Aston Martin Lagonda

Rapide | Only 55 built

• One of only 55 made
• Delivered new in the UK

Every contour, every line, and every curve of the Lagonda Rapide exudes an aura of sophistication that is as relevant today as it was when this masterpiece first graced the roads. The elongated body hints at the elegance that lies within, while the finely crafted details pay homage to an era when craftsmanship was paramount. The Lagonda Rapide is not just a car; it’s a work of art on wheels.

Aston Martin revived famous Lagonda name in 1961 with a luxurious four-door sports saloon that took its appellation from one of the marque’s most exalted models of the late 1930s: the Rapide. This new car was very much David Brown’s personal project. The Rapide’s sales brochure, which, unusually, was signed by him personally, stated: “It has long been my ambition to build a car which would be equally suitable to drive or be driven in…”

Underneath the Rapide’s Superleggera aluminum coachwork, meticulously crafted by Touring of Milan – the masterminds behind the iconic Aston Martin DB4 sports car – lies a narrative of automotive brilliance. This narrative begins with a lengthened DB4 platform-type chassis, re-engineered to accommodate De Dion rear suspension. This ingenious engineering choice not only enhances the Rapide’s performance but also creates a spacious rear compartment that invites luxurious journeys.

As you step inside, the traditional interior of the Rapide transports you to an era of refinement. Electric windows, picnic tables at the rear, a remote filler cap opener – these meticulously designed fittings transform every journey into a truly opulent experience. The inclusion of a radio as standard reflects a commitment to combining timeless luxury with the latest innovations of the time.

Beneath the Rapide’s Superleggera aluminium coachwork (by Touring of Milan, the carrozzeria responsible for the Aston Martin DB4 sports car) was a lengthened (by 16″) DB4 platform-type chassis reconfigured to accept De Dion rear suspension, the adoption of which allowed rear compartment space to be maximized.

Powered by a 4.0-litre (236bhp) version of the Aston Martin DB4’s twin-cam ‘six’ that would later power the DB5, the Rapide certainly lived up to its name with brisk acceleration and a 130mph-plus top speed. The car was hand-built to order only. Just 55 were ever produced, of which 48 are thought to have survived. We have a fine example here with us today.

Chassis number ‘135’ was completed in August 1963 and sold via Brooklands of Bond Street to first owners Howard Fairbairn & Partners of Knightsbridge, London. Accompanying build details show that the car was finished in Goodwood Green with fawn interior trim and equipped with a Motorola radio and armrests to the inside of both front seats. The Rapide has had several registrations since. In 1988 ownership passed to one Andrew van Nimwegen of Norfolk, while the AMOC Register (published 2000) records the owner at that time as L Cesteleyn in Belgium. The previous owner of which we purchased the Lagonda was mr. Den Haan in Belgium on 31st January 2008 (copy bill of sale and old Belgian registration on file).

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