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Dec 12, 2012 1:24 pm
Dec 12, 2012 1:24 pm
Subject: Re: Rapide 'old front'
Like everything at AML, it depends where you want to start the birth process of the Rapide design ?
A reference to the Brown Bomber (LAG50/113), and by Tony Tocock, is given below. originally suppossed to have been fitted with the failed V12 Lagonda engine.
http://www.lagonda1949-1958.co.uk/TonyTocock/Tocock.html
The two cars which he has included pictures of, clearly still have the post-war Lagonda radiator, both date from the period 1951-52. I do like the look of LAG50/114. The first car was broken up in 1963, a great shame, you could seat four people on the front seat!
I would imagine that there were other cars used, most likely the 4-door 3.0 litre Lagonda's, made until 1958; and of course they have the same chassis design as the earlier 2.6 litre cars. But that is just conjecture of course
David, I think it is anyone's guess whether they used 101 as a development chassis or a mule. That car was so heavily used for publicity, didn't get much of a chance to sit around long in 1961 or '62.
An Austin Westminster is a good reference point. The key issue was the long chrome grill used on 1950's Lagonda's, which was incorporated into the design, and then compressed, giving an exotic look to the Rapide front.
Clearly, with a Touring prototype, an AML Mk2 prototype (105), the standard car - if indeed such a thing exists; and several cars with extra small horizontal vent grills.
There were a lot of thoughts at the time about the front of the car. Then of course there was the inhouse AML designs as well, after the Touring front end design was rejected, 105 being one of several different possibilities.
You also shouldn't forget, that the double headlamp look was very fashionable in the early 1960's, with many car makers including Ferrari, Edsel, Facwel Vega, Gordon Keeble, Lancia, Ford, Humber etc all using it. Some preferred the Chinese eye look, others a more conventional style.
Like everything at AML, it depends where you want to start the birth process of the Rapide design ?
A reference to the Brown Bomber (LAG50/113), and by Tony Tocock, is given below. originally suppossed to have been fitted with the failed V12 Lagonda engine.
http://www.lagonda1949-1958.co.uk/TonyTocock/Tocock.html
The two cars which he has included pictures of, clearly still have the post-war Lagonda radiator, both date from the period 1951-52. I do like the look of LAG50/114. The first car was broken up in 1963, a great shame, you could seat four people on the front seat!
I would imagine that there were other cars used, most likely the 4-door 3.0 litre Lagonda's, made until 1958; and of course they have the same chassis design as the earlier 2.6 litre cars. But that is just conjecture of course
David, I think it is anyone's guess whether they used 101 as a development chassis or a mule. That car was so heavily used for publicity, didn't get much of a chance to sit around long in 1961 or '62.
An Austin Westminster is a good reference point. The key issue was the long chrome grill used on 1950's Lagonda's, which was incorporated into the design, and then compressed, giving an exotic look to the Rapide front.
Clearly, with a Touring prototype, an AML Mk2 prototype (105), the standard car - if indeed such a thing exists; and several cars with extra small horizontal vent grills.
There were a lot of thoughts at the time about the front of the car. Then of course there was the inhouse AML designs as well, after the Touring front end design was rejected, 105 being one of several different possibilities.
You also shouldn't forget, that the double headlamp look was very fashionable in the early 1960's, with many car makers including Ferrari, Edsel, Facwel Vega, Gordon Keeble, Lancia, Ford, Humber etc all using it. Some preferred the Chinese eye look, others a more conventional style.