MEET Penelope, the 1938 Lagonda LG6 Drophead Coupe with royal connections that could be yours if you fancy splashing out up to £250,000.
This beauty was originally owned by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and was used by him while he was based in Britain during World War II.
The German-born consort to Holland’s Queen Juliana arrived in the UK with the Dutch royal family in June 1940 and was vetted by Ian Fleming, of James Bond fame, after volunteering his services to Allied Intelligence.
An automotive enthusiast, Prince Bernhard owned more than 60 cars in his lifetime, including a uniquely green 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Speziale.
The Lagonda, named Penelope by subsequent owners, also has a notable history. The four-seater was an award-winner with the Lagonda Club in both 1959 and 2003, and won her class at the 2016 Dutch Paleis Het Loo Concours d’Elegance.
Those more recent successes may in part be down to the fact that the LG6 was beautifully restored by renowned Lagonda expert the late Peter Whenman, of Vintage Coachworks, during 1992-1993.
The seller learned to drive in Penelope while she belonged to his father from 1958-1962 and she has been in his ownership since 2002.
The drophead coupe is being sold by specialists H&H Classics at auction in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, on March 18, with an estimate of £200,000 to £250,000.
