That Crazy Electronic Wedge. The Aston Martin Lagonda Story

Рет қаралды 222,655

11 ай бұрын

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?
Restored Aston Martin Bulldog: • 1979 Aston Martin Bull...
Tyrrell's Classic Workshop Lagonda Vantage: • Aston Martin Lagonda V...
Doug Demuro Lagonda Series 3: • The $370,000 Aston Mar...
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: / bigcar
Support me using PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: / bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: / littlecar
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...
/ pesprague
sprague.com/peter-sprague/ast...
www.lagondanet.com/astonmartin...
astonmartins.com
www.motor1.com/features/30814...
www.inflationtool.com/rates/u...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tickford
www.tradeclassics.com/auction...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_M...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_M...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_M...
www.motortrend.com/news/2009-...
www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagonda...
www.theguardian.com/business/...
media.astonmartin.com/lagonda...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashboard
#bigcar

Пікірлер: 569

@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.

@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!

@Pat_RickX

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

@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....

@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

@Michael-yd5ry

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

@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.

@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.

@robkleinlangevelsloo259

A lot of effort must have gone into this great episode.

@stephenberry8658

Thank you for another high standard video.

@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.

@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!

@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!"

@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!

@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.

@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!

@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.

@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.

@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.

@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……