Lot details Registration No: AFX512A Chassis No: LOOR13021 Mot Expiry: None
It's hard to think of many cars that have divided opinion like the Aston Martin Lagonda. From the futuristic 'folded paper' design of its large four-door saloon body to its milestone computer management and digital dashboard, it was certainly a bold move for a company best known for its conventional sports cars. It was expensive too, the average price of £150,000 putting it firmly in Rolls-Royce territory. The quad-cam 5,340cc carburetted V8 engine produced around 310bhp and was mated to a Chrysler three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The suspension was by double wishbone and coil springs at the front and a de Dion axle with coil springs at the rear. The generous-sized interior was luxuriously trimmed and the first Series of production cars (1979-1985) were especially memorable for the aforementioned digital LED dashboards and touch pad controls. The next Series (1986-1987) featured a switch from carburettors to fuel injection for the engine and cathode ray tube or vacuum fluorescent instrumentation in place of the LED system. The model's final iteration was notable for its exterior facelift. William Towns was called back to smooth over the body's sharp edges and eliminate the pop-up headlamps. This version was available with vacuum fluorescent dash only. History relates that 645 examples of the Aston Martin Lagonda were made - cars that inevitably create pretty well as much interest and debate now as they did when launched over 30 years ago. The electronics reputedly cost a fortune to develop and the innovative dashboards were renowned for their unreliability but, in many ways, the car was way ahead of its time. As such it holds an important place in an exciting period of automotive development.
The Aston Martin Lagonda offered is a righthand drive example produced in 1980. It is finished in silver and has a white/cream leather interior. The vendor's father apparently purchased it while restoring the 1953 Lagonda 2.6 Drophead Coupe which has also been entered for today's sale and campaigned the futuristic four-door saloon on a number of Lagonda Club rallies, both in the UK (Orkney Islands) and Europe. It has subsequently been stored and is now in need of restoration.
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