Lagonda 2.6-Litre History

David Brown acquired Lagonda in 1947, separately from Aston Martin (also purchased that year), and pressed the final Bentley-designed prototypes into production. The 2.6-Litre debuted at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show: a technically advanced design with a 2,580 cc twin-overhead-cam straight-six, a cruciform-frame chassis, fully independent suspension (wishbones and coils front, torsion bars rear), and rack-and-pinion steering.

Brown shared Bentley's straight-six engine with Aston Martin, where it powered the DB2 to a class win at the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans — making the Lagonda's engine one of the most consequential in post-war British motoring. A Tickford-bodied drophead coupé joined the four-door saloon from 1949; a Mark II saloon with 125 bhp appeared in 1952.

About 510 examples were built when the 2.6-Litre gave way to the 3-Litre in 1953. Despite being an expensive car launched in austerity Britain, it re-established the Lagonda name as a builder of technically serious luxury cars.