1937 Lagonda 4½-Litre LG45 Rapide Tourer
Frank Feeley designed the Lagonda 4½-Litre LG45 Rapide as a lightweight sports car that stood out as one of the most visually striking British automobiles of the mid-1930s.
Introduced in September 1936, this open four-seater tourer featured distinctive helmet-style front fenders and purposeful bodywork that set it apart from other vehicles of its era.
Only 25 examples were produced, making the Rapide exceptionally rare from the outset. The car was powered by a “Sanction 3” engine, a 4½-litre (4,453 cc) twin-plug six-cylinder producing approximately 133.5 bhp at 3,400 rpm.
With compression ratios of either 7:1 or 7.5:1 for those opting for high-octane fuel, the Rapide could accelerate from a standstill to 50 mph in 9.4 seconds and reach 60 mph in 13.2 seconds.
Performance figures were impressive for the time, with period road tests recording a top speed of 108.2 mph. This made the Rapide one of the very few 1930s automobiles capable of comfortably exceeding 100 mph, cementing its reputation as a genuine supercar of its era.
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