Aston Martin Lagonda Series 2: Low and Angular

Nearly ten years ago I wrote about the Aston Martin Lagonda Series 2 design.  Since then, more images of  those cars have appeared on the Internet, so now I can present a walkaround sequence showing the styling in much greater detail.

There were four production series: Series 1 (1974-75), Series 2 (1979-85), Series 3 (1986-87) and Series 4 (1987-90) with 645 built, all told.  The first series amounted to fewer than ten cars, as the second link above mentions.  It also states that its cars were based on Aston Martin components, whereas Series 2 and later cars had a unique platform.  A prototype was displayed in 1976, but production cars were not marketed until 1979.

In my earlier Aston Martin Lagonda post, I noted: "[I]n my judgment the design suffers because of the dimensions of the 'package.'  The car is simply too long and too low; its proportions would make almost any styling seem wrong."

Keep in mind that a long-term design trend was to increasingly low car bodies.  By the early 1970s this yielded some sports cars and show cars whose height had reached levels essentially impractical for everyday use: for example, the 1966-73 Lamborghini Miura and 1968-78 Lamborghini Espada.  At the same time, the current styling fashion was for cars to be angular-looking: razor-edge all-over.  Both factors dominated the Aston Martin Lagonda design created by William Towns.

Here are Series 2 dimensions as reported in the Wikipedia link: wheelbase, 114.8 inches (2916 mm); length, 208 inches (5282 mm) and height, 51.3 inches (1302 mm).  Clearly, overhang was enormous.

Gallery

Circa 1966 Volvo 144
An example of angular styling on a car with practical passenger packaging dimensions.

1984 Lagonda Series 2 Saloon - Gallery Aaldering photo
And here is an Aston Martin Series 2 Lagonda.

1980 Lagonda Series 2 Saloon - Bonhams auction photos
Now for the walkaround.  Plenty of razor-edge angularity.

Yet the styling is professional, with few errors aside from the overall proportions.

Long hood, short, all-overhung trunk.  Note the chin spoiler at the front.

The full-length rub-bar transitions to the upper edge of the rear bumper.  I'm not sure of the purpose of the panel on the C-pillars; seems set too low for a potential knock-out opera window.  Perhaps one is a fuel filler cover.

Tail light and reflector assemblies are geometrical.  But other lines are subtly curved, as on Greek temple columns.

Sigh: If only the car were slightly taller, all might have been well.

The steeply raked windshield helps aerodynamic efficiency.

Consistency: the rub strip meets the top of the front bumper, as it does the rear bumper.  The body flares outwards near its lower edge.

The cockpit is quite angular in spirit with high-tech details.  The steering wheel's single spoke recalls that of the Citroën DS.