Lagonda Rapiers

7 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

Now for something different, from time to time I mention P.G.Wodehouse and the many books he had written during his lifetime. While essentially "English" he actually spent quite an amount of time living in America and many of his books referred to life in the USA.

I have one bookcase devoted to his books. I decided  a little while ago to start re-reading them. Not following any particular order but jut picking one off the shelf for my bedside reading. I have just finished "The Adventures of Sally" written in 1922 it covers a section of her life when she is mainly living in New York and gives us quite a good insite to life there in the early 1920s.
The next book again chosen at random is "the Inimitable Jeeves this one was first printed in 1923. My copy is a "Fifth Printing" which probably makes it around 1924/5. Most of my copies are hard cover printed by "Herbert Jenkins" making them mainly Pre WW2 and mostly from the 1920s.

As I am sure I have said many times already, "You do not have to be mad but it helps" Apart from anything else they do tell us something of the lives of the people who drove our cars when new. 

The observant among us will have noted that I do have several paperbacks on the bottom shelf.

I am always interested in hearing from anyone with Herbert Jenkins copies of PGW's books in good condition. There are still almost as many of his stories that I do not have. I can always buy taller bookshelves.

11-30-2017

Welcome to our Rapier Forum.

Your's as you probably know is a very famous Racing Car

For the benefit of some others, The Phoenix name for your car comes from the fact that it raced in 1937 Phoenix Park(Ireland)100 Mile Race.

It is understood that this car was the very last car assembled by the Rapier Car Company. I will take the liberty of scaning the relevant pages of EVER KEEN that tell something of the car's history.

Regarding your "Chain Tensioners" Your engine does indeed have "chain tensioners. These are known as "Sprocket Tensioners" and were mainly fitted by the Rapier Car Company to the factory supercharged cars. They were an attempt to improve on the more usual "Weller Spring Blade Tensioners" which were fitted as standard to all the "Lagonda" Rapiers.

This probably sounds a little confusing but for the First year of Production July 1934 to July 1935 Rapiers were built in the Lagonda factory. The Lagonda Company went into receivership in late July 1935. There was a deal struck with two or three of the Lagonda Companies now redundant employees togthers with a financial backer to take over the remaining unassembled parts in order to continuing producing cars. These cars were to have all reference to Lagonda removed, a new Radiator badge was designed and the Lagonda name was ground off the cam covers and the top of the chassis i.d. plate had the Lagonda Name and address cut off. Production continued until the end of 1937. Most Rapier Car Co cars were fitted with Ranalah bodies although as previously the purchaser of a new chassis could then take it to the coachbuilder of their Choice. In total there were just short of Four Hundred cars both Lagonda Rapiers and Rapiers produced between 1934 and 1937. "Ever Keen" is a book that I put together as part of the Rapier Registers 2009 celebration of the Rapiers 75th Anniversary.

This book is a Numbered Limited Edition with over 200 pages of information about Rapiers and their owners around the world.

There is a very limited number of new copies  available from The Rapier Register Secretary/Treasurer, Martin Montfort email .

Ever Keen  was the Rapier Car Co's Sales Slogan. It referrs to the sharpness of a Rapier in the hands of an expert (swordsman).

information.

The Rapier Register has on average between 150 and 160 members world wide. Between them they own around 200 cars. In total around the world the Register can identify 381cars produced, of these approximately 320 are known to still exist.  These figures are little short of amazing considering that we are talking about a small 1100cc four cylinder car with a high performance twin overhead cam engine. The entire car was/is hand built to exacting standards. In 1934  (83 years ago) they staggered Motoring Journalists not only with their overall performance but with their ability to STOP.  They were among the first cars to be fitted with the then new powerful (roller expander) Girling mechanical brakes. The Lagonda Rapier was recognised as the first production car to stop in less than 30 feet from 30 miles per hour. Even today a well maintained Rapier can be  and frequently are driven safely among modern traffic. I personally have driven our 1934 Rapier through Central London and around the Paris Ring Road through modern Friday Afternoon traffic. For much of the clubs "regalia" a combination of the two badges is used. (See Above)

For the benefit of those who may have never seen inside a Lagonda Rapier engine. There are three tensioners one for each chain. Wolfgang's is an extremely rare Factory Supercharged car,

It used three "sprocket tensioners" where a spring loaded sprocket was fitted in lieu of the "blade tensioners" shown in the drawing. Factory Supercharged engines have been known to rev to over 7,000 rpm. 

You do not have to take my word here is a contemporary road test for a 1937 Supercharged Rapier.

For anyone in doubt about the 2017 Lagonda here is a photograph but don't expect to see too many parked outside your local Super-market. It is difficult to obtain an accurate Price quotation but I understand that to buy one you will need to raid your piggy bank to the tune of about one million dollars.

Having said that, I have actually seen one on the Road, of all places in Australia's island state of Tasmania. No! Unfortunately I did not get a chance to talk to the owner. I believe that if you are lucky you make catch a glimpse of it around the Museum of Modern Art on the outskirts of Hobart that states Capital city.