LagondaNet

[Lagondanet]

Michael is converting a Series 4 Lagonda from 4 to 2 door.

Before he decides and makes the first cut on the car would you care to comment on the proportions, harmony etc?

Based on this initial picture he proposes to:

1) Extend the front door by 25 cm
2) Shorten the car by 15 cm
3) Part, behind the rear side window be shortened by only 5 cm.



Why? Because it looks great, I love the shape!
I drive 4 door car and I would love to drive a Coupe LHD car unique in the
world. The Mule is RHD.
Rear seats in a 4 door car have nearly no space left, if I am the driver.

[Lagondanet]

For comparison this is the Mule
(DP2034)

[jonc]

I like it

I have the same picture of DP2034 sat on my computer desktop. I have always thought it would be a great idea to take a (cheap) Virage and clothe it in a Lagonda body to recreate the two door Lagonda. Of course this would require an S4 body, and you would end up with worse rear suspension than the Lagonda, but a 330BHP 32 valve engine..

Is this to be a faithful representation of DP2034?

I presume it had the wheel base of a Virage and so any Virage measurements or photos I can provide.

Tim - do you know the whereabouts of DP2034?

Jonathan

[Lagondanet]

The Mule is in Guernsey with a well known owner.

[Tim_C]

I would love to see the Virage mule......I wonder if it will be in London for the centenary?
_________________
Registrar of Cars, AMHT

[Lagondanet]

Tim

You/Mark ask him!

[Lagondanet]

Some comments received from others, elsewhere:

Somebody cannot make up his mind?

Wedgie, as you know I've long harboured a dream of doing this, the Virage Mule being beyond my reach. I'd be very interested in the progress of your friend's project.

I am seeing a bit of Volvo Bertone Coupe here. A comparison of dimensions may help here.

I'm not keen on the shape of the rear glass. For some reason I'd be happy with it being bigger or smaller but not in the middle. I'm a bit of a fan of the Jag XJ coupe and the Merc SLC of the 1970s, that's where my influence perhaps comes from.

It looks nice. AML built one like this as a mule for a new model in the early 90's. My question is, Why? Why build a 2 door version?

I am not sure it adds anything to the car but assuming it allows practical access to the rear the proportions look about right. Of course I am probably the least expert of all!

That's like giving Elvis a botox injection in his arse and saying "oh he does look well these days"... Come on... Bill Towns would be turning in his grave!!!!

Interesting concept. The front door longer - yes definitively; that one always is a bit narrow. I do find the proportions okay. What will happen with the rear passenger compartment of the car - even less space than already for four, or is it to be a strict 2-seater'. Reducing that space is reducing it to nil qua comfort for rear passengers. As the car sits so low, only infants could squeeze in through the front door because it cannot really move forward due to the tunnel widening up front. IMHO.

[Vincent]

The proportions seem fine to my eyes.
The question of a 'Coupé' is a matter of taste.
I remind the Mule was shortened from 30 cm, bringing the Lag a 2+2 seater...for little children only on the rear seats...
Harry shortened his cabrio-conversion from 20 cm because of this ( if I remind me well )
The car is here shortened from 15 cm, giving more place on the rear seats, and a better access with the wider doors.
I would suggest to pay attention with shortening the 'C' pillar : Ok because on the S4, you don't get the problem with the fuel flaps , but it needs to cut the car - and the tubular structure - on two places : what about the torsion torque of the car???
_________________
Welcome to Paradise ! (FRONT 242)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS30BC3D5WM

[Lagonda87]

The sidepanels of DP2034 is like the Series 3 (but no fuel flaps). The bonnet and front end looks like a Series 4. The rear end is square like the Series 3 but have a rear light arrangement similar to the Series 4. So it's a mixed design.

I just found some more pictures of DP2034:

[Vrije]

Here is how I see it.

Shortened 15 cm, (I did 20 cm on the cabrio, but this being a series four
and so is without swagelines for optical lengthening, 15 is correct for
proportions reasons).

Naturally the doors need lengthening (again, I did some 20 cm on 057)

Vincent is right about the C-pillar (it has inner strenghtening) I wouldn't touch.

For rear space, just put in some seats with thinner back sides, they have to be altered anyways as the orgs don't recline, if one is lazy, get some XJS-s, also a little smaller, so can slide forward more.

Succes , Harry

[Lagondanet]

More comments:

It looks good to me! Can't comment any further, the
proportions look just right!

[Tim_C]

I loved the comment about towns turning in his grave. What do they know, the bloke already designed a 2 door. Just that AML never got around to building it
_________________
Registrar of Cars, AMHT

[Michael]

[Vincent]

[E38B12]

Who needs a rear seat? I'd go for a classic shelf.


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Victor P.B.
Sweden