Well Bought
Aston Martin Lagonda S3
Younger buyers have helped to push up prices.
The market for these cars isn’t as large as it is for the DB-badged cars but it has tapped into a younger following who appreciate its looks, its name and yes – even its notoriety. And it offers much greater value for money than, for example, a DB6 or DBS, although it might be argued that those cars will appeal to entirely different buyers. Lagonda prices rose as Aston Martin interest grew but values have varied wildly over the years – Bonhams sold a very good 1989 example in May 2017 for £91,100 and a 1979 example that needed plenty of work for £28,750, while last year a 1976 project made £15,525 and a tidy 1983 example £28,750.
Condition counted for a lot with this particular example.
Information was limited on this car because it came from an estate sale, but the paperwork (mainly bills) revealed a programme of continual restoration. That included a body renovation, bare metal re-paint, and converting the instruments to modern LCD types, described by the auctioneer as ‘proof of a no-expensespared approach to the Lagonda’s refurbishment and maintenance’ – something any would-be owner would want to hear.
It was an excellent example for well below its estimate.
Needless to say that this was an extremely good example compared to some of the slightly ropier examples that have reached auction over the years. It was extremely smart inside and out, meaning that the new owner would not be facing any complicated and expensive jobs. A re-paint alone would be extremely expensive on this car due to the Lagonda’s sheer size and relative complexity.
The buyer got a lot of car for their money with this one.
The Lagonda might not be to everyone’s taste but it undeniably offers a stunning combination of looks, performance and comfort, not to mention a healthy dose of high-tech luxury. This was a great opportunity and consequently bought well at the hammer price.