That Crazy Electronic Wedge. The Aston Martin Lagonda Story

The Lagonda is a car that gets strong opinions. When it launched it was all positive. This was a new dynamic car that would lead Britain away from the 70s doldrums, like Concorde and the Intercity 125. But over time people were split. Some still considered it a great design. Some saw it as a massive blunder, and not just its shape. The odd electronic dashboard and awful ergonomics surely consigned this to one of automotive’s worst failures? Time magazine called it one of the “50 worst cars of all time”. But what do they know? The Lagonda was a shot in the arm for Aston in the mid-70s after they ran out of money. So, where did this strange shape come from, why did such a traditional company as Aston go for an all-electronic dashboard, and what came next?
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Sources:
web.archive.org/web/200711141...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagonda
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_M...
web.archive.org/web/2007021022...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_M...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_M...
archive.org/details/astonmart...
archive.org/details/astonmart...
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tickford
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagonda...
www.theguardian.com/business/...
media.astonmartin.com/lagonda...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashboard
#bigcar

[@cicalinarrot]

Five decades later, touch controls are still a useless pain in the back that force you to directly look at the button while driving.

[@scott8919]

I have touch sensitive HVAC controls in my HR-V. Seven years later I STILL cannot change the settings unless I glance down. I know how it's laid out but there's nothing physical I can feel to determine how my aim is when I'm still looking at the road.

[@Clay3613]

Well those buttons were actually buttons and not screens, I'd take those any day over attempting to drive a Tesla.

[@connectorxp]

Toyota tried to dress them with Touch Tracer technology for the 3rd gen Prius and later switched to classic buttons, though that car still had mechanical switches behind the smooth to the touch membrane.

[@michaelcaine8311]

​@@scott8919😊

[@PeugeotRocket]

I glance at my physical buttons out of habbit anyway so capacitive controls don't bother me.

[@rorymacve]

I remember there was a 1990 Series IV parked not far from my apartment in London, whenever I walked past it there were throngs of people trying to figure out what it was - I heard a lot of people thinking it was a concept car. I think that serves as a testament to the enduring looks of this mighty machine, regardless of how flawed the hardware was! Superb video as always! 😁

[@evo5dave]

It's definitely not timeless! Having said that I've always loved them.

[@DimitarStanev]

timeless is a word used so many times to describe car design, that it has lost its meaning. It's one of the most 70s looking cars ever.

[@energymc22]

There's been one parked up around Maida Vale for years, barely moves, don't suppose it's that one?

[@rorymacve]

@@energymc22 No, this one was in Mayfair. 🙂

[@BigCar2]

Thanks Rory. I was amazed how many mistakes even Aston books made about the timeline. It was bit of a game trying to get the right story.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

In my quirky taste, the most beautiful car design ever made. I thought of it like that at launch and I still think of it like that today. I would never want to own one, though....

[@karabenomar]

I guess it would be sacrilege but what if someone got rid of the nightmare electronics and lethargic engine/transmission and replaced them with beautiful classical gauges and an electric drive. Keeping the amazing design but actually make the car useable.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

@@karabenomar well, if I were a rich man, I would do exactly that!

[@proaudiorestore8926]

I honestly just love this Lagonda, it’s just such a unique car and even now, there’s not much out there that’s anything like it

[@PeugeotRocket]

Agreed. Its quirks are part of the charm for me.

[@famicomnintendo]

my rich friend's aunt had one, I didn't know shit about cars and tought it was a hideous piece ot trash when new, I remember him trying to flex while showing it, I get it now tough

[@lauriecooper8194]

Thank goodness for that.

[@Gee_Jay]

A Lamborghini Espada is still LOWER - But Seats Four Adults in Good Comfort - a Layout Marvel at Well under 5 metres long - and a 350 Hp V12 under a similar long, low bonnet !

[@klutchcustoms2428]

Back in my apprenticeship days we had a repeat customer with a Lagonda. We called it the Aston Martin OhGodNo based on the noise we made when opening the roller door to it. Repairing a front wing on a car where the front end, roof and rear quarters are all one pannel is endless fun.

[@byteme9718]

Did he stop drinking?

[@Pat_RickX]

Nearly 50 years later we still talk about the Lagonda - could not be bad then...

[@squirehaggard4749]

We still talk about British Leyland, too….

[@matthewlewis2072]

We talk about the Allegro as well

[@bobaffa4086]

While serving in the US Air Force, I was stationed in England in 1976 and went to the motor show in Earl's Court and saw this in person, it was amazing. So many people were crowded around the display stand it was hard to get a good look without waiting around and pushing through. It was certainly a highlight of that show.

[@myparceltape1169]

Not nearly as sexy as the E-type Jag. Grown men leaning over it and drooling into the carburettors.

[@stephendavies6949]

Two of those people crowded around it could well have been my dad & I. Loved that car.

[@offbeatinstruments]

This brings back so many vivid memories for me. I grew up on the Woburn Abbey estate where a lot of the footage was taken. I remember the Lagondas cruising around and being totally amazed by these exotic machines, especially when everyone else was driving Ford Anglias and Escorts :-) I was lucky enough to be up close to them, as my dad was an old friend of the Duke of Bedford (he wasn't rich or enobled, the Duke liked being with ordinary people who would be honest with him), so we lived very close to the abbey. As mentioned in the video the Marquis of Tavistock, his eldest son, had the first one. It was 50 years ago, so memories are hazy, but happy ones. The Marquess was quite a character, she invited me and other kids from the village to parties at the abbey for her son's birthday. I remember playing hide and seek in the abbey and getting totally lost! I would love one now, they are so reminiscent of Thunderbirds, Joe 90 and UFO TV shows.

[@stephenberry8658]

Thank you for another high standard video. Love this car... Visited the factory in 1978 and got my photo taken with a metallic green one... At the time I had a new RR SS II at age 24 for tax free return to Australia after 15 months saving 93% import duty and sales tax! The electronics were a mistake and really held the car back and cost the factory dearly. At home in Australia we raffled off a Silver Aston Martin Lagonda in 1984. At $235,000 it was the most expensive car in Australia. A RR Cornice Convertble was $228,000. Our tickets were 4,000 at $100. Bob Jane Aston Martin gave us a $40,000 discount after we cancelled the RR Corniche as our prize for the International Children's Peace Prize Art Union. I drove it once.... AWESOME. Had it on display in the Sydney CBD beside my little Citroen 2CV6 Charleston. What a contrast. The simplest and most complex cars imaginable. A Melbourne Newsagent with one ticket won it. Sold to a man in Perth and paid off his mortgage. One Prestige car dealer bought 13 tickets. On doctor's wife bought 30 tickets for her Aston enthusiast husband.

[@robkleinlangevelsloo259]

A lot of effort must have gone into this great episode. Thank you very much. Again.

[@BigCar2]

There was a lot of digging. There's a lot of contradictory information out there.

[@MrChristopherCourage]

I worked as a mechanic alongside the British Army, and I'll always remember that the CVR(T) family of AFVs utilise the same brake pads for their steering brakes as the Aston Martin Lagonda!

[@jonnyc429]

They used E type engines too didn't they? I love that luxury British car components have been on battlefields around the world

[@svenllr]

I was a paperboy at the age of 12 back in 1982 when I first discovered this car. One of my clients was a car enthusiast and had books, models, and even the brochure for this car. I was enthralled with the car and its single-spoke steering wheel. Nothing has changed 40 years later. I still am mesmerized by this stunning shaped car. I would be besides myself if I had a chance to just sit in one!

[@lukespector5550]

Right then; the steering wheel on series 1 & 2 cars will feel incredibly small in your hands. Lock-to-lock is like an Italian supercar of the day. You'll be amazed how tight & cramped the driver's footwell is too. Both front seats feel as soft as beanbags filled with feathers. It's unbelievable how soft these unique seats are. Headroom's slightly worse than a Jaguar XJ40 saloon of the day & you're a wide length away from the person sitting next to you.

[@Lot76CARS]

I filmed the Aston Martin Heritage event at Brooklands in the UK last year and met a delightful lady who was stood with her car.. as we chatted she told me she and her husband had more than one, "how many exactly I asked" and she said "11.. but they're not all working you know!"

[@KiltedGreen]

Fashion … goes out of fashion. If not, it’s not fashion. Everyone does it to some degree and Aston Martin were no exception. I thought, and still do, that the Series 3 looked superb - from the outside anyway. As a Tech student doing automobile engineering in the late 70s we visited Aston Martin and just checking my photo album, I have a photo of a Lagonda under construction on their “production line” (about three cars long if I remember!) from 1980. Visiting their factory was such an experience. I also have a photo of one leaving their premises as 5 of us 19 year olds gawped outside! A very special visit and never to be forgotten. One of the (many) highlights was an American who joined our tour who was beyond thrilled to shake hands with the man who built the engine that was in one of his two Aston Martins. Heartwarming stuff.

[@kevatut23]

I was a mechanic at Ferrari of Los Gatos in the late seventies. We picked up Aston Martin and Lotus during that time. The Lagonda was quite interesting, although I don't think we sold many. Still, it was iconic, and I'm glad to have been exposed to it.

[@lukespector5550]

I'll bet you've encountered celebrities back then who were anything but humble?

[@apachehelicopterah64]

I’ve always been drawn to the unique styling of the Lagonda. It’s not an oddity but a very compelling shape. I saw one in Las Vegas at a used car dealer and HAD to stop to check it out. It was stunning in person and I really listed after it. Had I the money- it would have been a no brainer even knowing of the less than reliable electronics. Same with the Maserati Quattroporte I would pass by in a nearby town fairly often. It sat there fur a LONG while whenever I passed by it. But I love those very presence based cars. They have style and are an occasion to behold. I bet many owners loved theirs……

[@corrbhan5138]

Thank you so much for this video! I remember as a teenager seeing the first pictures of the Lagonda in a Dutch car magazine when it was introduced, and it blew my socks off. I know it often appears high on lists of 'ugliest cars ever', but I couldn't disagree more. For me it ranks high on the list of most beautiful cars.

[@manofthehour6856]

I remember seeing photos of the car while it was still in production and didn't know what to make of it, but now, this thing is unquestionably timeless. Success in terms of sales, quality, durability, I can not speak to, but while a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow seems a bit stodgy and "ye olde English" by modern standards, the Lagonda is that wonderful element of British forward-thinking design that will have anyone unfamiliar with it who sees this say, "What was THAT?!!!" as it cruises on by. Love the looks outside and inside. Lagona is a manufacturer that I have always appreciated, from their 1930s cars to the Rapide of the early 1960s, to this, and the Taraf.

[@davidhinkson8856]

The first time I saw this car, and then its dashboard, it honestly looked like something out of a science fiction movie, the 'car of the future' people used to talk about in those days. Hard to believe that the earliest versions of this car are about 45 years old now!

[@rustyturner431]

I managed a US dealership when this monstrosity came out. The Aston rep at the time called to announce he was headed our way. Somewhere between New Orleans and Houston, he hit a bump and the whole dash went black. Of course, it was nothing like we'd ever seen and we had no idea how to fix or diagnose it. Things only got worse for him, as the rear suspension developed a death rattle while with us and we discovered the suspension bushings and anti-roll bar rubbers were all coming apart...this on a car with under 3000 miles. I had always loved Astons, but not this variant. Thank god they didn't make more of them.

[@blondman69xxx]

All US exports were shipped out of Liverpool docks. The loading of Astons onto the ships was seen as a cushy job and given to the biggest union men. Sadly, many of these union men didn't have a driving licence and most cars arrived in America with body damage.

[@mjh5437]

@@blondman69xxx Liverpudlians are notoriously stupid and lazy.

[@0990ftn]

William Towns is one of my all time favorite car designer not because he had the most beautiful portfolio, nor the most innovative, but how he was persistent with his style to the very end. From DBS to Reliant Convertible, extreme wedge shape was his signature. Towns’ works never gained huge success nor praise in his life time but it’s so iconic, people still talk about it to this day. This year marks 30th anniversary after William Towns passing. RIP

[@Michael-yd5ry]

My Dads mate bought one in 1979.He hated it and exchanged it for a V8 Vantage.

[@npdarcy123]

Always thought that it would look more at home in an episode of Thunderbirds or Fireball XL5 than on an English home county high street. It was a winner in the battle of form over function; who needs practicality when your beauty cuts like a knife?! Awesome!

[@flemmingsorensen5470]

Its absolutely stunning 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧👍 And any car with a single spoke steering wheel, will get my vote!

[@stephenberry8658]

Mine too I have owned 17 Citroens and raffled off a Lagonda in 1984 in Australia

[@matthewlewis2072]

Like a Citroen?

[@stephenberry8658]

@@matthewlewis2072 Current Citroens . 1990 2CV6 Charleston 2019 C4 Cactus. First car Aussie assembled 1962 ID19

[@Ricketik65]

I've always found this absolutely amazing and that has not changed after I saw one in the metal a couple of years ago.

[@tmseh]

One of these drove up to a stop sign in the town I lived in, 1979 or 1980 when this happened. It was a beautiful sight.

[@ceedoubleyou]

at the time and to this day, always thought RR was a brick on wheels, but when AM came out with the Lagonda, what a revelation, loved it!

[@chrisatkins2026]

Another great video. Waited for a while for this one and you didn't disappoint. Your channel is still one of the best for car related content.

[@PeterYeadon-js7ou]

Slightly of the Lagonda, myself and a friend visited Aston Martin when they where still at Newport Pagnell. To show my age 1983😂! A most lovely and informative chap called Roger Stowers showed us around the complete site. A truly lovely man whom I kept in contact with for many years. I truly love the V8 Vantage of that era, truly hand built. Before they were delivered to the new owner they had the minimum of 400 miles on the clock to test run them. To see a sheet of aluminium come out as such a stunning looking genuinely hand crafted car, amazing. Still a true Aston to me. Keep the great videos. Driven and worked on an XJ220 too.

[@RomanJockMCO]

Excellent video as usual! I've been fascinated by this car since I first saw it in a book in 1980 as a six year old. The design simply demanded attention. I think this car single-handedly influenced GM interior design through the 1990s - buttons for everything! I feel it also influenced many manufacturers to install digital gauges in their cars as well. When Buick introduced the 1986 Riveria it, too, was revolutionary with the first touch screen. I thought it was amazing; the targeted audience thought it was cumbersome and hated it. A couple of decades before its time. I bought a 1989 in 1997 and kept it for six years. Everyone who rode in it was astonished that it was from the 1980s. Looking for to your next video. Cheers!

[@TzadikTheManic]

So happy when I got the notification! The Lagonda is one of my favorite cars of all time, tied with the RR Camargue. Love quirky + adventurous design. Every year I have the pleasure of seeing a 1989 burgundy example of the Lagonda at the local Greenwich Concours. A British racing green example has been present 3 years as well. Thanks for the wonderful upload!

[@rabit818]

You have to see the Lagonda in person. I saw one in the shop in Pasadena waiting for repairs. Unbelievable proportion and design. Love it or hate it.

[@UlliStein]

I could imagine when you drive it, you love it. But when you park, you hate it.

[@alunjones2550]

I'm a child of the 70's and got the 1976 Observer book of cars as a present. It was full of amazing futuristic cars from the AC 300ME to the Panther 6. I drooled over the Lagonda, Countach and 308GT4.

[@goosegog]

I've worked on V8s for 30+ years and occasionally Lagondas too. The chassis and suspension are barely similar to the V8 in reality. They're both quite nice to drive. The Lagonda feels surprisingly nimble for its size.

[@lukespector5550]

Please tell me; what was used to "stuff" the front seats in Lagonda Series 1 & 2? Those I've sat in (fully restored too) feel like the softest beanbags I've ever felt. It's otherworldly how soft they are!

[@chrisflee1]

These videos are so well produced. One of my favorite cars, thanks for putting together.

[@christophetardivat234]

Excellent video, great shots of the car, being 62 i think it is one of the most iconic designs! along with the DS or the SD1.

[@j-medsystems7142]

I've seen a Lagonda once in Finland. What a weird interesting car. This was a great story.

[@mattg8369]

Thank you for doing a segment on the Lagonda. This is hands down one of my favorite cars.

[@capanema-0]

to me it's peak quirky wedge greatness

[@Jaggerbush]

Thanks for this! It was well done... Looking forward to more..

[@KiltedGreen]

Oh, and a great, interesting and informative video as always. Big thanks. ❤

[@EngineerLewis]

My durability engineering background found me working for Aston Martin in the 1980's and I had an exciting day testing a new chassis with their engineering manager driving the short 2 door Lagonda mule car at Bruntingthorpe airfield through a chicane at 100 mph! Happy memories and at least I was paid to work on this unique car. 😅

[@martinneumann7783]

What a quirky car... Thanks for the video (and all the other videos you are producing). Greetings from Germany - Martin

[@gonnn777F]

Congratulations, fantastic doc!!!

[@Gurovski]

A well researched video. I always loved the Lagonda and they're not difficult to find used for sale, but rarely do you see one on the road. 🤩

[@glennnel3570]

Although, as a car enthusiast, I knew a lot about the Lagonda, the first time I physically saw one was when I lived in Johannesburg in 1984. It struck me as possibly the most beautiful car ever built. It had a presence that was unparalleled. A masterpiece without any close comparison. An imprint of memory that lasts forty year later. Even today I would rate the Lagona (Series 3) as perhaps among one of the top eight most aesthetically pleasing motor vehicles ever made. Thank you so much for producing this very entertaining & informative video. I had to laugh (literally LOL as the you youngsters say) when you mentioned that Aston Martin had produced the first 4-door, 2-seater car. Much appreciated humour that.

[@gerry5134]

I would definitely have to have the model with lift up headlights !

[@mattkirk8404]

Very good, really enjoyed that. Informative and easy to engage with.

[@mloclam6917]

This guy is the best Car enthusiast you will ever find

[@Frank-om4fc]

Very well researched and informative video....

[@peterlbaldwin511]

A friend of mine, had one of the very few, if not the only Aston Martin Lagonda's in Africa' I still remember it and him well. The car was Burgundy in colour with an ivory leather, piped in burgundy, interior. Talk about being distinctive.. It was Not a car that one drove if seeking anonymity, but it was certainly exciting and different to see, especially when moving It conveyed the same sense of modern grace and elegance as the late, much lamented "Concorde" in flight.

[@MiguelAngelLozanoOrtiz]

Thank you for your work

[@tanyacharbury4728]

I enjoyed this. Thank you!!

[@paulbentley7815]

Really enjoyed this- thank you

[@alanedwards1179]

Thank you for such a great video. As a child of the sixties, I remember the huge excitement of this car and the futuristic interior. This was the time of Space 1999 on the TV and the car was the living embodiment of the future. So many people on this platform have been critical of every dimension of this cars design, but unless you were there in that era, you simply don't understand. Great video - thanks

[@paulw1798]

Love this car! Another great vid mate.

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

Good show per usual 👌

[@scottharvey-davies1607]

Cracking vidoe buddy. Thank you..... I've adjusted my top 5 dream car list lol

[@kaliquebolemtitusabrasax4404]

Great video, I have always loved the design of this car, those lines were enough to cheer you up after a bad day, I know people say the touch controls were pointless but I think they were just being innovative, after all they laid the ground work for what would become common in the future, just curious, if your thinking of doing a video on (lancia) at some point would like to see this.

[@Finne72]

Excellent episode. I saw one back in the 90´s, in Sweden, never seen one after that.

[@jesperkennolsen3109]

Thank you for another great video - I remember seeing a Lagonda on display at a Copenhagen Motorshow in the 1980'ties as young kid. The car had a presence when you saw it in person, like no other car I have ever seen; its narrow front and long long body. To me its still the most beautiful/stunning car I have seen. Today I drive, happily, a Tesla S Performance... but the dream of the Lagonda still lives - was just checking the prices - they certainly are in demand. What a thrill to have one converted to an electric motor; I think it would suit it fine : -)

[@pyootchnich]

“There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion.” ― Edgar Allan Poe Arguably, to be honest.

[@eggsngritstn]

As a car buyer in the 1980’s, 6’5” me was enamored of the fact that I could specify pedal and seating positions if I ordered a Lagonda.

[@lukespector5550]

I wear size 13US men's shoes. I had to take my right shoe off to drive a Series 1 Lagonda. With thin-sole loafers I could have just made it. The pedals are a sensible space apart, unlike supercars if the era.

[@leoneloscargonzalezsoriano8719]

I just discovered your channel a week ago, and i have been playing catch up ever since (watching 2 to 4 episodes a day). I am learning a lot about the British Industry and I would love to see a video of what happen to the almost defunct British Industry? what happened to all those brands and groups? all the mergers, acquisitions in between. Also, I would love to see more american cars videos, or even cars that are successful in specific emerging countries such as the Volkswagen Gol/Pointer, Fiat Palio, the original Ford EcoSport, Nissan Tsuru, Chevrolet Chevy, etc. LOVE THE CHANNEL!! keep them coming!

[@spencerloop284]

I somehow saw one these randomly two days before it was posted... harbor blvd in Costa Mesa California.... I tell you what the size of this sets it apart. It has a similar silhouette to the Lincoln town car of old but make it way bigger! Sharp edges and the 1.5x time size really set it apart. Crazy to see it just driving and not a soul in sight knew or could care to look at it. Meanwhile I was picking my jaw off the ground! Cheers sir!!

[@tonyb9735]

A thing of great beauty to my eye.

[@darrenwilson8042]

There was such a rush to get electronic dash boards/speaking dash boards ( looking at you Maestro ) when in reality the electronics at the time to be assembled by labour just not up to it at the time and was doomed to fail

[@stephanebonutto1536]

Many many thanks for this wonderfully researched history of the Lagonda ! A car that make me dream of it when I was about 17-18 year old. I view its design as an ever radical one, no other car went that far in terms of avantgarde in the design of a 4-door saloon. Probably the recurring diseases are part of the legend of this car, which is now enjoying a true classic car life, for a discerning clientele, understanding design and innovation, even at the price of some compromises.

[@nealadsett8484]

Great episode! Loved the Lagonda when I was growing up! Also loved the Scimitar GTE and SS1, but very little Scimitar content on YT. Any chance of an episode?

[@pizzalover3]

Great video thanks

[@MetalTrabant]

I absolutely love every bit of quirkiness on this car, it's still an awesome design! If I ever win the lottery, I'll get one just for the puzzled looks it'd generate on today's roads :D

[@kmorton54]

Excellent video about a fascinating car

[@Dino_Dad.]

Watching in Oz. Loved the lagonda . Was in a book I had in the 80s The best cars of the world

[@williamegler8771]

Best car by whose judgment? Most people would believe a reliable and durable vehicle is better.

[@sporkfindus4777]

​@@williamegler8771 I had similar books as a kid, featuring nothing but exotic supercars and limousines. It's just a book title. Sounds better than "The world's most exciting but unreliable cars"

[@ronmccullock1407]

Fantastic video

[@stephenmorgan6930]

Great video! Such a shame, I had no idea. As a child of the 80s, the Lagonda looked some sort of spaceship in the car magazines! I thought it would be great to drive one.

[@6rimR3ap3r]

I used to think they're ugly until I saw a video about it's design principles. Relations between wheel size and height, wheel size and wheel base etc. Especially in gloss black paint the Lagonda looks stunning!

[@telewiza]

It has been for a long time my dreamcar. The looks were great, but those electronics! Thanks for this video. But you left one question unansered. Can it run doom?

[@antonhoward9027]

I was fascinated by the Lagonda as a kid, I thought it was just the coolest thing. I'm 55 now and still love them. They were a Limo more than anything and what a limo. I'm not a huge fan of modern retro designs but I've got to say that Marek Reichmanns Lagonda Taraf, a modern interpretation is one of the best automotive designs of all time. I just need six numbers..........

[@shieldaigbencher]

This is one of my favourite cars ever. I loved my girlfriends parents Volvo 760 Turbo in the mid 80's. We went to London with them and I saw one of these. Amazing. I have always kept my eye on these. I've never been brave enough to buy one.

[@BanjoLuke1]

A wonderful, informative, detailed and evocative review and history of both the car and the age. I'm sure your tongue was firmly on your cheek when you mentioned the alcohol-free drinks cabinet in cars sold on the Middle East. Anyone who has had any commercial or diplomatic contact with powerful people in the "Aston-buying" regions of the region, or Brunei or parts of South Asia will know that once doors are closed and curious eyes are averted, the coke and alcohol are enjoyed with unusual vigour. As are the young domestic staff of both sexes. It is one thing to demand that others keep to a restrictive and medieval moral code... But once one has riches, it is jolly hard to do so oneself. The drinks cabinets in fancy cars are full of JW Black Label. And much besides. Excellent history of a deeply funky car.

[@simonlb24]

Wow! That one at 17:31 - C191BYW - is still MOTd until 6th June 2024. Definitely worth retaining.

[@edwardburek1717]

Fascinating video, fascinating car. I first came across such a model sometime in the early 80's, it was parked somewhere in deepest darkest Foleshill, in the north of Coventry and I was utterly amazed. Partly because of its looks, and partly because it still had its wheels intact. With all those straight lines, this is just dying to be a Lego project. Any takers?

[@dmn23]

I saw my first Lagonda at the '83 Frankfurt show followed by a few sightings in the wild over the years. They are truly weird cars and I couldn't love them more.

[@martinherrington9499]

I remember seeing this at the Earls Court Motor Show. I thought it was wonderful, and still do. Who cares if it doesn’t work? It’s still a fine sculpture.

[@marnuscoreyempanadaslooseb6760]

It's crazy to think Aston has gone from making something so controversial as the Lagonda to cars like the DB12 that are essentially universally acclaimed as the best-looking cars on the road. Compare that to the likes of BMW, who have basically done the reverse and gone the way of the Lagonda. It's also great to see one of the greatest manufacturers be in a much stronger place today despite recent financial woes.

[@mrjsv4935]

Fascinating car, 70's futuristic sleek look, and the digital dashboard, touch sensitive buttons, etc., very cool car :) Maybe Aston-Martin Rapide is sort of modern day version of the Lagonda, 4-door sleek looking, beautiful design?

[@KarlAdamsAudio]

22:44 - I'm reminded of the 'Lighthouse Keeping' episode of The Goodies, where EVERYTHING is round...

[@billbligh4547]

Great episode. I remember Lady T delivering her two sons to school in hers c ‘78-79. I believe she was credited with interior design but memory tells me that her car was red? Quite a sight in those glum times.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Brilliant video - thanks! I like William Towns’ work immensely - his DBS is my favourite Aston - but the Lagonda and Bulldog are probably the cars he is most famous for. I wish he’d been able to work with a more mainstream manufacturer - I’d have loved to see his 1970s take on the family car - I think it would have been quite innovative, like his Hustler vehicle.

[@sublimemuse3951]

There was an advertisement in a high-end magazine in the United States. I think it was architectural digest. It said “Humble thy neighbor” or something like that with a picture of the car.

[@drstevenrey]

'Odd Englishmen driving around old airfields' thank you so much for that one. Love it.

[@thedispenser8301]

I love how it looks

[@nicholasstocker8864]

Imagine what a restomod would look like. It would look insane!

[@janeeccleston9196]

I’ve only ever actually seen one on the road -It was probably the late 70s and I was only a kid, but it was actually jaw dropping to me as it went past..

[@james5796]

I remember seeing 2 of these extraordinary cars years ago in Johannesburg - loved it!!

[@christopherpearce7368]

There were some Lagonda four door and shooting break versions of the Virage and Vantage built during the 1990’s which are covered in the book Power,Beauty and Soul.

[@xrayjosh]

There's a Series 4 for sale at our local Aston dealer, frankly it's gorgeous, I loved it when I was a kid, and love it more now!

[@stiffler107]

I grew up in Eton, late 1970s and when going over Windsor Bridge with my mates saw one and we didn't know what it was? amazing at the time.

[@theliberatorszen2916]

Great video! My father in law owned the gold press car after the Duke of Bedford for a few years. 🇬🇧

[@thewise3551]

Looks awesome. I’d love to own a mint condition one today.

[@thatcheapguy525]

I remember the trouble with the electronic dash in the press and stories around the motor trade at the time. though this car was a production disaster because of it so I'm pleasantly surprised to know it was actually a success story produced over 14 years. bravo!