TAKING A RISK ON A RAPIER
In 1933, Lagonda moved into the market for quality small cars with the Rapier. Production started in early 1934, but in June 1935 Lagonda went into receivership and was bought by Alan Good. The Rapier was sold off separately and the new firm moved into premises in Kew, with 11 two-seater Rapiers commissioned by dealer Warwick Wright of London from the Eagle Coachworks of Thames Ditton.
BGT 268 was one of this batch of Eagles built in 1934-ʼ35. Its early history is not known to the Rapier Register, which became aware of it in 1955.
Former owner Tony Bailey raced the car during the 1961 and ʼ62 seasons, then sold it on. Vintage Autos advertised it for sale in Motor Sport in January 1963 and then the car disappeared from view, having been bought as an investment by Ted Wohlbruck of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. In 1973 it was in the hands of Jim Williams, who used it briefly before dismantling it for restoration. He later moved to Florida but died in 2021 with the car still in pieces.
John Rennie was looking for a Rapier and heard that Jimʼs car was for sale. With travel restricted by the pandemic, he took a risk and bought it from descriptions and photos. “It was an act of faith that they would find all the parts,” he says.
“Just before Christmas in 2021, a large transporter arrived and the ramps came down to reveal two packing crates and the car, with other parts packed in and around the body,” says John. Eventually he was able to work out which bits went where, and the restoration is now progressing.