Lagonda Ltd., Staines, Middlesex. UK. 1933- - 1935

Rapier Cars Ltd., Hammersmith, London. UK 1935 - -1937

The Rapier started out as a catalogue model of Lagonda. It was conceived as a light fast sports car for the post Depression era. The engine designed by Timothy Ashcroft was an 1,104cc 4-cylinder unit with chain driven twin overhead camshafts. The combustion chambers were hemispherical with 90 degree valves and a crossflow porting arrangement so that the inlet and exhaust were on opposite sides of the engine. The crankshaft ran in 3 large main bearings of 2 inch diameter with a very strong crankshaft. The earlier engines were fitted with twin SU carburettors, but by 1936 there was a supercharged option. This robust engine was easily capable of 6,000rpm and was able to accept a high degree of tuning.

The gearbox was an ENV pre-selector and the chassis was one of the first to be fitted with Girling brakes which could bring the car to rest from 30mph in 25 feet, which was exceptional at the time.

In full touring trim it could be driven at 75mph and was very economical with a petrol consumption of between 28 and 30 miles per gallon. The most common body style was the 4-seat tourer, but special bodies were offered by other coachbuilders. There were drophead and fixed head coupé bodies by Abbott a sporty 2-seater by Eagle. Other coachbuilders who put bodies on the Rapier chassis were, Corinthian, Ranalah, Maltby ansd Silent Touring.

The Rapier was an obvious choice for a small competition car and one was reduced in capacity to 1,080cc for the 24 hour race at Le Mans in 1934. It was driven by Lord de Clifford and Charles Brackenbury and finished 16^th overall. On the strength of this Dobson and de Clifford Ltd. offered a tuned semi racer version with an enlarged engine. It was badged as a De Clifford Special and was available with a standard Lagonda gearbox in place of the heavy ENV pre-selector unit with a choice of axle ratios.

When Lagonda went into liquidation in 1935 the receiver ceased production of the Rapier as it had not met it's sales target. The design with all the tooling and spares was acquired by a consortium of Timothy Ashcroft and Bill Oates financed by Neville Brocklebank and Rapier Cars Ltd. was formed to carry on production.

They were based in the old Lagonda sales depot at 196 Hammersmith Road and started assembly in August 1935 with the cars simply called Rapier. All the previous Lagonda guarantees and warranty were honoured by the new company.

When the project was put into production, by Lagonda, they ordered enough parts to make 500 cars and by the time Rapier production ceased in 1938 about 470 had been sold. The Rapier Cars company was finally dissolved in 1943 but a few cars were assembled by enthusiasts as late as 1950.

The Rapier continues to be developed and raced by enthusiasts to this day.

The motor club which caters for these cars is the Vintage Sports Car Club;

Secretary: Stuart Pringle,

The Old Post Office, West Street, Chippimg Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5EL