H&H Sells Le Mans Lagonda For £430,000

• The astonishing price is a new world record for a Lagonda M45 and a new house record for H&H Classic Auctions

This Wednesday (July 27th), H&H Classic Auctions set a new world record for an M45 Lagonda and a new outright house record by selling a 1934 Le Mans M45 Team Car for £430,000 (including buyers premium) - a staggering 53% over estimate. In total, the sale at Buxton, Debyshire grossed some £1.2 million, making it H&H’s most successful event to-date at this venue.

The Lagonda’s impeccable history included a placing in the 1934 Ards TT in the hands of onetime World Land Speed Record holder John Cobb. The following year it contested the Le Mans 24 race in the hands of Dr J.D. Benjafield and Sir Roland Gunter - a race won outright by its sister car.

This wonderful example of motoring history had only had four custodians in the last 50 years and was offered in remarkably original condition. The opportunities to purchase such automotive gems are few and far between and the packed hall took on an air of expectancy as auctioneer Simon Hope announced Lot 59. Aware they were witnessing something very special, many of the audience were standing by the time the hammer finally fell and applause broke out around the room.

Said Hope, “Despite the fact that we repeatedly sell a higher percentage of cars in our Buxton sales than is generally managed by any other auction house, there are still some who believe the big cars only sell at expensive international venues. We fervently disagree and have always argued that we can sell the right car at any location and see this landmark result as further proof of our claim.

“We now look forward to our next Buxton sale (September 20/21) and the auction of the incomparable 60-car Dick Van Dijk collection which will be held in the London area in the first week of October.”