Lagonda Straight-6 engine

The Lagonda Straight-6 is a famous automobile engine used by Aston Martin and Lagonda marques in the 1950s. Designed by Walter Owen Bentley of Bentley Motors Limited, it vaulted Aston Martin to fame as a maker of desirable sports and racing cars.

History

Towards the end of World War II, W. O. Bentley began working on a new straight-6 engine for the Lagonda marque. Bentley had taken a seat on Lagonda's board of directors when Alan Good bought and re-organized Lagonda in June 1935. Bentley had completed his obligatory three years term with former rival Rolls-Royce following their 1931 acquisition of his former business. They had refused to return it to racing and had replaced many of his chassis and engine designs with their own. It was clear Lagonda's successful V12 would be seen as too extravagant for the postwar market.

Bentley and his team developed a modern dual overhead cam straight-6 engine. It initially displaced 2.6 L (2580 cc/157 in³) with an 78 mm (3.07 in) bore and 90 mm (3.543 in) stroke and produced roughly 105 hp (78 kW) with dual SU carburettor.

The Lagonda straight-6 caught the attention of David Brown, who had purchased Aston Martin in 1947. Aston's Claude Hill-designed four cylinder was not powerful enough for Brown, who desired a powerful, and high-tech, powerplant for his new automobile company. So Brown purchased Lagonda as well, incorporating Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd....
Read More