At the 1933 Olympia Show the first 41/2
litre, the M45, was introduced. It used a Meadows engine of 4453cc
slightly modified by Lagonda's but otherwise similar to that used by the
Invicta. This engine was already somewhat venerable having started life in
1925 as 63.5 x 120mm and been progressively bored out In its Lagonda form
it had the bores offset to get them in. The chassis was basically the
current 10'9" 3 litre but fitted with servo brakes and a heavier rear
axle. The 3 litre gearbox proved inadequate very quickly and Meadows' own
box became standard, most of the early cars being rebuilt with it quite
soon. The engine had dual ignition, one coil one side and horizontal
magneto the other. The M45 was a great success and Lord de Clifford got it
off to a good start with a highly publicised run to Greece in the
prototype, beating the train to Brindisi by 14 hours. For the 1934 TT a
trio of lightweight short chassis cars run by Arthur Fox and equipped with
Girling brakes put up a splendid showing. These cars were virtually M45
Rapides, which were announced a few weeks later. During 1934 General
Metcalfe had died and was succeeded as Chairman and Managing Director by
Sir Edgar Holberton.
At the 1934 Show Lagondas introduced a
whole batch of new cars. The 41/2 litre M45 was
supplemented by a Rapide Model (M45R) on a shorter, stiffer chassis and
fitted with Girling brakes and a more highly tuned engine. A very similar
short chassis was also sold with the 31/2 litre 84 x
120mm (3619cc) engine (M3SR) which was the final manifestation of the
16/65 and 3 litre engine.
