Aston Martin – Lagonda Rapide

Vehicle Overview

Following on from the success of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Volante, Zagato went on to unveil a concept at the 1988 Geneva Motor Show known as the Zagato Lagonda Rapide. The company had obtained an engineless unnumbered rolling chassis from AML. This was shortened and fitted with angular 2 door saloon hollow body structure made up of steel tubing, plywood, expanded foam and body filler with painted on windows rather than glass.

Purported to be powered by an Aston Martin V8 engine although there was no reason for an engine to be fitted as the car was only a rolling shell. It was rather a benign design except for an awkward downward kink in the window line just behind the ‘A’ pillar. This gave it a somewhat broken back appearance which may have halted any possible production plans.

The car still survives in a private collection.