1987 Aston Martin Lagonda: British limousine

Lagonda was a very rare model with an extraordinary design that appeared in the history of Aston Martin. From 1976 to 1990, only 645 copies were produced, the rarest of which was the 1987 series: in 1987, 85 were built. 

Source: Road & Track

In the early 70s, Aston Martin began to experience some financial difficulties. During this period, the company traditionally occupied the niche of sports automobiles with a 2 + 2 saloon formula  (two full-fledged seats for the driver and passenger and two small seats in the back). To solve the financial issues it was necessary to take the action and change the company’s approach. The production of the new vehicle was commissioned by the then director of the company, William Wilson, to the well-known body designer William Towns. As a result of his efforts, a new beautiful four-door sedan appeared – Lagonda, which allowed the brand to start to fix its financial situation and improve the brand’s position in the market.

The origins

Source: Flickr

Today, Lagonda is recognized as one of the most controversial cars of the 20th century, but back in the late 70s, it was one of the most extravagant and futuristic coupes produced by the British automaker. Designed by William Townes, its low, wedge-shaped body had nothing in common with both earlier and subsequent Aston Martin vehicles. Unlike the muscular forms of the old V8 coupe, the styling of the new sedan was characterized by many sharp edges and flat body panels. At the front, two narrow headlight clusters, complemented by pop-up headlights built into the hood, a small rectangular grille similar to those of pre-war AM vehicles, a wide bumper, and a lower spoiler stood out. The brand paid special attention to the model’s interior. It was equipped with all possible cutting-edge technology of its time. The integrated computer, LED digital instruments, touch switches, and electric seat adjustment were very impressive. Moreover, the equipment of the vehicle was 4 times more expensive than the constructed automobile. At the same time, interior decoration was traditionally made of expensive leather and wood. Standard equipment included a TorqueFlite automatic transmission, power steering, air conditioning, and a sunroof. The new model was officially unveiled at the London Motor Show in 1974 and was constantly modified until 1990. The second series was presented at the London Motor Show in 1976, where the car became an instant sensation. Before this, 7 copies of the first series of Lagonda sedans, based on the Aston Martin V8 chassis with a long wheelbase, had already been produced. The same chassis was used on the second series, including a 5.3-liter V8 engine with Weber carburetors, which accelerated the 2-ton car to 225 km/h. The model was on the list of the most expensive cars in the world along with Rolls-Royce and Bentley. In 1976, its price was £32,620, and in 1980 it rose to £49,933. The release of the Series 3 took place at the 1986 New York Auto Show, where the company introduced a virtually updated Series 2, a notable development of which was the appearance of an injection and refurbishment of the interior (introduction of a projection display, etc.)

The 1987 model year

Source: Carscoops

In the 80s the British automaker was facing financial hardships passing from one owner to another. Relative stabilization came only in 1987 when the American concern Ford became the next owner of Aston Martin, which bought a 75% stake in the company. At the same time, the automobile underwent a major restyling and in 1987 the Lagonda 4 series appeared. The Series 4 was shown at the 1987 Geneva Motor Show. The author of the restyling was the famous William Townes, who designed a new grille and 16-inch wheels. Chopped edges of the body rounded, retractable headlights disappeared. The V8 5.3 engine already developed 309 hp, and an “automatic” relied on it in pairs. The dynamic characteristics of the sedan weighing 2095 kg were no better than those of the Lagonda of the first series. The maximum speed was 230 km/h, and acceleration from zero to hundreds took 8.8 s.

Did you know?

Source: Mad4wheels

In 1987, the company began to produce its models under the leadership of the American Ford, becoming part of the Premier Automotive Group, which also included Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo. In subsequent years, a new plant was built, where, in fact, for the first time the company moved from piece production to mass production. The lineup was significantly updated, and the brand returned to motorsport after a long break, but never became profitable.

Contact us if you have this or another classic car to sell.