"There could scarcely be a more prestigious union of car names than Aston Martin and Lagonda. The former was founded in 1913 and became famous for its fast, nimble sports cars whilst the latter established itself in 1904 and built a reputation for large, powerful touring cars to rival Bentley and Sunbeam.
It was David Brown that turned Aston Martin’s focus to luxury grand tourers although after the low-volume Lagonda Rapide of 1961, it was not seen again until 1974 when a long-wheelbase, four-door version of the Aston Martin V8 was produced named the Aston Martin Lagonda. Only seven were made before a new Lagonda appeared, famously, or infamously, styled by William Towns and known for his idiosyncratic wedge-shape design and was the most high-profile product from the Towns’ canon.
Critics either loved or hated the looks of the Aston Martin Lagonda but one thing was certain, there was nothing else like it. Under the vast bonnet lay Aston Martin’s 5340cc, DOHC V8 costing a huge £49,933 in 1979 and highlighted by cathode ray dials and sensitive touch-controls. Later models, such as this, reverted to more standard switchgear which propelled the car up to 143mph in consummate luxury. The Series IV was the final model, launched at the 1987 Geneva Motor Show and with numerous updates by then. Styling revisions included more rounded edges, 16” wheels and the removal of the pop-up headlights. With production of around one car a week, 105 Series IVs were built with just five ordered in ‘Coniston Sand’ before production ended.
We are fortunate to know much of this car’s history since it has been in single ownership since 1990. First registered on 8th December 1988, it was supplied by the Murray Motor Company to an A. Wardell, Esq., of Wiveliscombe in Somerset. After a year, it was offered for sale with the Stratton Motor Company of Norwich. The car has been maintained and serviced throughout its life and has recently been in the care of Rolls-Royce specialist, Hanwells of London.
In addition to the V5, this comes with a collection of invoices, including one for £908 of work in 2011. The car has just had a fresh MoT test with no advisories offering piece of mind for the new owner. Also included is the original leatherette, factory-issued owner’s wallet, which contains the Lagonda owners handbook, wiring diagram, fuel injection supplement and servicing scheduleThe Lagonda’s interior is the height of luxury and beautifully preserved. The dash is also in excellent condition with the walnut veneer still possessing a high-gloss shine. The steering wheel, instrument binnacle, padded centre console and doors are also all in the finest possible condition. The carpets are clean and show no wear and the spare wheel and original toolkit are still to be found in the boot.
The exterior is also in superb condition and is in fact completely original although looking restored with so few imperfections showing after near nearly four decades. The mechanics are complicated to say the least but everything here appears to be in fine working order. The huge engine fires up on the button and the automatic gearbox, I am informed, lets it pull away extremely smoothly with power steering to aid your progress. It has recently had new tyres all round with the service history showing little use and maintained as necessary. A new MoT tests certificate will accompany this vehicle upon arrival.
The Aston Martin Lagonda was the most avant-garde luxury car of its day. There really was nothing quite like it in terms of styling and technology. It was something of a spiritual successor to the Bugatti Royale of the 1920s and was a serious rival for Rolls-Royce and Bentley. The Aston, however, did away with the Crewe marques’ old-fashioned conservatism and optimistically embraced a future of envisaged prosperity and progress.
We can’t make you love the styling if you don’t already, but if you enjoy stopping people in their tracks, the Lagonda will do just that. In a conformist’s world, we’re always pleased to see something a little eccentric and we think you’ll find that most people delight in the Lagonda’s appearance.
Interested parties should note that although the odometer appears to show 244,029 miles, it should correctly read 24,402 miles but the digits have ‘jumped’ a place. A look through the mileage on old MoT certificates verifies this claim."