1964 Lagonda Rapide

Lagonda Rapide (Saloon), 1961-1964

The Lagonda Rapide was in production from 1961 until 1964. Styled by Touring, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive saloon range seating four adults.

The Rapide was David Brown's attempt to revive the Lagonda brand following the end of Three Litre production in 1958. It was based around what amounted to a stretched Aston Martin DB4 platform, and featured that car's 3.7 litre six stretched to four-litres, in much the same way it would be for the subsequent DB5. From the rear 3/4 angle it looked just like a DB4 saloon might, but at the front the designers had clearly taken inspiration from cars such as the outgoing Lagonda Three Litre and the Edsel. Its large horseshoe grille was offputting to many, and as a result production and sales were low. Just 55 Rapides would be built, and 48 of those survive today. One of the 48 was converted to an estate body in 2005.

The Lagonda Series 1 of 1974 was a spiritual successor, but with only a handful made many look beyond it and consider the Towns-designed and wedgy Lagonda Series 2 as the nearest thing there was to a replacement. The Rapide name lived on, swapping to Aston Martin for the DB9-based Aston Martin Rapide model.

The clearest British competition to the Rapide was the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, though the Lagonda was a more sporting option. Today, the Maserati Quattroporte 1 could be seen as a suitable alternative; a saloon from a grand touring company. While not a competitor in period, it's possible to consider the Series 1 Jaguar XJ12 today - or if you want something that you could have had when the Rapide was current, the gargantuan Jaguar MkX offered more space, with less grace and pace. Buyers might have considered the shorter wheelbase DB4 as an alternative in period, or - if their bank balances could suffer it - a Mercedes-Benz 600. It's also worth keeping the Lagonda Series 1 in mind as an alternative - another four door Aston.