Lagonda Rapiers

3 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

OK! How many people actually looked up how a "Pre-selector " works?

Major Wilson first invented this type of transmission during the 1914/18 war so that men that had never driven anything other than a horse and cart could get into and drive a tank. It is quite an interesting history lesson.

Adding a "Clutch" is just adding complication and weight to the flywheel. Yes, some big lazy old engines do need a heavy flywheel to keep them going. A bit like some early agricultural "hit and miss" stationary engines.

But not a sports car engine that needs instant acceleration and frequent changes of speed. The same applies to the type of transmission. With a Preselector out on the road (or track) coming into a tight (slow) corner you can go straight from top to second then back to third in the time it took to read this.

11-21-2017

One outstanding difference between the Crossley Regis and my Rapier is simple, one is a 1250cc or 1500cc touring car often with a heavy, 4 door, saloon body and with an engine that may have produced something around 25 -30 bhp and KG which has a highly developed1500cc engine producing around 80 bhp in a light weight two seater with just one door. The difference in up-hill starts alone is like chalk and cheese. As I commented just a week or two back to another Rapier Driver, the Rapier's designer Tim Ashcroft knew a thing or two when he incorporated a "fly-off" handbrake  in the Rapiers design. Any owner of a sporting car who preferrs to slip the clutch to start off up hill rather than hold the car on the hand-brake until the clutch bites needs to go back to Driving School. In my book at least it is far better to start off  up-hill with a little wheel spin than to start off with a smoking clutch. It is probably no accident that when just a little bit younger, my favourite form of competitive  motor sport was "Hill-climbs".

Not KG5363 this time but a much earlier lightweight "1232cc" Rapier two-seater "BYY 626". It was re-built from a "basket case" bought in England and shipped "home' to Australia. Unfortunately it has not been seen for some years after a subsequent owner sold it to a "Collector" in Europe. The back of one of these photographs tells me that the year was 1978.