Martin is a Dunedin-based classic car enthusiast. He has raced his 1956 Austin Healey 100 for many years as well as campaigned his Mitre10 Mega-Sponsored Porsche GT3RS in many Targa NZ events. He is always competitive in the 2WD class and to many people’s surprise won the Targa event outright in 2013. It was the first time since Jim Richards won the event in 2004 in a Porsche 911 that a 2WD car had won. A more recent addition to his fleet is a 1927 Lagonda 2/4.5 Special. It is a 2 litre high chassis speed model that has been fitted with a 1934 Meadows 4.5 litre motor, triple SUs and Lagonda M45 running gear. It is a long distance endurance touring car having competed in many events in Europe including the 1998 London to Cape Town rally.

Martin Dippie - 1927 Lagonda 2/4.5 Special

Martin is a Dunedin-based classic car enthusiast. He has raced his 1956 Austin Healey 100 for many years as well as campaigned his Mitre10 Mega-Sponsored Porsche GT3RS in many Targa NZ events. He is always competitive in the 2WD class and to many people’s surprise won the Targa event outright in 2013. It was the first time since Jim Richards won the event in 2004 in a Porsche 911 that a 2WD car had won. A more recent addition to his fleet is a 1927 Lagonda 2/4.5 Special. It is a 2 litre high chassis speed model that has been fitted with a 1934 Meadows 4.5 litre motor, triple SUs and Lagonda M45 running gear. It is a long distance endurance touring car having competed in many events in Europe including the 1998 London to Cape Town rally.

1927 Lagonda 2/4.5 Special:

This Lagonda Special started life as a 2 litre high chassis car and was the demonstrator for the Hanover Square London dealers Gaffikin and Wilkinson. In the mid-1950s it raced at Silverstone and in the 1990s was upgraded by marque specialist David Ayre with a 1934 Lagonda M45 motor and drivetrain.
The motor is a Meadows 4.5 litre fitted with a special 6 port Meadows competition head.
The car has an extensive rally history in Europe including completing the 10,000 mile London to Cape Town rally in 1998 and competing in the Rallye Monte Carlo, Le Mans, Le Jog and Brooklands to Barcelona events. It was imported into New Zealand in the late 2000s. It has triple HV5 SU carburetors, dual ignition and distributors, full sump and fuel tank guards, a modified cooling system and large capacity fuel tank to cope with arduous long distance endurance rallying conditions.