Aston Martin Lagonda | |
---|---|
Aston Martin | |
aka | Type aka here, not up there |
Production | 1976 - 1989 645 units |
Class | Ultra-Luxury |
Body Style | 4-door, 5-seat Sedan |
Length | 17'4" (5283 mm) |
Width | 5'12" (1816 mm) |
Height | 4'4" (1302 mm) |
Wheelbase | 9'6" (2916 mm) |
Weight | 4622 lb (2097 kg) |
Transmission | 3 speed Automatic |
Engine | 5.3 litre (5340 cc/325 in³) DOHC V8 |
Power | 280 hp @ 5000 rpm 360 lb-ft of torque @ 3000 rpm |
Similar | Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Bentley Mulsanne Maserati Quattroporte |
Designer | William Towns |
The Aston Martin Lagonda was a luxury four-door sedan (saloon) built by Aston Martin of Newport Pagnell, England, between 1976 and 1989. 645 examples of this model were produced and the average selling price was £150,000.
Aston Martin was about to go out of business in the mid-1970s and needed something to bring in some much-needed funds. Traditionally, Aston Martin had worked on 2+2 sports cars, but the Lagonda — the model being named after a grand sporting marque — was a four-door saloon with a brand new V8 engine. As soon as it was introduced, it drew in hundreds of deposits from potential customers, helping Aston Martin's cash reserves.
The car was designed by William Towns in an extreme interpretation of the classic 1970s "folded paper" style. It was as unconventional a design then as it is now. Car enthusiasts are fiercely divided on the car's aesthetic value.
Throughout the history of the marque, these hand-built Lagondas were amongst the most expensive saloons in the world. The only other "production" cars to approach its lofty price tag were the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Silver Spur, Bentley Mulsanne, and Maserati Quattroporte.
A number of "series" were produced during the lifetime of the model, including a facelift in the 1980s which attempted to round off the car's razor-like lines and removed the troublesome pop-up headlights, which had proved unreliable.
The Lagonda was the first production car in the world to use computer management and a digital instrument panel, although the computers in many of the original cars are failure-prone. The development cost for the electronics alone on the Lagonda came to 4 times as much as the budget for the whole car. The second series used cathode ray tubes for the instrumentation, which proved even less reliable than the original model's LED display.
The Lagonda's striking design and opulent, club-like leather interior, together with its then-state-of-the-art instrumentation, contrasted starkly with its decidedly "old world" 4-cam V-8 carbureted engine and Chrysler 3-speed "TorqueFlite" automatic transmission; the latter two combining to provide a poor, often single-digit miles-per-gallon rating.
Special variations of the series included:
See Autopedia's comprehensive <MODEL> Review.
Recent Changes[]
Mention any minor facelifts or major changes made to the vehicle here.
Styles and Major Options[]
Certain vehicles come in different trim levels or body styles. Features and major options should be mentioned here.
Pricing[]
Add more fields as necessary.
MODEL Trims | |||
---|---|---|---|
Trim1 | Trim2 | Trim3 | Trim4 |
MSRP | |||
$Price1 | $Price2 | $Price3 | $Price4 |
Invoice | |||
$Price1 | $Price2 | $Price3 | $Price4 |
Gas Mileage[]
Add more fields as necessary.
As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:
Trim | |||
---|---|---|---|
Trim1 | Trim2 | Trim3 | Trim4 |
MPG | |||
c/h | c/h | c/h | c/h |
Engine and Transmission[]
Specifications, details, graphs, pictures and other information regarding the powertrain is placed in this section.
Performance[]
Please make sure to write information of the vehicle's performance in a third-person point of view. This section should include information about the car's acceleration figures, handling, braking, etc.
If using information gathered from Road Test articles from a reputable automotive source, then please make sure to cite the quote.
Reliability[]
The Lagonda was an underdeveloped car and many electrics are really problematic. The problems include a breakdown of units of the dashboard, the headlights stop popping up but worst of all, the floorpan rusted in an instant.
Safety[]
This section should reference points on safety ratings and features of the vehicle.
Photos[]
Add Photos of the vehicle here.
Please make sure not to use copyrighted photos.
Colors[]
List the colors that the particular <MODEL> is offered in.
Main Competitors[]
Create links to other <MAKE> <MODEL> pages in this section.
Hybrid Models[]
If there are hybrid versions of this vehicle manufactured, then please elaborate a little bit on it here.
Unique Attributes[]
If there are any features of this vehicle that sets it apart from other vehicles in its class, then mention those unique attributes here.
Interior[]
This section should include information on the interior's design, build quality, ergonomics, space (head and legroom, front and rear), features, stowage compartments and overall comfortability and livability. Add pictures wherever applicable and keep information in a third-person point of view.
Resale Values[]
Add more fields as necessary.
<MODEL> Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year X | Year X-2 | Year X-3 | Year X-4 |
Resale Value | |||
$ | $ | $ | $ |
Criticisms[]
Please make sure to keep critiques in a third-person point of view. If using criticisms from a reputable automotive source, then please make sure to cite the quote.
Generations[]
Fill in as many as appropriate. Add more if necessary and pictures wherever applicable.
Please make sure NOT to use copyrighted pictures.
Current Generation: (YYYY–present)[]
Fifth generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]
Fourth generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]
Third generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]
Second generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]
First Generation/Origins (YYYY–YYYY)[]
Worldwide[]
If the vehicle is sold in other markets worldwide, then this is the section to mention that information. Also, mention if the <MODEL> goes by another name in these other markets.
Design quirks and oddities[]
Refer to any pop-culture tidbits about the vehicle in this section.
Awards[]
List out notable awards that the model has received while in production. Boldface the company or organization that gives out the award, and Italicize the name of the award.
See also[]
ASTON MARTIN | ||
Prodrive | Aston Martin | Lagonda | Tickford | Glenn Seton Racing | Aston Martin Racing Current Models: Vantage · Vantage Volante · DB11 · DBX · DBS Superleggera · Valkyrie Historic cars: DB1 · DB2 · DB3 · DB2/4 · DB Mark III · DB4 · DB4 GT Zagato · DB5 · DB6 · DBS (1967) · V8 · DB7 · V12 Vantage · DB7 Zagato · DB AR1 · Lagonda · Lagonda Rapide · Virage · Vanquish · DB9 · DBS · V8 Vantage · One-77 · Rapide · Cygnet · V12 Zagato
Concept cars: AM4 · Jet · Bulldog · Jet 2 · Lagonda Vignale · Vanquish Zagato Roadster · 20/20 · AMV8 Vantage · Rapide Concept · V12 Vantage RS Concept · Cygnet Concept David Brown · David Richards · Ford | ||
Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford | Corporate website | A brand of Prodrive Ltd. |
image (between 170-190 pixels) | ||
LAGONDA | ||
Prodrive | Aston Martin | Lagonda | Tickford | Glenn Seton Racing | Aston Martin Racing Models Rapide · Rapier · 3-Litre · 2.6-Litre Concept Aston Martin Lagonda | ||
Wilbur Gunn | Include the marque's Corporate website here and indicate as such. | A brand of Prodrive Ltd. and Aston Martin |
External links[]
- Lagonda Net — Roger Ivett's site dedicated to the Aston Martin Lagonda.
- Lagonda Rapier Enthusiasts web Site