,000 and £100,000. It was built for the wife of the owner of Hooper Bodies Ltd, the most noted coach builder of the era, and first registered in August 1939. With the onset of war just weeks later the car was placed into storage before being sold to Harry Ellard in 1952.

A highly successful Midlands engineer, Ellard built up a stunning collection of around 40 cars of which this was the centrepiece. Reportedly the largest collection of Lagondas, Ellard owned another five models. Following his death, his famous collection was sold at auction in 1984 with this car taking pride of place on the front cover of the catalogue.

The next owner enjoyed the car until 2001 when it changed hands once again. It has now sold having been in storage for the past 13 years, ready for its new owner to restore it to its former glory.

Managing director of Silverstone Auctions, Nick Whale, said: “It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to generate so much interest in a car prior to the auction and is testament to the quality and uniqueness of cars that we offer buyers. Clearly the car was in high demand and so the successful buyer did not want to risk missing out on such a magnificent example.”

Over 80 barn finds, restoration projects and more roadworthy classic cars are set to go under the hammer at tomorrow’s event.

Included amongst them will be two beautiful Aston Martin DBS sports cars, both estimated at between £20,000 and £25,000.

The Aston pair are both offered from a large private collection.

Having had just two former keepers, CAU 128H is a very rare manual 1969 DBS Vantage, one of just 70 right hand drive models in the most sought after Vantage specification.

The car was acquired by its current owner in 2002 who used it for just one year before placing it in storage where it has sat for the past 10 years. Largely untouched, the car is in original condition.

The second model, EGU 29H (pictured), is a 1970 DBS powered by the manufacturer’s legendary V8 engine.

It has also been barn stored for the past 10 years.

Whale said: “It’s not often we find two exciting models in one place and these cars present a fantastic opportunity to acquire fast appreciating examples of the marque in rare and highly desirable specification with impeccable history.”