Barn Finds Aristocratic discoveries, and an incredible Dutch Citroën hoard uncovered
Land Rover and rare Lagonda survivor found interred together in a barn in rural Kent
A1935 Lagonda M45 saloon has been discovered in Kent, where it’s spent the past 25 years in storage with a 1958 Land Rover. The long-term owner bought the Lagonda in 1948 and put it away some time in the Seventies. ‘He bought the Land Rover new,’ says James Johnson of Hobbs Parker, which is selling both vehicles as part of an auction at its premises in Ashford on July 13. ‘It was last taxed in 1992 and is one of the very earliest Series II models from the first year of production, so it has the same 2.0-litre engine as the final Series Is. It’s a shortwheelbase example with a canvas top.’
The Lagonda is a rare car; many M45s with Lagonda’s own pillarless-saloon coachwork succumbed to rot in the ash framing and were scrapped or re-bodied as tourers. The 4467cc Meadows engine has twin SU carburettors with magneto and coil ignition and a twelve-plug cylinder head, six on each side. With genuine 90mph performance these were some of the fastest closed cars of their day and to find such an original, few-owners example is highly unusual.
Despite – or perhaps because of – more than 40 years of storage, the Lagonda is said to be surprisingly sound, but assessment of the restoration cost will be crucial to the sale price. It’s estimated at just £15k-£25k, while the Land Rover (also original and complete) will be sold without reserve with an estimate of £2500-£3500.