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The Lagonda saloon that stole the 1976 Earl's Court motor show could have been beamed down from another planet. Low and razor-edged, it was a show-stopper - and just the publicity-grabber that troubled Aston Martin needed. The 170 deposits taken at that show pulled the company back from the brink. Buyers weren't to know that their cars wouldn't be ready until 1979 because of problems with the high-tech electronics.
Mechanically the Lagonda was well proven - essentially a stretched Aston Martin V8 with the meaty four-camshaft 5.3-litre V8 engine. Suspension was same-again too, but with self-levelling for the sophisticated De Dion rear suspension. Scaling almost two tons, this was the biggest and most opulent Lagonda since the war, with air-conditioning, electric seats and weird vacuum fluorescent digital instruments.
Pundits had nothing but praise for its ride and handling, which were superb for a large saloon, but some dared to suggest that it could have been quicker, while others raised eyebrows at the lack of rear legroom in such a huge car. Aston tried to answer these criticisms with a still-born twin-turbo version, while Tickford did a trio of bad-taste stretched Lagondas with twin colour TVs. Very Peter Stringfellow.
By the mid '80s, interest had slackened as the design seemed to age rapidly. Stylist William Towns tried to redeem his super saloon with a more rounded offering in 1987, but it was too late. This dream car made real had raised many pulses back in '76, but died quietly in 1990 with just 645 cars sold - many to the Middle East.
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