LagondaNet

[Mitrovic]

David: It drives well????

Thank you for saving this important car!

[Dimitri]

Hi David, if you change your mind, you know where I am...
for if there were only one Lagonda to own, this would be the one.

[Vincent]

I have a shell !!!
_________________
Welcome to Paradise ! (FRONT 242)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS30BC3D5WM

[jonc]

Ok. I have a confession to make.

I managed to persuade David to part with the car. Look for updates in the Restorations section in due course..

[Vincent]

You are a brave man ! Congrats !

After 13295 & 13034, I'll bring a new project in another make...
_________________
Welcome to Paradise ! (FRONT 242)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS30BC3D5WM

[jonc]

Aston Martin Heritage Trust have been delving into their archive for me. There are a number of shoots which were covered by Roger Stowers.

These photos are with permission of, and are copyright of AMHT www.amht.org.uk







The car has a full set of sheepskin overmats, it looks like no rear vents in the centre console (and no rear aircon) and the instrument panel cowl looks pretty much like a standard LED one in shape and size. The binnacles are not standard - they are horizontal instead of leaning towards the driver, and there are buttons on the front face. There is no gear lever.

A little more detail:



This is from a reel of negatives where the car visited London (so it was running!).

[jonc]

Now look at these from a later reel. Spot the difference:

[Vincent]

Good luck if you want now to get the same dashboard !

No gear level ( on second pic but well on the last one)...,no park brake level. All these stuff were touch-powered like featured on early documents ?
_________________
Welcome to Paradise ! (FRONT 242)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS30BC3D5WM

[jonc]

Yes - the only way I think it would be possible to reproduce this dashboard and binnacles would be if some engineering drawings happened to turn up.

You are right that the gear lever has appeared, but I think the foot operated parking brake was always there.

Between the early and later photos the instrument panel appears to have changed. You can now see cut-outs for various displays. It reminds me of another Lagonda which I think was converted from CRT to this type of arrangement with aftermarket digital instruments. Perhaps this is the first Javelina dash conversion to get the car working properly where they used some off-the-shelf digital instruments?

It looks like the heating/aircon system was touch-controlled, but not the indicators or wipers. In my mind, keeping the electronic control of the auto-box would not have been complicated; Rolls-Royce had been using a perfectly reliable electrically operated system for many years.

[Lagondanet]

The cut out dashboard is interesting. Amazing they had no pictures of it from the front.

[Vincent]

How amazing !
Just have a look at the indoor locks; the wood panels on doors are free of any hole; and the rear ashtray finds place on the seat ends; the front seats were revised...
I've read somewhere the car was fitted with a keyless-go system ( more than 30 years before in production on usual cars !!!)

Very nice and interesting pics !
_________________
Welcome to Paradise ! (FRONT 242)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS30BC3D5WM

[Vincent]

[Vrije]

And it is not next to the V8 in the others, o yes and lost a hubcap in the process