The Lagonda Rapide was a hand-built, full-sized luxury four-door grand tourer produced by Aston Martin from 1961 to 1964 under its Lagonda marque. It was David Brown’s attempt to revive the Lagonda name, unused since the 3-litre cars of the 1950s, and it was based on the Aston Martin DB4.
Lagonda Rapide at a glance
| Maker | Aston Martin, Lagonda marque |
|---|---|
| Production | 1961–1964 |
| Based on | Aston Martin DB4 |
| Design | Carrozzeria Touring |
| Engine | 4.0 L straight-six, twin overhead camshafts |
| Gearbox | three-speed automatic by BorgWarner on most cars |
| Rear suspension | de Dion tube |
| Brakes | dual-circuit, servo-assisted discs |
| Body | aluminium panels over a Superleggera tubular steel frame |
| Interior | leather with a burled walnut dashboard |
| Price | £4,950 at launch |
| Built | 55, of which 48 survive |
History of the Lagonda Rapide
Reviving the name
The Rapide was David Brown’s attempt to bring back the Lagonda marque, which he had bought in 1948 and had not used since the 3.0-litre cars stopped production in 1958. It also revived a model name Lagonda had used in the 1930s. The car was based on the Aston Martin DB4, styled by Carrozzeria Touring, with rear-end styling similar to the DB4 convertible and an adapted Lagonda grille that was a little similar to Ford’s Edsel.
Engineering
The engine was a 4.0-litre straight-six with twin overhead camshafts, the unit that would later be used in the Aston Martin DB5. The Rapide had a de Dion tube rear suspension, which later found its way into the Aston Martin DBS, and dual-circuit, servo-assisted four-wheel disc brakes. Most cars were supplied with a three-speed automatic gearbox by BorgWarner. The body panels were aluminium alloy over a Superleggera tubular steel frame; all cars except the prototype had their bodies built by Lagonda. The interior was upholstered in leather with a burled walnut dashboard.
Production
The car was hand-built to order only, with a base price of £4,950. Fifty-five were produced between 1961 and 1964, of which 48 survive. One Rapide was converted into a shooting brake in 2005–2006 by the Carrosserie Company Ltd. of Barnard Castle in England.
Design and features
- DB4 basis: the Rapide used the Aston Martin DB4 platform and its 4.0-litre six.
- Touring styling: the body was designed by Carrozzeria Touring, with a DB4 convertible-style rear.
- de Dion rear suspension: a layout that later appeared on the Aston Martin DBS.
- Hand-built body: aluminium panels over a Superleggera tubular frame.
- Rarity: 55 cars built, 48 of them surviving.
Lagonda Rapide versions
- Prototype: the 1960 show car, registered LR 101 R.
- Standard Rapide: the production four-door saloon.
- Shooting brake: one car converted in 2005–2006.
The Rapide revived the Lagonda name after the 3-Litre and 2.6-Litre of the 1950s. More cars are in the Lagonda collection.
Video: Lagonda Rapide
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Lagonda Rapide, English Wikipedia: design, engine, suspension, production
