The Lagonda name has been associated with fine motor vehicles for over a century. Founded by Wilbur Gunn, an Ohio-born opera singer who emigrated to Britain in 1891, the Lagonda Engineering Company manufactured motorcycles, three wheelers, and, by 1907, automobiles. From Staines, England, Lagonda earned a reputation for speed and reliability, culminating in a win at the 1935 LeMans 24 Hour Grand Prix d’Endurance.

Lagonda ceased automobile production during World War II, and again in 1958. But its parent company, Aston Martin, has revived the moniker several times as a model name for its production models and concept cars.

Many consider the 1938-39 V12 Rapides to be the best and most elegant of all the Lagondas. An excellent example of a 1939 convertible was recently presented at the Kirkland, Washington Concours d’Elegance. Appropriately, it won the Most Elegant award.

On hand to answer questions about the Lagonda was Robert Fram, an employee of RX Autoworks, the company that restored the convertible to concours quality.

“This is one of three V12 Lagondas owned by Bill Holt,” said Fram. “Bill purchased two of the three from the same owner. This one, built in 1939, was one of only 12 made. It runs a 4.5 liter cast-iron, overhead-cam V12, four downdraft SU carburetors, and has torsion-bar, independent front suspension. Lagonda made the V12 line for about a year and a half in 1938 and ‘39.”

The remarkable frame-off restoration, with its mirror-like finish, is stunning. Every aspect measures up to the inherent quality of this art deco masterpiece. And each of the four-man team at RX Autoworks gets credit for the restoration.

When Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley Motors in 1931, William Owen Bentley was unhappy with his new role as subordinate to the management of his previous competitor. In 1935, Bentley eagerly accepted a position at Lagonda as Chief Engineer. His first job was to refine the existing 4.5 litre, 6 cylinder car; soon after he was directed to build “The Best Car in the World.” To satisfy that directive, he designed a new V12 engine and a torsion-bar, independent suspension chassis to go with it. As testimony to his skills, Bentley’s new engine propelled “special” Lagondas to third and fourth place at the 1939 LeMans.

“The engine develops 180 to 190 horsepower,” said Fram. “They didn’t publish a torque figure but it will pull away from a full stop in top gear. We’ve had this one up to about 70 miles per hour, but in their day they were good for just over 100 miles per hour.”

Predictably, many Lagonda V12 parts are not available at your local NAPA store, or anywhere else for that matter. But RX Autoworks is well acquainted with the challenges posed by rare automobiles.

“Rebuilding the engine took a lot of research and a lot of mock build-ups to make sure everything was going to work well in the end,” said Fram. “Some of the parts were not available so we just made them. That’s the nature of this level of car. We had new pistons, new connecting rods, and a new crankshaft made.”

Fram says all 12 of the original Lagonda V12 Rapide automobiles are still around, and his shop is currently restoring a second for a client in Oregon. About future plans for this V12, Fram says, “It’s been to Pebble, it’s been to Kirkland, and the next thing is just to use it. They are wonderful driving cars.”