He had been apprenticed to Singers in America, but it was to represent the family business that he came to Britain in 1891 and eventually started to build motorcycles in 1898 working from the greenhouse of his home at Staines, around which the factory eventually grew.

The motorbikes were successful, so much so that a Lagonda represented Great Britain in the International Cup races held in the interval between the Paris-Madrid and the first TT. With the addition of A H Cranmer to the firm in 1904, he progressed to three wheeled forecars and these grew to have twin cylinder water cooled engines of about 1200 cc by 1905 and later, wheel steering as well. About seventy forecars were built, of which three survive.

The success of the forecars encouraged Gunn to go into motor manufacturing seriously and he started with a 10 hp. car using a lot of parts, including the engine, from the last forecar model. Only a few were made, however, and the next model was larger, employing a Coventry-Simplex engine and JAP carburettor. 

About 1910 a six cylinder 30 hp. engine was produced with Lagonda-made engine, cylinders in pairs, still with cone clutch and outside gear change.

Wilbur Gunn had worked astounding hours during the war and never really recovered his health afterwards, dying in 1920.

(A portion of this article is sourced from Lagonda Club)