Lagonda Rapide History

Launched in 1961, the Lagonda Rapide was a full-size four-door luxury grand tourer built on a platform extended 16 inches from the Aston Martin DB4, reconfigured with a de Dion rear axle. Its aluminium Superleggera body was hand-crafted by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, giving it an elegant coachbuilt character unlike any contemporary Lagonda.

A 3,995 cc twin-cam six (producing around 236 bhp) gave performance to match the looks: a top speed beyond 125 mph. At £4,950 on introduction — more than a DB4 — it was positioned against Bentley and Rolls-Royce, available only to special order, and the factory was already stretched producing DB4s.

Just 55 Rapides were hand-built by the time production ended in 1964, with approximately 47–49 believed to survive. Rarity, Italian coachwork, and its Aston Martin underpinnings make the Rapide one of the most coveted post-war British luxury cars.