1963 Lagonda Rapide

With just 55 ever made, any Lagonda Rapide is a rare beast.

The vast majority of those left the factory with Borg Warner three-speed automatic transmission.

We know from research carried out by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust (AMHT) that in 1968 this car was factory retro-fitted with the ZF 5-speed manual gearbox it retains today.

We also know that the car was built for internal use by Aston Martin Lagonda. That detail, and the fact that it was specified from new in David Brown’s favourite shade – Roman Purple – might well suggest that the car was ordered for Mr Brown’s personal use.

This Lagonda saloon was built in 1963 to British market right-hand drive specification.

We know little of the car’s history after it parted company with Aston Martin at some undisclosed time, although we do know that it was owned for many years by a UK enthusiast before being bought for an overseas collection.

The following is taken from an AMHT letter written to the DVLA in March 2024.

“The car is complete, although not roadworthy, and has been maintained in broadly original mechanical condition.

It retains the important original chassis number stamping on the front chassis cross member, but the chassis plate is missing.

The original body number plate is however still attached. The car is also fitted with an original period Aston Martin Lagonda engine, numbered 400/148; the carburettors are now triple SUs rather than the twin Solex type initially fitted.

The current engine, 400/148, replaced the original engine, 400/124, many decades ago, although 400/148 was originally fitted to a different Lagonda Rapide when new.”
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The bodywork is pretty reasonable, with one fairly obvious exception: the o/s/f corner has been pushed in and the aluminium has split at the corner below and around the headlamp.

There is some bubbling and cracked paint between the boot lid and the rear screen, and the Lagonda-badged boot light bracket is loose and wobbly.

Elsewhere there are some patches of blistering around the bonnet, some bubbling on the n/s/r wing at the base of the ‘C’ pillar and, below it, at the top of the wheel arch.

There are cracks to the paint and a little bubbling behind and below the rear bumper and around the o/s/r light cluster, and some bubbling around the o/s/r wheel arch, at the forward base of the driver’s door, and in the sill beneath it.

The chrome trim is missing from the nearside half of the rear screen surround, and there are a few scuffs and what appear to be patches of sticky residue on the boot-lid and elsewhere on the car.

The paintwork is showing its age everywhere, but there’s no denying that ‘Roman Purple’ is a fabulous shade and one we’d very much like to see at its best.

The wheels, chrome-work and other exterior fixtures and fittings are broadly OK, although nothing is in first-class condition.

The interior has succumbed to the vicissitudes of time and entropy to a similar degree as its exterior counterpart.

In other words, there’s a fair bit of work to be done, but it’s by no means beyond redemption.

The grey leather upholstery is cracked, holed and split in various ways at sundry locations, but the underlying seat structures seem sound.

The carpets are tired in places, passable in others and decidedly moth-eaten at the base of the door cards.

The car’s wood veneers and inserts have cracked, shed their lacquer or otherwise departed from perfection in most places.

The headlining has also seen better days.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of the car’s dials, instruments, switches and controls as we haven’t tried to start or drive it.

The boot is intact but rather shabby and contains a spare wheel.

Again, having not started or driven the car it’s hard to say much about the engine, drivetrain or mechanicals.

We did put it in gear and rocked the car gently; the fan turned easily so it's safe to say the engine doesn't look seized.

Everything under the bonnet looks to be present, correct, and in the right place.

There is some rust to be seen underneath but, as far as we can tell, the undersides look fairly solid and possessed of a decent amount of integrity.

We don’t know much about it but, thanks to the efforts and sleuthing skills of the good folk at AMHT, we have its original build sheet, a photograph of the car outside the factory gates, and various letters and documents attesting to the veracity of what we’ve told you in this listing.

We’ve been lucky enough to encounter a handful of these exceptionally rare cars and we’re happy to tell you that we like them a great deal.

They are achingly stylish, super-cool and very much of their era.

They were designed and built to compete with anything Bentley had to offer and had the all the continental class and understated rakishness of anything wearing a Facel Vega badge.

This car needs some work doing to it, that’s for sure.

But let’s put that into some sort of context by looking at other contemporary Aston Martins with similar engines and mechanicals.

A good DB4 will cost you at least £400K, and a good DB5 will stretch you to at least £600K more than that.

And there are many, many more DB4s and DB5s knocking around than there are Rapides.

We’re of the opinion that the rarity, style and underlying quality of this splendid car should make the job of restoring some, most or all of its considerable former glory well worth the time and effort required.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £30,000 - £40,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.