Lagonda was founded in 1906 in Staines, Middlesex by an American, Wilbur Gunn, who had named the company after a river near to his birthplace in Springfield, Ohio, United States.

Mr.

Gunn had originally built motorcycles in the garden of his house in Staines with reasonable success, including a win in the 1905 London - Edinburgh trial.

In 1907 he launched his first car; the 20hp, six-cylinder Torpedo which he used to win the Moscow-St.

Petersburg trial of 1910.

This success produced a healthy order for exports to Russia which continued until 1914.

The first of the company's sports models was launched in 1925 as the 14/60 with a twin-cam 1954cc, four cylinder engine and hemispherical combustion chambers.

The car was designed by Arthur Davidson who had come from Lea-Francis.

A higher output engine came in 1927 with the two litre Speed Model followed by a Sports Touring model, the 16/80.

The first part of its name referred to its fiscal horsepower rating of 16 with the second num...