Aston Martin Lagonda.

[Full Canvas]

Originally Posted by caelte

I came dangerously close to buying one of these. I think this might be the V-8 version. (There may have been a Cobra version.)I read somewhere acceleration would tear the axles off.

The stock width wire-wheels indicate the car in your photo is likely a Grantura MkIII with the 1800 cc MGB engine/gearbox unit. Note the wheel width on the Griffith 200 version in the linked images. Possibly, just possibly, the blue car above is a little newer than that and has the Triumph TR6 engine and gearbox. Since we can't lift the bonnet, let's just say it's likely not a V8 model.

Last year there was a general TVR thread (link below) in which I posted some 1963 Griffith 200 (American produced V8 TVR) images and mentioned its "interesting" genesis. The Ford 289 V8 TVR was actually sired on good old Long Island, New York. You are correct about the rear axle having both mounting problems and questionable durability due to the V8's relatively enormous torque.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...078#post399078

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[Full Canvas]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

I'd really enjoy a TVR, but it might get slightly edged out, stylistically, by this:

Many people thought that Marcos would take the place of Lotus in the early 1960s. Jem Marsh's idea and Frank Costin's (that's Costin as in Cosworth) aerospace engineering experience got things going. Jackie Stewart's first racing car was a Marcos.

From its beginnings in 1959 through 1969 or 1970, Marcos used marine plywood for the entire chassis. Mr. Costin left early-on and the Adams brothers penned the design lines you can still see today in the Marcos GT2 image you posted above. I first saw the Marcos GT at San Francisco International Auto Show/Brooks Hall on Thanksgiving Day in 1964. The engine du jour was an 1800 cc Volvo.

I "borrowed" the image below without permission from Mr. R. MacMath's fine WebPage that distills the history of Marcos Cars. Note that the image was made in front of the Marcos factory!

Marcos Owners Meeting - 1973

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[caelte]

Originally Posted by Full Canvas

The stock width wire-wheels indicate the car in your photo is likely a Grantura MkIII with the 1800 cc MGB engine/gearbox unit. Note the wheel width in the linked images. Possibly, just possibly, the car is a little newer than that and has the Triumph TR6 engine and gearbox. Since we can't lift the bonnet, let's just say it's likely not a V8 model. Last year there was a general TVR thread (link below) in which I posted some 1963 Griffith 200 (American produced V8 TVR) images and mentioned its "interesting" genesis. The Ford 289 V8 TVR was actually sired on good old Long Island, New York. You are correct about the rear axle having both mounting problems and questionable durability due to the V8's relatively enormous torque. http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...078#post399078 ___
That makes sense. The one I was looking at had an MG engine and wire wheels, blue, pretty much the same as the one in the shot.

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by Full Canvas

Many people thought that Marcos would take the place of Lotus in the early 1960s. Jem Marsh's idea and Frank Costin's (that's Costin as in Cosworth) aerospace engineering experience got things going. Jackie Stewart's first racing car was a Marcos. From its beginnings in 1959 through 1969 or 1970, Marcos used marine plywood for the entire chassis. Mr. Costin left early-on and the Adams brothers penned the design lines you can still see today in the Marcos GT2 image you posted above. I first saw the Marcos GT at San Francisco International Auto Show/Brooks Hall on Thanksgiving Day in 1964. The engine du jour was an 1800 cc Volvo. I "borrowed" the image below without permission from Mr. R. MacMath's fine WebPage that distills the history of Marcos Cars. Note that the image was made in front of the Marcos factory! Marcos Owners Meeting - 1973

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Thanks, FC, great info. Also reread your post in the old TVR thread. Some of these little firms do such amazing work. Those old Marcoses are equally stunning! As NR said, why merely be utilitarian when you can be elegant. Sadly, most of the major marques sacrifice elegance for cheap utilitarianism with a dash of the quite-inferior 'prettiness.' ~ Huntsman

 

[Mustapha]

This has been an interesting thread. I wound up at the Wiki entry about Bristol cars and how they catered to buyers looking for 'exclusive obscurity'. 'Exclusive obscurity'; I though that was a neat phrase.

 

[Southern-Nupe]

Originally Posted by visionology

I think the Lagonda should be pinned on every automobile designers desk for an example of everything that can possibly go wrong with automobile design. It's as if someone took a Delorean and decided to try to turn it into a stretched "luxury" boat and rather than looking timeless it just looks dated.
I agree, I always thought of the 70's and 80's as sort of a black-hole for Aston designs. Atleast the upcoming Rapide design appears to be interesting .

 

[caelte]

Originally Posted by visionology

I think the Lagonda should be pinned on every automobile designers desk for an example of everything that can possibly go wrong with automobile design. It's as if someone took a Delorean and decided to try to turn it into a stretched "luxury" boat and rather than looking timeless it just looks dated.
I'd have to agree but there is sometimes a period where a design sinks into a phase of lacking any merit then to reappear on the otherside with a refreshed appeal that makes you wonder why you didn't see it earlier.

 

[caelte]

Originally Posted by Mustapha

This has been an interesting thread. I wound up at the Wiki entry about Bristol cars and how they catered to buyers looking for 'exclusive obscurity'. 'Exclusive obscurity'; I though that was a neat phrase.
The new Bristol Fighter has a top speed of 210 mph. Gull wing doors. Reminds me of a TVR.

http://www.bristolcars.co.uk/BristolFighter.htm

 

[Full Canvas]

Originally Posted by caelte

The new Bristol Fighter has a top speed of 210 mph. Gull wing doors. Reminds me of a TVR.

http://www.bristolcars.co.uk/BristolFighter.htm

Don't forget the Fighter "T" version (link below). Bristol claims a top speed in excess of 260 mph. Check beneath your sofa cushions for some loose change because the Fighter T is still under $1,000,000 even with the weak dollar.


From November 2006:
http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...hlight=bristol

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[caelte]

Originally Posted by Full Canvas

Don't forget the Fighter "T" version (link below). Bristol claims a top speed in excess of 260 mph. Check beneath your sofa cushions for some loose change because the Fighter T is still under $1,000,000 even with the weak dollar. From November 2006: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...hlight=bristol __
WOW! 1012 hp supercar and you would never know from the design. Obscure luxury. I wonder if it has fitted luggage.

 

[Southern-Nupe]

Originally Posted by caelte

WOW! 1012 hp supercar and you would never know from the design. Obscure luxury. I wonder if it has fitted luggage.
I agree, that car just doesn't look like it would be capable of those speeds.

 

[robin]

LabelKing,

Have you heard the news? They're going to bring back the Lagonda.

 

[Southern-Nupe]

Originally Posted by robin

LabelKing,

Have you heard the news? They're going to bring back the Lagonda.
Are you talking about the Rapide?

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by Southern-Nupe

Are you talking about the Rapide?
The Marque. http://www.astonmartin.com/thecompan...9-60da21ed0c01 Edit: To add, they're probably not even going to look at the William Town designs for these.

 

[Southern-Nupe]

Originally Posted by robin

The Marque. http://www.astonmartin.com/thecompan...9-60da21ed0c01 Edit: To add, they're probably not even going to look at the William Town designs for these.
Interesting......I appreciate the info. I wonder what design cues they'll draw on.