Due to be sold at the Bonhams and Butterfields Quail Loge sale in Califronia on August 15, the car was one of four competition models built by Lagonda specialists and racing drivers Arthur Fox and Bob Nicholl. It is estimated to sell for $1,200,000 – 1,500,000.

EPE 97, as it is registered, raced extensively in 1936 and 1937 in events such as the RAC Tourist Trophy, 1936 French Grand Prix at Montlhery and the BRDC 500-miles race at Brooklands where, it finished 3rd with an average speed of 113.02mph.

Charles Brackenbury and John Hindmarsh piloted the car at Le Mans in 1937, but retired with mechanical problems.

Soon afterwards Speed magazine editor, Alan Hess, borrowed EPE 97 and set the world record for driving a car, with a passenger, from a standing start for 104.4 miles in one hour.

EPE 97 continued to be active in motor sport for a further 20 years before it went into storage in 1960. In 1974 it was acquired by David Dunn in Ireland, who restored it to the original specification.

The car was sold to the late Terry Cohn by Christies in 1987 and acquired by the present owner on Cohen's death in the early 2000s. It has since competed in a host of historic rallies and similar events.

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