W.O. Bentley's post-Bentley masterwork — six-cylinder LG45 and the sublime 4½-litre V12, including a third place at Le Mans 1939.
After the Bentley collapse, W.O. Bentley joined Lagonda in 1935 as technical director. The LG45 used a developed Meadows 4,453cc six, while the all-new Lagonda V12 — entirely W.O.'s work — was a 4,480cc 60-degree V12 producing around 175 bhp, with double-overhead camshafts and remarkable refinement. A V12 finished third at Le Mans in 1939. Coachwork by James Young, Frank Feeley and others gave the cars elegant, restrained pre-war lines.
Some of the most technically advanced pre-war British engineering, by the same hand that designed every important Bentley before it.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG45 | 1935–1937 | Not separately recorded | 4.5-litre Meadows six; Rapide variant the sporting flagship. |
| V12 | 1937–1940 | Not separately recorded | 4,480cc DOHC V12; Le Mans third in 1939. |
| V12 Rapide | 1938–1940 | Not separately recorded | Short-chassis sporting V12; the most desirable specification. |
For pre-war and vintage cars such as the Lagonda LG45 / V12, provenance is paramount. Chassis and engine number matching, period coachbuilder records, factory build sheets where available, continuous ownership documentation, original handbooks and any competition or concours history are the foundation of value. Original V12 engine, sporting open coachwork, W.O. Bentley provenance and recognised club registration.
The V12 is sophisticated and rewards a recent specialist rebuild; the LG45 Meadows six is robust if maintained. A pre-purchase inspection by a recognised marque specialist should include compression and leak-down testing, magneto and ignition checks, chassis straightness and frame survey, axle and steering wear assessment, brake system review (mechanical or hydraulic per period), and an extended road test on varied terrain to expose carburation, cooling and gearbox issues that only emerge under sustained running.
Pre-war coachwork is rarely truly original after a century of use. Establish whether the body is original to the chassis (period photographs, build records, coachbuilder plates), whether it has been re-bodied at any point, and the standard of any restoration. Quality of timber framing, ash health, panel beating and paint depth are all critical. Concealed structural rot, re-bodies presented as original, and 'tribute' cars built on later or unrelated chassis must be priced accordingly.
Le Mans-style short-chassis V12 Rapide and James Young drophead coupes lead values; saloons offer the V12's refinement at a discount. For vintage cars, event eligibility — Mille Miglia, Goodwood Revival, Pebble Beach, VSCC events, Le Mans Classic — can underwrite a substantial proportion of market value. Verify FIA/FIVA papers, period race history where claimed, and the car's standing with the relevant marque registry before purchase.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-08 | RM Sotheby's Cliveden House | 1937 LG45 Tickford All-Weather Saloon | — | £50,600 Sold |
| 2025-05-24 | Broad Arrow The Villa d'Este Auction | 1939 V12 Rapide James Young Drophead Coupé | — | €568,750 Sold |
| 2024-04-14 | Bonhams Goodwood Members' Meeting | 1936 LG45 Rapide Tourer | — | £458,333 Sold |
| 2023-08-18 | Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach Auctions | 1937 LG45 Rapide | — | US$1,055,500 Sold |
The connoisseur's pre-war British car — engineering parity with Bentley at often half the money.
Our view, not advice. This section is Car Collector International's editorial judgement on where this model sits in the collector market, based on the production, specification and market data set out in this guide. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell and it is not investment advice. Values can fall as well as rise.
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The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
