Chassis number DP115/3.

In 1954 David Brown instructed his engineers to produce a racing sports car to show case an all-new 4.5 litre V12 engine. His vision was to use the race proven V12 to power a new range of ‘super sedans’ that would take on the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. One car, DP115/1 was initially built, and it raced at Silverstone and Le Mans where it crashed and was written off.

The car you see today. DP115/3 was built in readiness for the 1955 Mille Miglia, but it didn’t race. Along with its sister car, DP115/2 the Lagonda was sold to the Rank organisation and had a starring role in the 1956 movie, Checkpoint, starring Antony Steel and Stanley Baker. Both cars were then sold, DP115/3 being bought by AML Works driver, Noel Cunningham-Reid. After a short period of club racing, the car was purchase by Lagonda enthusiast Maurice Leo, who eventually acquired the other car and all the remaining spare parts.

These cars have been unseen for many decades and have been carefully restored to their original configurations. DP115/3 has been rebuilt with the distinctive three-piece grille seen just once, on the first of these three cars DP115/1 when it made its racing debut at Silverstone in May 1954. The engine in this car is the correct number DP100/3, reunited to the car after many years. It has been rebuilt using an improved crankshaft bearing design which eliminates the oil pressure loss problems these cars had when new, this was done by leading marque expert Chris Woodgate. This is first time in 69 years that one of these Lagonda V12 race cars been seen in its original intended form.