COYS are holding their Schloss Dyck auction on saturday 6 August in Jüchen, Germany and we found ourselves trying to choose between three British Beauties - all four seater tourers and ready for the road.
The 1934 Invicta 12/45 has a 1½-litre, six-cylinder, single-overhead-camshaft, Blackburne engine and was introduced to appeal to a much wider market than that enjoyed by the company's 4½ litre S Type. Although the 12/45 was geared for good acceleration and wide-set springs gave good stabilty, the initial models received adverse criticism for lack of performance.
So let's look at the 1928 2.0 Litre Lagonda which performed well in competition and Baron D'Erlanger's 1928 team car may well have won Le Mans had he not crashed into the back of Sir Francis Samuelson - also in a Lagonda. The car offered has been restored to the the highest standard possible whilst still maintaining total originality.
Then we come to the 1934 Aston Martin 1½ Litre Long Chassis Tourer powered by Bertelli's own design 1½ litre engine and said to have light and precise steering making it delicate to drive. Under Bertelli's guidance, Aston Martin saw much competition success, including Le Mans and named subsequent models after this famous race - perhaps the first car maker to do this?
If we had to choose just one, would it be the strong appearance of the Invicta, the ' lovely warm throaty roar' of the Lagonda's exhaust, or the 'effortless fast touring' of the Aston Martin? The answer is in the top picture.
Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy COYS.