Estimate: (£) 350,000 - 450,000

Reg Number: XYX 3Chassis Number: LB/290/31Engine Number: VB6J/99Cc: 2922Body Colour: Edinburgh GreenTrim Colour: Grey

- Built to the special order of HRH, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh- 1 of just 20 MK1 examples made but fitted with a power hood and floor-change gearbox (modifications that were standardised on the MK2) not to mention a pioneering radio telephone and extra vanity mirror for HM, The Queen- Bespoke Edinburgh Green livery, original Grey leather upholstery and current (third private) ownership since 1977

The car that won Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd its first Royal Warrant, this magnificent 1954 Lagonda 3 Litre Drophead Coupe was built to the special order of HRH, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.Finished in a bespoke shade of Edinburgh Green matched to Grey leather upholstery, the luxurious four-seater Convertible was 1 of just 20 MK1 cars made and used by The Duke of Edinburgh for personal transport up until 1961. A regular at The Thursday Club where fellow members comprised the likes of Baron Nahum, David Niven, Peter Ustinov and Francis Bacon, Prince Philip drove the Lagonda to Cowdray Park for polo matches and Cheam prep school to drop off Prince Charles.

As well as such non-standard extras as a power hood and floor-change gearbox (both subsequently adopted for later production examples), the 3 Litre Drophead Coupe featured an extra vanity mirror - reputedly for HM, The Queen to adjust her hat - and a radio telephone. The latter necessitated The Duke of Edinburgh being allocated his own radio frequency by The Admiralty. Able to speak to Buckingham Palace via a Pye relay station in North London, Prince Philip apparently took delight in making surprise calls to his Wife and disguising his voice when in conversation with Prince Charles or Princess Anne.

Doubtless keen that the Convertible should never 'fail to proceed' in public, Aston Martin Lagonda despatched staff to The Royal Mews and Windsor Castle on a sometimes weekly basis during The Duke of Edinburgh's seven-year ownership. Loaded aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia for Prince Philip's Tour of the Commonwealth during 1956-1957, the 3 Litre Drophead Coupe was greeted in Australia by one of the firm's most senior engineers, Tony Tocock, to ensure that it did not disgrace itself at the Melbourne Olympics. Dunlop similarly went to great pains to ensure that all its Australasian branches were stocked with suitable tyres.

A spirited driver who held the unofficial record for the 98-mile run between Bath and London whilst still a Naval Officer, The Duke of Edinburgh was not averse to 'making up time' aboard the Lagonda if late for an official engagement. The car with which he and The Queen opened the M1 motorway, the 3 Litre Drophead Coupe made quite an impression on those who encountered it including a traffic policeman who once inadvertently held the Royal Couple up and was suitably grateful when his faux pas was greeted with good-natured laughter.

The Alvis TD21 Drophead Coupe with which Prince Philip replaced the Lagonda in 1961 has yet to be released and is currently on display at Sandringham. Indeed, the 3 Litre Drophead Coupe is thought to be the only one of his personal cars (as opposed to pool cars to which he had access) to be in public hands. The Lagonda's second private keeper, Mr Rogers of Newmarket, wrote to Buckingham Palace on several occasions in an attempt to acquire it but a direct sale was declined.

The vendor was recommended to Mr Rogers as a suitable custodian by Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd because of the number of significant Lagonda motorcars he had owned (such as one of the ex-Works 1939 Le Mans Team Cars) and became the Convertible's third private owner in 1977.

A switch on the dashboard and aerial are all that remains of the radio telephone system but The Queen's additional vanity mirror remains in situ as does almost all the original leather upholstery. In addition to a bodywork restoration and repaint in its correct shade of Edinburgh Green undertaken during 1990, the Lagonda was treated to a thorough engine overhaul, back axle refurbishment and the fitment of overdrive some ten years ago. Part of a significant private collection for nigh-on four decades and reunited with HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh at a REME event in 1999, this singularly historic 3 Litre Drophead Coupe has recently been serviced and is thus said to be 'on the button'. Offered for sale with copy factory build sheet and service records citing HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh as its purchaser plus a wealth of fascinating documentation.

ALSO CONSIGNED:

1961 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Competition RoadsterEstimate: (£) 700,000 - 900,000Reg Number: 9 VPDChassis Number: 850007Engine Number: R1026-9Cc: 3800Body Colour: BlueTrim Colour: Blue

Overseen by Jaguar's Engineering Director Bill Heynes and supplied to favoured teams on Lofty England's say so, the seven right-hand drive Roadsters built to Project ZP 537/24 specification were the very first E-Type competition cars. Upgraded by the Competition Department at Browns Lane, the septet had particular attention paid to their running gear: increased compression ratio, gas flowed cylinder head, lightened flywheel, competition clutch springs and close-ratio gearbox etc.One of two cars earmarked for John Coombs - the other five being distributed among Tommy Sopwith, Peter Berry and Sir Gawaine Baillie - chassis 850007 was completed on 29th March 1961 but not officially road registered as '9 VPD' for another four months (21st July 1961). Typically used as the Coombs team's paddock car whilst its sister machine '4 WPD' (chassis 850006 which became the first 'Lightweight') performed most of the racing duties, '9 VPD' took to the track for the Scott Brown Trophy on 23rd July 1961.

Albert Powell had been due to drive one of Peter Berry's 'Project ZP 537/24' E-types (chassis 850010, '3 BXV') at the event but suffered a drive shaft failure during practice. His entry was thus in doubt until Coombs sportingly offered '9 VPD' as a stand-in. Sadly, a broken fanbelt denied Powell the chance to take the chequered flag on a day when four of the other 'Project ZP 537/24' Roadsters were competing (chassis 850005 and 850006 taking first and second places respectively). Little more is known about chassis 850007's period competition history but it certainly led a quieter life than '4 WPD'.Sold off into private hands, '9 VPD' had not moved under its own power for fifteen years or so by the time that the current owner acquired it in July 2002. Conscious of the Jaguar's historical significance he entrusted it to marque specialist Beacon Hill Garage with instructions that they preserve as many original components as possible. Thus although chassis 850007 was restored as an FIA compliant racer numerous 'surplus' parts were preserved for posterity including the original 'outside lock' bonnet, boot lid, doors, cylinder head, crankshaft, conrods, seats, close-ratio gearbox, hood frame etc.The original tub (body number R1017) was salvaged and restored in steel, whilst the exterior panels were replaced with 'Lightweight' specification aluminium equivalents. Repainted in its initial Opalescent Dark Blue livery, the re-born '9 VPD' returned to the track for the July 2005 Silverstone Classic Festival. Finishing 4th at the 2006 Le Mans Classic (behind two Ford GT40s and a Cobra), the E-Type won its class during the Spa 6-hours that same year with Richard Attwood joining Steve Markey and Radical ace Austin Kinsella behind the wheel.

First Jaguar home during the Legends race which preceded the 2007 Le Mans 24 hours and paid tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the Coventry marque's famous 1957 victory, '9 VPD' made its Goodwood Revival debut that season too with Rauno Aaltonen co-driving alongside Steve Markey. A regular at the Goodwood Revival, Le Mans Classic and Spa since then, chassis 850007 has also been helmed by the likes of Emanuele Pirro, Marc Gene and Tony Jardine.

1930 Brough Superior Motorcycle [Unrestored and Running Condition]Estimate: (£) 280,000 - 350,000

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INVITATION TO CONSIGNFollowing on from last October's success, H&H first Specialist Sale of 2016 will be held at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford on April 19th & 20thIf you would like to consign a suitable motorcar or motorcycle to this prestigious auction contact 01925 210035 or email info@handh.co.uk