To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Monterey
event, 15 - 17 August 2019.
Estimate:
$150,000 - $200,000
- Unique shooting-brake conversion
- Two private owners from new
- Accompanied by its original service books and warranty
card
William Towns's Aston Martin Lagonda remains one of the most
extreme interpretations of the folded-paper angular design of the
1970s. While the styling may have been divisive at the time, the
car is now considered one of the most important designs of its era.
Only 645 cars were hand-built over a 12-year production run, the
rarest of which is the fuel-injected Series III, which ran to a
mere 85 cars in a single year of production.
This example was delivered new to a Danish citizen, Mr. Svend
Svendsen, living in Switzerland. As every Aston Martin Lagonda was
built to order, Mr. Svendsen specified his car with a full cocktail
set, television, picnic tables, and lamb's wool rugs to complete
his car with all the necessary accoutrements befitting a British
luxury saloon. Rightfully proud of his new purchase, he went to
Newport Pagnell in person to collect the car. Photographs of his
visit remain in the file.
Mr. Svendsen retained his beloved Aston Martin Lagonda until 2006,
when the car was sold to its second owner in Sweden. He set about
converting the car to its present shooting-brake configuration in
the spirit of conversions of the DB5 and DB6 by Radford and
Panelcraft. Experienced Swedish industrial and automotive designer
Ted Mannerfeldt was brought in to lead the project.
The design brief took inspiration from the conversion carried out
by Roos Engineering in 1996�with the ambition of preserving as much
of the original William Towns design as possible. The result was a
more harmonious incorporation of the shooting-brake element into
the original lines of the car, preserving most importantly the
distinctive C-pillars and the symmetry of the original design. The
project was followed by Swedish television series Grand Turismo TV.
Ultimately, the final conversion took many years to refine to the
exacting standards of the car's enthusiastic owner. The car comes
with a detailed history file, including its original service books
and warranty card.
Please note that the odometer was replaced by Aston Martin Lagonda
Limited in September 2005. The genuine mileage remains below 30,000
km, supported by documentary evidence. Also note that due to
California emissions, this vehicle must be sold to a dealer or
out-of-state resident.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19.
