Aston Martin · 1974–1990

Aston Martin Lagonda

The Aston Martin Lagonda is a full-size luxury four-door saloon manufactured by British manufacturer Aston Martin between 1974 and 1990. A total of 645 were produced. The name was derived from the Lagonda marque that Aston Martin had purchased in 1947. There are two distinct generations: the original, short-lived 1974 design based on a lengthened Aston Martin V8, and the entirely redesigned, wedge-shaped Series 2 model introduced in 1976. In 2014, Aston Martin confirmed it would launch a new Lagonda model called the Taraf for the Middle-East market, sold on an invitation-only basis as a successor to this saloon. As of 2022, 113 remain registered in the United Kingdom, though 82 are SORN (unregistered for routine road use).

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Lagonda Rapide · Successor: Aston Martin Rapide

All Aston Martin Lagonda data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

History

Aston Martin was facing financial pressure in the mid-1970s and needed something to bring in some much-needed funds. Traditionally Aston Martin had worked on 2+2 sports cars but the Lagonda was a four-door saloon. As soon as it was introduced, it attracted hundreds of deposits and boosted Aston Martin's cash reserves. After the production of seven Series 1 cars, the Lagonda was designed from the ground up in 1976 by William Towns as an extreme interpretation of the classic 1970s "folded paper" style. It was an unconventional design practice for the company. With famous contemporaries like the Lamborghini Countach, Lotus Esprit, and DMC DeLorean, the Lagonda is frequently named among the most striking wedge-shaped designs. The Lagonda combined striking styling with a premium leather interior and (for the day), advanced instrumentation. Coupled to a Chrysler three-speed "TorqueFlite" automatic transmission, its four-cam carbureted V8 provided poor fuel economy, measured between 12.4–12.5 mpg in contemporary road tests, affected little by the change to fuel injection in the Series 3. Throughout the history of the marque, the hand-built Lagonda was amongst the most expensive luxury saloons in the world. The only other production cars to approach its price were the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Silver Spur and the Bentley Mulsanne. The Lagonda was the first production car to use a digital instrument panel. The development cost for the electronics alone on the Lagonda came to four times as much as the budget for the whole car. The Series 3 used cathode-ray tubes for the instrumentation, which proved even less reliable than the original model's light-emitting diode (LED) display. It was named by Bloomberg Businessweek as one of the 50 ugliest cars of the last 50 years and Time ma

Models

A number of iterations of the Lagonda were produced: the original Series 1 and the wedge-shaped Series 2, 3, and 4. A total of 645 cars were produced in its 12-year production run. Series 1 (1974–1975). This long-wheelbase, four-door version of the Aston Martin V8 was announced at the 1974 London Motor Show. Designed by William Towns and based on the DBS, it was the first car to wear the Lagonda name since the 1961 Rapide. The 5.3 L V8 engine was supplied with either a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission. Only seven were sold. Specifications (Series 1). Engine and power output: 5.3-L 5,340 cc (326 cu in) DOHC V8, 320 hp (239 kW; 324 PS), 350 lb⋅ft (475 N⋅m) of torque (estimated) Top speed: 240 km/h (149 mph) 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph): 6.2 seconds Length: 4,928 mm (194.0 in) Wheelbase: 2,910 mm (114.6 in) Width: 1,829 mm (72.0 in) Height: 1,323 mm (52.1 in) Weight: 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) At least two of the cars (having chassis numbers 12003 and 12005) have been upgraded by R.S. Williams Ltd of Cobham to a 7.0-litre version of the original engine, able to generate a power output ranging from 440 to 480 hp (328 to 358 kW) on unleaded fuel. Series 2 (1976–1985). The wedge-shaped Lagonda V8 saloon was launched in 1976 at the London Motor Show and was a total contrast to the 1974 model, sharing little but the engine. Deliveries of the Lagonda did not commence until 1979. Series 2 cars were originally fitted with digital LCD dashboards and touch button controls but these features were abandoned in 1980. The Lagonda retailed at £49,933 in 1980, significantly more than a Ferrari 400 or Maserati Kyalami but less than a Rolls-Royce Corniche. The car commenced sales in the US from 1982 with minor regulatory amendments to the front bumper and airdam. Specification (Series 2). Engine

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Aston Martin Lagonda
Manufacturer: Aston Martin
Designer: William Towns
Production: 1974–1990, 645 produced
Assembly: United Kingdom: Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England
Predecessor: Lagonda Rapide
Successor: Lagonda Taraf
Class: Full-size luxury car (F)
Body style: 4-door saloon
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Engine: 5340 cc V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 3-speed Torqueflite automatic
Wheelbase: 2916 mm
Length: 5282 mm
Width: 1816 mm
Height: 1302 mm

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q750005CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Martin_LagondaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1371705055 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:89_Lagonda.JPGPublic domain · Photo: User Jagvar on en.wikipedia · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.