Serious Salooners invited. (upd. oily rag restoration candidate)

How I agree with Ralf and Bas,most cheque-book restorations take the heart and soul out of the car which very often ends up with a totally inappropriate colour scheme.Far better to repair and conserve as much as possible.It may not be the most handsome of cars but I for one would love a ride in it in as much of it's original glory as it's possible to keep.
Graham.

Are you serious or having a laugh. If you can do all yourself and dont take any notice of the hours involved then the losses will still be substantial but not crippling. To say this thing is a looker is quite imaginative. Good and W.O indeed made some good cars for a while before it fell into debt again.
Best of luck if someone does take on this oily rag Lol. I better say no more!

Yes Stewart we look at the same photos...I owned a 16/80 on M45 axles & brakes, 18 inch wheels, powered by a 4 ltr Sheerline engine combined with an Alvis gearbox. Spend one winter getting the oily rag over it and did some minor repairs, left the upholstery original etc and had years of great fun with it. Smoking tyres excellent plus ! After that I bought an "restored" 3 ltr with a newish body and looking excellent. Regret having sold the 16/80 as the "restored" 3 ltr is not half the fun. Missing the right atmosphere. The LG 45 is the right car for a small pocket guy to step into Lagonda adventure and have fun. my cars: http://www.prewarcar.com/prewar-my-prewarcar/my-prewarcar/oily-rag-lagonda-versus-restored-017751.html

Well, Stewart, history shows that Alan Good and WO Bentley saved Lagonda- they certainly did not destroy it! That you consider the Lagonda an 'ugly ducking' is fortunately just your opinion- most would consider the restored car a magnificent classic of its time,which it is. Moreover this one would not necessisarily cost a fortune to put back on the road. The Meadows engine is nothing like as complex as the V12, there appears to be little corrosion on the body and that interior looks excellent- the leather can be restored and professionally re- coloured at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Yes, I do ( or have had!) 'the balls'- I have owned a Derby Bentley myself, and had my Talbot restored from similar condition to this Lagonda. The 'rip it all out and start again' merchants would indeed spend a fortune- but there is another, and better way. H & H are respected auctioneers- hopefully this fine car will find a good home.

An oily rag? a pigging oily rag? Are we both looking at the same photos ?

A wand more likely.

I think my favourite car was my LG45 special with sanction 111 engine , another ugly car but I chrished it all the same, it went like stink, stopped on a sixpense and although often I seemed to skip around the corners I used to go to work in it for about a year, no hood just a raggy cover, it was an oily rag. It went to Italy and now is in Russia

My Bentleys arent the most handsome cars bodied but all are rare nd I like them..

Well it'll be great to have another four Bentleys that I can appreciate but can't afford on the road, but great to have this on the road too. It's unique in many ways, admittedly not all good. It's probably perfectly viable as long as you don't expect to make any money on it! One for the hobbyist who doesn't charge for his own time. Good luck to whoever takes it on!!

why restore where an oily rag might be sufficient ?
this beauty could well be brought back to the road with only minor investment

editor: thank you for bringing up this most intersting option. The car would be a welcoem guest in The Oily Rag Run as organised by The Automobile.

I wonder if any of you saviours have the balls to even attempt this ugly duckling. I never said I couldnt afford to do it. I am restoring 4 Bentley closed cars at the moment and this would be no different other than being a dreadful lwb Lagonda when finished that would not give me any pleasure that no one except the original one eyed designer would really like this automobile.I think that it was cars like this that Lagonda allowed to be made helped destroy the fine brand.

editor: love to hear this outspoken opinion. Different opinions add life to the hobby. If we had the money for such an operation we would by far prefer this Lagonda than Bentley nr umpteen.

lose the spare wheel cover and add some side trims and it could almost be my Autovia, I hope this is restored in the correct form.

Editor I agree fully with you, or you can spend the same amount $$$ of restoration costs and buy a Bugatti T35 or Blower Bentley and get from the chemistry a nice cream for that stiff neck, or arthritic pains: problem solved!

Sure vintage is right there, it's a warm comfortable car so the driver and five other family members stay all very healthy, but with a fuel consumption of 13 mpg this nicely shaped giant gives you pain in a other area: your wallet.

editor: if you worry about the possible sumptuous fuel consumption of this refined piece of machinery, then don't even think about restoring it.

actually that is my type of car... all this so called racing around in asthmatic sports cars open to the elements and freezing your ass off most of the year .... you can keep your ear ache, arthritic joints and tennis elbow thanks,,,, love it ,,i'd buy it.. and stewart the old car hobby has nothing to do with demand,,, where's the passion,,, if you want demand sell nikes or open a starbucks ;)

editor: Hear-hear ! Stewart also forgets that even in this hobby 'fashion' changes form time to time. What's hip today maybe out tomorrow. And some people may like the idea that they can show off with a car for which nobody else would have the energy nor the funds to restore.

Impressive restoration is ahead, and when finished where to park this giant on wheels? :-)

Not worth doing today unfortunately no demand anymore, will either be broken up or made into a special but doubt even that is viable anymore as will require an enormously expensive rebuild