Regarded by many as W. O. Bentley's mechanical masterpiece, the classic lines of this Frank Feeley-designed Lagonda remain as aesthetically impressive today as they were in 1939. The magnificent body is affixed to a production chassis that exemplifies some of the most graceful and flowing designs of the era. Every amenity was provided to purchasers, including a set of tools and spare spark plugs ingeniously concealed in one of the side mount covers. Only nine Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupes were manufactured in 1939.
This particular example (Chassis number 14113) was produced in August of 1939 - immediately prior to the start of World War II, which necessitated closure of the factory on September 26th, 1939. Several vehicles were relocated from the factory facility and housed in a chapel on Flood Street in Chelsea while the production line underwent conversion to serve the war effort. In 1940, authorities were ultimately persuaded by the company that these stored vehicles should be sold. However, the stipulation required that they be exported from England in exchange for much needed funding for the war.
The Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupe here was among those chapel-kept cars and was dispatched directly to Joseph Luchs on December 10th, 1940. His interest in acquiring a Lagonda automobile was conceived during his residence in London in 1935 prior to relocating his family and enterprise to New York City. Luchs, an Austrian by birth, was a prosperous dress manufacturer based near Park Avenue. In preparation for transporting the Lagonda to the United States, it was equipped with a number of special-order accessories including a center lamp, horn brackets, sun visors, and Lucas Mellotone horns. There was also a modification to accommodate fender skirts as documented in the purchase order. These original accessories remain with the Lagonda.
14113 was subsequently owned by Robert C. Bacon who held a seat on the Grain Exchange in Boston, Massachusetts. It was later procured by Bill Harrah, of Sparks, Nevada on November 30th, 1962, and remained in his collection until his death and subsequent auction in 1985. The Lagonda was thereafter incorporated into the Behring Collection at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California until March of 2016 when it was acquired by John P. Shibles of Sea Girt, New Jersey. After a comprehensive 16-month restoration at Steve Babinsky's facility under Shibles' ownership, meticulous maintenance, and more recent service to the brakes, this Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupe is an exquisite addition to any collection.
