Aston Martin Lagonda

Aston Martin Lagonda was the name of several sedans sold by the British sports car maker Aston Martin in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Lagonda was himself an independent, traditional sports car manufacturer, which was acquired in 1947 by David Brown and integrated into the Brown also owned company Aston Martin. In the next 15 years developed three limousines with Aston Martin technique, which were sold each under the brand name Lagonda: the Lagonda 2.6 Litre ( 1948-1953 ), the Lagonda 3.0 Litre ( 1953-1958 ) and the Lagonda Rapide ( 1961-1964 ).

After ten years was no Lagonda, Aston Martin reactivated in 1974 the name for a four-door sedan, which should be the Aston Martin range round. Unlike in the past, these cars were, however, no longer sold under the brand Lagonda; they were rather Aston Martins, and " Lagonda " had become a mere model name.

As Aston Martin Lagonda three different models were offered in nearly 20 years, two of which were produced in very small numbers. Production stopped in 1990. Only since 2009 has the Aston Martin Aston Martin Rapide four-door sedan to another.

  • 5.1 For Aston Martin Lagonda S1
  • 5.2 For Aston Martin Lagonda S2 -S4
  • 5.3 For Virage Lagonda

Aston Martin Lagonda (Series 1)

The first vehicle to bear the name of Aston Martin Lagonda was an extended, four-door version of the Aston Martin V8. The engine, the technology and the design of the Aston Martin V8 offered in 1969 were largely retained; however, extended to the wheelbase of 30.5 inches. At the same time the roof was pulled significantly higher. Overall, as was a large, heavy and quite confusing hatchback sedan.

A first, " DBS Lagonda V8" called copy that internally the designation " EP 230 " bore, was produced in 1969 for the former Aston Martin owner David Brown. There was still wearing equipped with dual headlights front part of the Aston Martin DBS, however, was already equipped with the eight- cylinder engine of the DBS V8, which appeared in the DBS coupe about the same time. Subsequently, the concept was not pursued until 1974, the new Aston Martin management that David Brown had replaced, decided in the interest of expanding the product range to include the series production of sedan without major changes.

A first model of the "series" Lagonda was presented at the London Motor Show in 1974 to the public. It differed from the five- year-old David Brown model only by a modified front end: The car was now wearing the famous Aston Martin single headlights; the grille was slightly revised and now had a horseshoe-shaped insert which should obviously remember the Lagonda Rapide. In his imagination, the car received a design award. The management then expected more interest, especially the American clientele and hoped for commercial success.

The boy stood out, however. The car was almost two years in the offer. Emerged during this period - including the 1974 prototype - only seven vehicles; the last one was still made under a new management, in turn, had taken over the responsibility for Aston Martin in late 1975.

From 1998 to 2007 the group created from the embedded chassis and existing parts of a last Lagonda Series 1 ( chassis number 12008 ).

The failure of the car had lots of reasons. An important aspect was the difficult economic situation of the company that always stood 1973-1975 on the verge of insolvency and had to go through, among other insolvency proceedings; all that did not promote confidence in the brand. In addition, the car was very expensive; 1974 were 14,000 British pounds in the price lists. For that amount, a Rolls -Royce Corniche, or two to three Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas limousines, the customer received either. A sobering review of Autocar magazine in March 1975 did the rest. Handling was called disappointing, ride comfort and noise levels of the engine and the body have been criticized. But above all, were the driving performance in the criticism:

All seven series specimens as well as the David Brown Model 1969 still exist today. Most of them are in the UK. They are at much higher prices acted as the two-door V8 models. The last, in 1976 produced Lagonda was sold in the summer of 2008 for a price of £ 254,000 at auction.

Competitors:

Aston Martin Lagonda (Series 2 - Series 4 )

Aston Martin Lagonda Series 2

After the failure of the extended Aston Martin V8, the new Aston Martin management took a new approach to establish a vehicle of the type Lagonda. This model was developed in the three series are referred to as S2, S3 and S4.

The concept

The vehicle should make the act of the British tradition operation of all economic problems despite significantly. The management had learned the lessons from the previous project: the new Lagonda had to be exciting car a sensation, whose relationship to the Aston Martin V8 could not be identified. The technical development of the Lagonda headed Mike Loasby, for the design of William Towns was responsible.

The outer shape of the car was exciting indeed stir. William Towns designed a very low, wedge-shaped body, which was characterized by smooth surfaces and angles. With the exception of the wheel arches, there were no rounding. The vehicle's front was too narrow. Above the bumper found in the original draft six small lights for turn signals and fog lights. The four main headlights were against concealed integrated into the bonnet and are expanded as needed. The tail lights were initially designed as four narrow strips that were included in the tailgate and the door swung upward. Since they were not, or not sufficiently clear flip open for subsequent vehicles, ordered the British transport authorities that had to be attached additional tail lights on the inside of the tailgate. Overall, it was at the Lagonda S2 to an extreme interpretation of the classic folded -paper style. At that time the design was as yet more unconventional than today. Automotive enthusiasts argue to this day about the aesthetic value of this vehicle.

With the unusual shape of the exterior corresponded a pioneering instrumentation. Instead of conventional analogue indicators possessed the Lagonda exclusively via digital instruments. The main information such as speed, engine speed, etc., were displayed on a display in the instrument panel with LED technology. In addition, most functions such as lights and windshield wipers were operated via sensor keys. Even the automatic transmission should be operated via sensor keys; However, it took the work at the beginning of series production distance. The instrumentation proved to be a source of numerous problems. She was considered unreliable and resulted in the development phase to countless malfunction or even total loss of the vehicle. The first prototypes, which in 1977 provided some journalists for test drives were equipped with analog instruments to ensure proper functioning of the car. Ready for series production of electronics took more than two years. Despite the initial problems, the digital instrumentation was a milestone. Many other luxury car manufacturer tried in the following years to develop similar systems - Bristol, for example, the Beaufighter and Ferrari Pinin for the -; unlike Aston Martin, they brought their systems never ready for production.

Mike Loasby developed a new chassis for the Lagonda. In essence, it resembled the structure of the Aston Martin V8, but had been extended and amplified by 35 cm. In addition at the rear axle automatic level control was provided, the constant ride comfort should ensure at different loads. Power was the famous, 5.3 -liter eight- cylinder, which was offset in comparison to the V8 considerably backwards. He made the first version of 280 hp and accelerated the two ton car to a maximum of 230 km / h

Presentation and series production

The first prototype of the Lagonda was shown to selected journalists already in June 1976, who jumped on the authority of Mike Loasby at the presentation of the tables and a commotion triggered. A few months later, the Lagonda on the Earls Court Motor Show was first shown publicly. He was aroused by similar sensation as before with representatives of the press. First, the start of series production was scheduled for May, 1977; this date, however, did not keep up. The main reason for this was the malfunctioning of on-board electronics that could be developed only very slowly and under application of high cost for mass production. Ultimately, started mass production in late spring 1978.

The individual series

The Aston Martin Lagonda was produced from 1978 to 1990 in three series. During this period 645 copies.

Series 2

The first series of the new model was given with regard to the based on the V8 predecessor, the designation Series 2 was produced until 1985 and learned over time some visual and technical modifications.

Series 3

The second edition of the new Lagonda was introduced in 1986. It differed from the Series 2 models primarily by a change in drive technology. The well-known eight-cylinder was now - similar to V8 - provided with a fuel injection system that had been developed by Weber and Magneti Marelli. Characterized the power of the motor increased to 300 hp. At the same time, the interior has been revised. There were new displays and a so-called head-up display: Central information as the driving speed were reflected in the windshield. The vehicles of the second series had cathode tubes for the instruments, but they were even more unreliable than the LEDs used previously.

Series 4

The third edition was introduced in 1987. She received a large parts redesigned bodywork. The construction continued to follow the layout that William Towns had designed a decade earlier, but all external metal parts were reshaped. Thus accounted for on the front end, the pop-up headlights; in their place were six rectangular single spotlight, which framed the short-cut grille. The turn signals were now positioned in the bumper. The tail lights consisted of a continuous lighting unit that was not integrated into the trunk lid; the license plate number was lower in the bumper. The tank openings were no longer in the C-pillars, but below the rear window. In technical terms, the final drive ratio of the transmission has been modified; at the same time, the torque has been raised slightly. The Lagonda now used Avon tires in size 255/60 VR 16 At the presentation of the model, the sale price was £ 95,000, two years later, he was £ 99,500.

The Series 4 was produced until January 1990. It was built in 100 copies.

Market position and competitors

Throughout the production, the Lagondas were among the most expensive sedans in the world. The Rolls -Royce Silver Spirit had approximately 250,000 DM (1983 ) a similar price level, which is almost identical Bentley Mulsanne and the Maserati Quattroporte were cheaper to buy. The Lagonda was always a sensational car that does not stand in the tradition of understatement. The British journal Thoroughbred & Classic Cars moved the Lagonda in 2003 in the vicinity of some vehicles of questionable level:

Competitors:

  • De Tomaso Deauville
  • Ferrari Pinin
  • Maserati Quattroporte III
  • Mercedes -Benz S-Class
  • Monteverdi Tiara
  • Rolls- Royce Silver Spirit and Bentley Mulsanne

Special versions

From Aston Martin Lagonda some special versions were produced:

  • A two - door version with a shorter wheelbase, was built in two copies. One of the two vehicles used in the factory as a test vehicle for the chassis of the future Aston Martin Virage.
  • Tickford, a particularly luxurious version, alternatively with regular and extended wheelbase
  • Shooting Brake: a 5-door station wagon, which was produced by Roos Engineering in Frauenkappelen in Switzerland. The body is based on a series 3, the interior is from a series 4

Specifications

Aston Martin Lagonda Virage

After the second series setting Aston Martin offered in the 1990s, again at a four-door sedan with the name Aston Martin Lagonda. The plant returned it back to the concept of the first series of 1974: As then, also the third Lagonda was only the extended version of a series coupes. This was based on the Aston Martin Virage, which was provided with an extended wheelbase, two extra doors and a hatchback. It was so-called conversions, which were carried out at the factory. The scale of production is not exactly busy; the British trade press usually speaks of " a handful ". In this way, there was also at least a five-door Shooting Break.

Styling studies

Referring to the name Lagonda styling studies were developed several times, but not regularly went beyond the planning stage.

  • On the occasion of the Geneva Motor Show 1988, the Italian Carrozzeria Zagato design for a two-door coupe and a Lagonda Lagonda convertible, which had an unusually designed waistline. In both cases it was for pure drawings; the vehicles were not realized.
  • Aston Martin was planning the Lagonda brand to revive for a luxury SUV and put it at the Geneva Motor Show 2009, a styling study that the final production version should then be introduced into the market in 2012. But that did not work because the Aston Martin management had plans to temporarily discarded ..

Swell

For Aston Martin Lagonda S1

  • Five smokin ' saloons: Presentation of the Aston Martin Lagonda (Series 1) and comparison with the BMW 3.0 Si, the Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas, the De Tomaso Deauville and the Mercedes- Benz 300 SEL 6.3, in: Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, Feb. 1996, pp. 76 et seq (English ). The model shown here is the David Brown prototype of 1969 ( EM 230).
  • Money no object: Aston Martin Lagonda vs Bitter CD vs De Tomaso Deauville vs. Iso Fidia vs Maserati Quattroporte. Comparison test of Italian four-door in Thoroughbred & Classic Cars magazine 9/2008, pp. 60 ff

For Aston Martin Lagonda S2 -S4

  • Automobile review, catalog number 1987 ( and prices ).
  • Sujatha Menon: Supercars, Classics of Their Time. Quintet Publishing ( 2004), ISBN 0-7607-6228-7
  • Andrew Noakes: Fascination Aston Martin. Parragon Publishing ( 2006), ISBN 978-1-4054-7900-4
  • Captain Future: Presentation and history of the Aston Martin Lagonda S2 ( with several illustrations of S4): Oldtimer Markt, Issue 12/ 2007, pp. 42 ff

For Virage Lagonda

  • The Last Bulldog. Development history of Aston Martin Virage in: Classic & Sports Car, Bulletin April 2001, pp. 132 ff
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