Billed in period advertisements as “Britain’s Thoroughbred Car,” Lagonda had established a reputation for building quality automobiles of sporting character by the time of the 16/80’s introduction in 1932. Interestingly, the automaker sourced the 1,991-cubic centimeter six-cylinder engines for the 16/80 from an outside supplier: Crossley Motors, Ltd. of Manchester, England. Yet Lagonda maintained its stringent engineering and quality control by disassembling each unit, thoroughly checking it, and then rebuilding it. Each engine was then fitted with twin SU carburetors before installation.

Offered as a bare chassis, a Weymann-bodied saloon, a Vanden Plas two-seater, and, as represented by this example, a sporty T7 Tourer, the 16/80 remained in production through late 1934. The Lagonda Club lists the total production as a mere 261 units, of which survivors are quite rare, especially on U.S. shores. Late in 1933, the E.N.V. pre-selector transmission was made available as an option; this Tourer, chassis number S11041, retains the feature.

A well-regarded model in its own right, chassis S11041’s appeal is further enhanced by its provenance, counting among its prior owners August “Augie” Pabst. A scion of the Milwaukee brewing empire, Augie Pabst established Pabst Motors, a dealership selling European imports, in the mid-1950s. He soon began racing, and quickly displayed his skill behind the wheel. Pabst followed up a 1959 USAC Championship with a 1960 SCCA Championship—the latter in the celebrated “Meister Brauser” Scarab (which Pabst later purchased).

A promising career was interrupted by a serious crash at Daytona in 1962, and while Pabst returned to the circuit for several seasons, achieving continued success, the opportunity to take an executive position at Pabst Brewing put an end to his driving aspirations: The offer was conditional on his leaving behind the dangers of motorsport for good. Pabst acceded, but naturally, he did not leave behind his love of cars. He purchased this Lagonda in 1968 after spying it at Executive Motors, a San Francisco dealership; it remained a part of his collection for over four decades.

Today, the Lagonda wears an older exterior restoration paired with a newer red interior; it is offered with a spare engine, as well as books and tools. Rare and rakish, this 16/80 still very much embodies the qualities made it instantly compelling to a connoisseur like Pabst.