Cult 1-18 1985 Aston Martin Lagonda diecast model car review

As had often been the case during its turbulent history, Aston Martin was facing financial pressures in the mid-1970s. They needed something to bring in much needed funds. Now, traditionally, Aston Martin had always produced 2+2 sports cars, but the company decided to create a full-size, four-door, luxury saloon using the Lagonda name, derived from the marque that Aston had acquired in 1947.

As soon as it was announced, the new car attracted hundreds of deposits, thus boosting the company’s cash reserves. But the original version was short-lived. Based on a lengthened Aston Martin V8, only seven were produced. In 1976, William Towns undertook a total redesign, adopting a more angular aesthetic than had ever before been employed on an Aston.

Alongside contemporaries such as the Lamborghini Countach, the Lotus Esprit, the Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 and the Maserati Khamsin, the Lagonda is often cited as one of the most striking ‘wedge-shaped’, car designs.

The Lagonda combined its dramatic design with a premium, leather interior and advanced instrumentation. It was the first car to come with a digital dashboard. In fact, the development cost for the electronics alone came to four times as much as the original budget for the whole car! The car’s 5.3 litre, 208 bhp engine delivered a top speed of over 140 mph, despatching sixty miles per hour in under nine seconds. Not bad for a luxury, four-door saloon, but its fuel consumption was ruinous!

The Lagonda was certainly dramatic, but it was not universally admired, or even liked. Bloomberg Businessweek magazine named it one of the 50 ugliest cars of the last 50 years, whilst Time magazine went further, including it in its ‘50 Worst Cars Of All Time’ review, describing it as a mechanical catastrophe, with electronics that would have been impressive had they ever worked!

The Series 2 version, as modelled here by Cult, was announced at the 1976 London Motor Show, although deliveries didn’t start to come through until 1979. It retailed at just under £50,000, making it significantly more expensive than a Ferrari 400 or a Maserati Kyalami, although it was still less than a Rolls Royce Corniche. Another ugly car!

Production ceased in 1980, by which time a total of 645 had been manufactured.

Cult has captured the angular lines of the Lagonda perfectly with its 1:18 replica. The wood panelling effect inside the cockpit is another nice touch. You can choose between blue, red or cream.

Click Cult 1-18 1985 Aston Martin Lagonda to order.