1934 LAGONDA M35R
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One of only five surviving pre World War I examples of the “Italian Mercedes”. Believed to be one of the factory entrants in the 1907 Targa Florio. Identical specification to the New York to Paris Great Race car of 1908. Well maintained restoration, a robust competitor in historic rallies

Highlights

• Registration: UK registered
• Chassis number: -• Engine number: 128• Sewell and Morris report available• FIVA registration to be transferred to new owner

About this car

The 28/45 offered here is one of just five surviving Züst automobiles built prior to World War I, and it is strongly believed to have been one of the factory 1907 Targa Florio team cars, based upon its short wheelbase chassis with wood reinforced frame members and the muffler mounted ahead of the rear axle, features unique to the vehicles employed in that event. Significantly, the New York to Paris Züst, another of the survivors, was also a Targa Florio team car, and its chassis number is one digit apart from this one, further indicating its special nature. Both cars were bodied by Cesare Sala, the Milanese coachbuilder famed for his work on Isotta Fraschini.

Under the hood

Zust began experimenting with cars in 1900, and in 1905 introduced their first production models, including the 28/45, equipped with a 7,432 cubic centimeter four cylinder engine, magneto ignition, honeycomb radiator, and a four-speed transmission running the rear wheels by chain drive. For no small reason were they often known as the “Italian Mercedes,” as their engineering incredibly sophisticated and robust for the time and resulting performance were both comparable to the vaunted German marque.

History

It is believed that this car was sold in 1946 to Auto Lehmann, a wrecking yard in Friedberg, Germany. It remained in the hands of the Lehmann family until 2016 when a well known German restorer then uncovered the car. The consignor acquired the 28/45 soon after and undertook a full restoration to the Targa Florio configuration, with the addition of a hydraulic transmission brake and electric starter for ease of use. Afterward, in 2002, the Züst was returned to Sicily and driven in the modern historic incarnation of the event in which it had participated in period, with no trouble encountered over the 650 kilometer journey. It went on to compete in the Members’ Meeting race at Goodwood just last year, reportedly without any mechanical difficulties. It ran in the S.F. Edge Trophy and is eligible to again run in this prestigious event.

Provenance

A fascinating period competition machine of superb engineering and quality construction, with rich provenance connected to inarguably two of the most famous prewar endurance events, this Züst is still the lusty machine it was designed to be an enthralling experience for showfield or mountain pass.

Extensive history

The car comes with an extensive history file, including a Sewell report as well as detailed documentation of the restoration. The file also contains a trove of correspondence from previous owners, providing valuable insights into the car's history.

FIVA Passport

The car is accompanied by an expired FIVA Passport with an A3 classification. Notably, there are substantial invoices from Gentry Restorations dating back to 2014, attesting to the investments made in restoring and maintaining the car to its current condition.