Want to own a slice of royalty? Prince Philip’s 1954 Aston Martin Lagonda MK1 has been put up for auction
Fancy owning a slice of motoring history? The car that netted Aston Martin its first Royal Warrant has just been put up for auction – although with an estimate of £350,000 to £450,000, you'll have to be pretty committed.
The three-litre Lagonda, in a "bespoke shade" of Ediburgh Green, was one of just 20 MK1 cars made by Aston Martin, and was used by the Duke of Edinburgh for personal transport until 1961.
H&H Classics, the auction house selling the car, said alongside its grey leather upholstery, the ar contains "non-standard extras" such as a power hood and floor-change gearbox – and an extra vanity mirror, reportedly for the Queen to adjust her hat. It was also fitted with a radio telephone, which was allocated its own radio frequency by the Admiralty.
The car Prince Philip reputedly held the unofficial record for the 98-mile run between Bath and London while he was a naval officer. The car was also used to "open" the M1 motorway by Prince Philip and the Queen.
"This car is part of our history," said Damian Jones, sales manager at H&H.
"The accompanying paperwork beggars belief. There is an amusing story about Prince Phillip driving Her Majesty through London in this car and being held up by a policeman on point duty directing traffic. When the policeman saw who was in the Lagonda he did a double take and swiftly waved them on."
Fancy it? The car goes up for auction at IWM Duxford in Cambridge on 20 April.