Forum Replies Created
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Hi Simon,
Re the differences, I imagine that it was just as experiment, for some reason, to try production with one strip for a while. Anyway, all very interesting stuff (to me, at least, being more than a bit of a nerd about such things). If they are not interchangeable from side to side, such points to the usual DB experience (whether Aston or Lagonda). All these wonderful cars were hand made and you can often look from one side to the other and notice differences in body panel shape etc. – it all adds to both the charm and the difficulties in restoring them.
I’m very interested in all that you say about the varying profiles of the strips, being something of which I was quite unaware. I’m going down to the workshop tomorrow to visit my car and will look at these things with renewed fascination.
By the way, from what you say, it sounds as if you may have found the DB Lagonda for you, now, or have I misunderstood?
Regards,
Tim
***UPDATE***
I’m glad my memory still functions tolerably well sometimes. The 2 door DB Lagonda saloon sold at the Bonhams auction at Newport Pagnell last year had a single strip along the sill. The DHC depicted in the last brochure produced before the Mark 2 cars arrived is also shown with a single strip. So, the answer may be that you only need one strip per side rather than two Peter.
Regards,
Tim
Simon and Peter,
For what it’s worth, personally I doubt that the profile would have changed, but you never know.
The strips on the 4 door are (obviously) of a different length than either 2 door saloon or DHC. Additional strips adorn the front wings of the 4 door cars too. From memory, some cars are seen with a single strip along the sills etc. but this may be something that was done post build (I don’t have the books to hand and so cannot check).
Regards,
Tim
Hi Simon,
Thanks for the kind words.
Re your plan, a 3 litre car is an excellent choice if i may say so. I agree with much that has been said by Peter on this site and Tony on the AMOC site. That said, I think matters are definitely improving (in terms of the survival of these cars).
These days, I’m not sure that anyone (who understood the market) would ‘rob’ a 3 litre for its engine now. This is because (a) the values of the cars have risen, and are rising, significantly, and (b) 3 litre engine parts have been remanufactured now to the extent that you can just about build a complete one from new parts.
In terms of the condition of wrecks still out there, it seems that you have been particularly unlucky in terms of the cars you’ve viewed. Most are very far from being terminally rusty, principally because the cruciform chassis is so massive and the superstructure is largely constructed of alloy over ash frame. The frame rots, of course, and the alloy corrodes etc.. But, generally speaking these cars are almost a better bet corrosion-wise than the equivalent AMs of the era.
As others have said, what you have to decide is what you really want. I agree with Peter that the 3 litre DHC is just about as beautiful a car of the ’50s as it’s possible to find. But, there are different types of use and beauty. I happen to think that the 3 litre Mark 2 (4 door) saloon is a lovelier and more beautiful beast than the equivalent Bentley, Alvis, AC, Bristol etc. etc. of the era. It is, to my eye, the most resolved iteration of the model in aesthetic terms. It is more sporty and nimble than its competitors. It’s a great tourer and an elegant carriage for an evening in the metropolis. And, it’s more rare than them all. Having said all that, the 2 door saloon has many devotees of its own. They suffer slightly from the fact that most have the column change. But, that apart (and you can always convert) many would say that the car is the thinking man’s answer to the ultra-rare DB MkIII notch back – less of small sporty luxury car (4 door); more of a large GT (2 door).
More thoughts to follow, in due course.
Regards,
Tim
Thanks Christian.
T
Welcome SRD.
There are a couple of obvious things to say first. If you join the Lagonda Club you may find the car you seek through its literature. You might also join the AMOC, for comparable reasons, but in any event you should consider the AMOC online forum as another way in which you may find your car. A relatively large number of these cars have appeared on eBay over the years, which you may very well appreciate, as well on a number of classic car sites. There are one or two owner websites dedicated to these models too.
May I ask what you are looking for exactly? Model and condition are crucial issues, as you will understand no doubt.
Almost all of these cars are rising in value now (even the 2.6 saloons are edging up slowly), but they still span a broad spectrum of asking price based on model and condition from a few hundred pounds (literally) for a wreck to north of ?80 or 90k and rising for a top notch restored 3 litre DHC.
They all tend to fall into four principal categories of condition: savaged orphans (usually in a very poor state and often missing their engines); complete project cars; good runners; and restored cars. If I’ve understood you correctly, you would like to acquire a good runner. Unfortunately for you, these are the cars that come on to the market least often in my experience.
If you could tell us a little more of your thinking, some of us may be able to offer further thoughts to assist.
Kind regards,
Tim
Colin,
Well, one never knows, of course.
I suppose that I’m equally ‘well coupled in’ with the AMOC ‘DB Lagonda team’. Perhaps we should have a summit meeting at some point. 🙂
Regards,
Tim
Colin,
If your friend was the buyer lucky enough to buy this car for ?501, please beg him not to break it. We can recover the ID for him and take it from there.
Regards,
Tim
Colin, just a postscript on rereading your penultimate posting. By your comments “I share fellow readers enthusiasm to see derelict but complete DB cars restored to their former glory” and ” My enquiry was more directed to seeking remnants of ones that have already been savaged”, I hope you don’t mean to suggest that only complete project cars should be restored? If we went down that route, precious few of these cars would ever be restored, for the reasons I’ve already mentioned. The point, precisely, is to save the ‘savaged’ cars from extinction!
T
Hi Colin,
I, too, noticed this car on eBay. I’m making enquires as to provenance but I’m quite sure that the ID can be repatriated if necessary. This car is very typical re condition these days – the engine, gearbox and most of the brightwork have been sold off / lost and here’s what’s left. Cars in this state are now being snapped up for a relative song and then restored – thank goodness! Sometimes, one can find better cars, with just the engine and box absent from an (otherwise) good project, but these are mighty scarce now.
Re compatibility with contemporaneous Astons, essentially it’s just the engine and gearbox that are of use.
If we are recommending traders, my vote would be for Four Ashes: http://www.fourashesgarage.co.uk. Chris Adams has lots of experience of working on DB Lagondas (and offers upgrades too, including overdrive).
As for costs, I am still wondering why he isn’t claiming under his policy to underwrite a proper repair job. The key, as i say, in this regard is to get a proper valuation done.
Regards,
Tim
Hi Colin,
My commiserations to your friend. But, I can only denigrate the solution proposed. Some of us are trying to do all that we can to ensure that no more of these wonderful cars are scraped. For years, hulks were ‘robbed’ of their running gear to keep DB2 series cars on the road. Now, at long last, the DB Lagondas’ time in the sun has arrived. The DB Rapide is now properly appreciated and valued. The 3 litre cars are now on the move up, thank goodness. The last thing that should be happening at this stage of these cars’ history is the sort of scenario outlined. Derelict 3 litre (and even 2.6 litre) cars are now, thankfully, being bought up by the discerning and restored to their former glory.
I imagine that your friend’s car was insured. Find someone who is on top of current values and get them to do a proper up-to-date valuation for the insurance company to make sure that the car isn’t written off. The chassis on these cars is massive but, being cruciform, can twist (which is what may have happened here). Be that as it may, please please please get your chap to have a proper repair job done. It will pay dividends immediately and, after all, this is his “beloved’ DB 3 litre!
Regards,
Tim
I have never understood any (serious) interest in models. I have still to recover from buying ‘On Aston Martin’ for ?500 only to discover that Neil Murray had chosen to devote a sizable chunk of the book to the stupid things!!!!!!! :{ :{ :{
Re the post above, some kind person sent me a message at the time, which I can now no longer locate. Perhaps they would be so good as to contact me again, as i may have some news for them.
Tim
Super stuff, Patrick. Thank you for posting.
Regards,
Tim
Hi Martin,
Sorry about my brain fade re the Jackall system’s early use. What I should have said is that the Smiths manual jacking system was used from the outset on the 2.6 cars (remembering that Smiths made the hydraulic Jackall system too). The Jackall system was indeed formally introduced with the Mark II 2.6 and carried over to the 3 litre cars. However, I believe that some of the earlier 2.6 cars were fitted with the Jackall system too.
Regards,
Tim