01 April 2022
When the new management took over Aston Martin in the early 1970s, there was one hidden asset, a design for a long-wheelbase four-door model to bear the Lagonda name. This car was supposedly born out of David Brown’s desire to be chauffeured in a car manufactured by Aston Martin.
Though widely acclaimed as a clean and well balanced modern design, it was a shortened version of the then-current Aston Coupé.
By late 1974 Aston Martin launched the Lagonda model, appropriately named the Aston Martin Lagonda. It had a wheelbase 30cm longer than the coupé; the extra space provided comfortable rear seats with decent legroom. The upholstery was in English hide, while the front seats had reclining backrests and a passenger footrest.
The Lagonda had electric windows, door locks, boot lock and fuel filler. Heated rear window, internally controlled door mirror, a stereo and air-conditioning with two four-speed blowers providing flow or recirculation to heat or cool the interior. A very luxurious motor car by 1974 standards.
Aluminium body panels were mounted on a steel frame fixed to the chassis platform, rustproofed and undersealed.
However, the timing of the launch could not have been worse. The Middle East oil crisis and other economic problems meant that the160 mph super-saloon market was small. So small, Aston only built seven cars.
An unfortunate end for a beautiful and exceptional motor car.