Lagonda Rapier

The Lagonda Rapier was a small car produced by the British Lagonda company from 1934 to 1935, with a few more built afterwards by the independent Rapier Car Company. At its heart was an all new 1104 cc twin overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine designed by the consultant Thomas Ashcroft, who was asked to produce Britain's finest 1100 cc engine. It was cast in iron rather than light alloy to save cost, made 50 bhp at 5400 rpm and was built under contract by Coventry Climax. The chassis was designed by Charles King and used a four-speed preselector gearbox, Girling rod brakes with 13 inch drums and half-elliptic springs. Production cars had a wheelbase of 98.75 inches and most carried bodies by E. D. Abbott of Farnham. When Lagonda failed in 1935 the rights to the Rapier were sold to Rapier Cars Ltd of Hammersmith Road in London, where production continued until 1938 but only 46 cars were made.