Aston Martin

Torque The official magazine forAston Martin Works Service

January 2005issue 18

works

works torque • january 05 issue 18 3

ContentsNews

A very special DB7, sold at last May’s Bonhams’ Newport Pagnell auction, has fi nally fulfi lled its destiny by taking to the track, four months after its purchase.

The car was one of two DB7s stripped out and race-prepared as part of a project looking into an Aston Martin-only racing series, with the possibility that the car would also compete at Le Mans.

Although this original scheme was put on hold, the Works Service-modifi ed DB7 did make its circuit debut at Silverstone in September, at the Aston Martin Owners Club St John Horsfall Meeting.

The DB7 was in action against everything from DB2/4s to V8s, although it wasn’t quite used to its full capabilities as its new owner needed to drive it back home afterwards! To all those who saw it, though, its massive potential was obvious.

Modifi cations included alloy front wings and bonnet, Perspex windows, uprated suspension and brakes and some mechanical tweaks, making this DB7 one very potent Aston Martin indeed.

Great cover appealAston Martin proudly announces the launch of yet another great new product — The Aston Martin Journal. This 192-page, strictly limited-edition book, produced with Haymarket Publishing, chronicles the past fi ve years inside the fastest growing car company in the world.

Written by some of the world’s most respected feature writers, The Aston Martin Journal is not a history book, nor a guide to the company, but an in-depth look at how Aston Martin is shaping up in the 21st century. From the story behind the launch of the DB9 to the opening of the company’s new Gaydon facility, The Aston Martin Journal traces the monumental changes within the company, closing with the announcement of the company’s return to racing and a preview of the V8 Vantage, both due in 2005.

Chief Executive Offi cer, Dr Ulrich Bez, commented: “A book like this does not appear as a matter of course, but because we feel we have something to celebrate — and it allows us to share that celebration with some of our closest friends.”■ The Aston Martin Journal is available to customers at £49 (plus postage and packaging). To order, please contact the Parts team on 01908 305530.

Nobody wants to have an accident — but if the worst happens, the team from Works Service is here for you.

Our customers can now call on the services of the new, enlarged Accident Repair Centre at Newport Pagnell, helping you get your beloved Aston Martin or Lagonda back on the road and restored to tip-top condition in the shortest possible time.

The area within our workshop is now three times its former size — making it the biggest accident repair centre for Aston Martins anywhere in the world.

The newly-extended centre houses both a dedicated area for older cars, and a new area designed for DB9 and Vanquish repairs.

Both areas feature the very latest equipment, and our team of highly skilled craftsmen ensure every repair we do is to the very highest standard. ■ For further details of our accident repair services, please contact the team on 01908 619264.

Back on the track…

Back to its former glory: The race-prepared DB7.

Safe in our hands

works torque • january 05 issue 18 54 works torque • january 05 issue 18

News Testing: The new DBR9.

On June 4, Works Service will once again be hosting the annual Bonhams auction. As always, Aston Martin enthusiasts from the UK and the world will be flocking to Newport Pagnell to view a wealth of classic examples of the marque, to soak up the atmosphere — and maybe to meet the car of their dreams.

This year’s auction looks like being the biggest and best ever. Since its inception six years ago, the event has been gathering momentum, and now many of our customers regard it as an essential part of their social calendar. Which means that, if you have a classic Aston Martin to sell, there has never been a better opportunity.

Owners who enter their cars for the sale can be assured that their car will receive expert care and will be treated in a way that truly reflects its value. Bonhams New Bond Street Managing Director, James Knight, said: “Naturally, owners can be apprehensive about putting their car up for auction. We can reassure them that we will take the greatest care of their beloved vehicles. Transportation, storage and presentation of these unique vehicles

is handled very carefully – and this is done in partnership with the experts at Works Service.

“The seller can also have peace of mind that his own pride and joy won’t just be one in a crowd of four or five similar cars – each one we present at the auction will be unique.”

He added: “As the Aston Martin brand becomes even more famous, more and more enthusiasts are aspiring to own one. There is a real depth of demand for the brand, which means that putting your car up for auction is the recommended route for sellers.”

Bonhams offers potential sellers detailed advice on value, and in most cases, an expert will visit the owner, and

offer a realistic estimate. They will also recommend placing a reserve price on the car, generally placed at just below the estimate.

Sellers pay an initial entry fee, plus Bonhams’ commission – a percentage of the selling price which is agreed in advance with the customer. In the event of the car not meeting its reserve, only the entry fee is charged,” James added. ■ If you are interested in putting up your car for auction at this year’s sale, please contact the Bonhams Motoring Co-ordinator, Marcus Ross, or any member of the motoring department, on 020 7629 6602 or email [email protected] for a no-obligation discussion.

Selling the dream

Buzz: The annual Bonhams auction generates great interest.

It has been hard to ignore the excitement surrounding the launch of the V12 Vanquish S.

The fastest production model ever to be built by Aston Martin was bound to evoke a passionate response, and it is not just Aston Martin enthusiasts that have been lavishing praise on the car. Since its debut at September’s Paris Motor Show, it has been winning admirers from the national and motoring press.

Writing in Autocar, Chris Harris described the Vanquish S as “the definitive front-engined two-seat British super GT”, adding: “It would be

a delight to wake up every morning with a Vanquish S on your driveway and know it now drives as well as it looks.”

Car Magazine’s Kieren Puffett was equally impressed. “It’s the relentless accumulation of speed above 100mph that impresses most,” he explains, adding: “you’ll take any excuse to run it through the gears.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Andrew English, wrote: “If you’re thinking of buying one, well lucky you...”.

But the final word has to go to Jeremy Clarkson, writing in Top Gear, who remarked: “It is the kind of place you could happily live in.”

Vanquish S produces passionate response


News

The Works Service team continues to offer a very special service to new Aston Martin owners — a new-car handover from Newport Pagnell.

Whether the next love of their life is a Vanquish S built at the factory neighbouring Works Service, or a DB9 from Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art Gaydon facility, customers have the option to collect their car from the very birthplace of the marque.

As well as an expert handover, customers can expect a warm welcome from the Works Service team, plus a guided tour of the workshop facilities.

In addition to doing handovers, the Works Service team can also fi t a range of accessories to customers’ cars. Recent requests from DB9 owners have included the fi tting of headrest pads, carbon fi bre interior trims, and proximity sensors.■ For further details of our services, contact the Works Service team on 01908 619264.

The unique Aston Martin Works Service Accident Witness Kit never fails to impress — even those at Autocar were rather taken with it.

It seems they ‘found’ the kit in the door pocket of their DB9 press car, and decided to offer it as a prize to the most deserving reader.

Under the heading, ‘Crashingly Good Bit of Kit,’ the mag enthused: “Like the car, it’s an excellent piece of kit. It includes an instant camera with fl ash, a pen and two ‘witness reports’.… All items are adorned with the elegant AM logo and are fi nished in an understated gloss black.”■ If you would like to purchase your own kit, please contact the Works Service team on 01908 619264.

A great piece of kit!

Impressed: The article in Autocar magazine.

A more personal service

The Works Service team introduced a brand new initiative this summer — fast-track servicing — and your response has been phenomenal.

Customers clearly love the same-day turnaround which means their car is away from them for the shortest time possible, and they appreciate the fact that there is no compromise on the quality of craftsmanship their car receives from the Works Service experts.

However, such has been demand for the fast-track service the team is striving to be able to offer customers the shortest possible lead time between the booking call and the service date, so they would like to ask you to plan ahead and give the team a week’s notice when your car is in need of attention.■ To fi nd out more about the fast-track service, or to make a booking, contact the team on 01908 619264.

On the fast-track

Online page: Heritage restoration.

Aston Martin has a new-look website: www.astonmartin.com offers customers a wealth of information on everything Aston Martin, including dedicated pages on the range of services on offer from the Works Service team, and back issues of Works Torque available to download.

Further elements will be added to the site soon, including an online service booking facility, which the Works Service team expects to be up and running early this year.

Online Heritage restoration

Smart new look


With winter upon us, owners of

older Aston Martins are taking

the opportunity to get their

cars renovated at Newport

Pagnell’s latest centre of

excellence. And they can’t fail

to be delighted by the results.

Many cars originally built at Newport Pagnell are returning to Works Service for expert restoration

When Works Service launched its new Heritage Restoration Centre back in May of 2004, all those involved expected it to become very busy very quickly.

But the unprecedented levels of demand for the services of Newport Pagnell’s newest centre of excellence have exceeded all expectations. With winter the traditional time for older Aston Martins to enter semi-hibernation, many owners have been exploring the possibility of having their cars renovated by the company that built them originally.

“It’s a fantastically busy time for the Restoration Centre at the moment,” Restoration Manager, David Townsend, explains. “We all thought it would be busiest during the summer, but this winter, it has just taken off in a major way. This is how we were hoping it would be.”

Four classic DBs are currently enjoying the specialist attentions of Works Service’s craftsmen, with the DB4 that entered the centre in several big pieces back in May now reassembled to its


EXCELLENCE

RESTORATION UPDATE

“It’s a fantastically busy

time for the Restoration

Centre at the moment”

original shape. After e-coating and painting, the chassis has now been mated up again with the body, which looks good in Deep Carriage Green and is ready for the interior and exterior trim to be added, along with the powder-coated suspension and brake components.

Having the chassis e-coated — a method that involves dipping it in a tub of high-quality paint and then using electrical current to bond it to the metal inside and out — has ensured a quality of underbody finish that would have been considered almost science fiction when the DB4 was new.

“Essentially, we’re applying a modern day corrosion-proofing process to a 1960s car,” says David. “This is exactly the same thing that we did with a DB7. It reinforces our view that an Aston Martin really is a car for life.”

Meanwhile, the first car to be completed by the Restoration Centre — a DB5 — has been returned to its European owner, who was, according to David, “delighted with it.”

“At the time, he just couldn’t express his excitement. We spent two hours explaining exactly what we had done with the DB5. But he was so eager to get into the car and drive it.”

A special touch was the presentation of four books photographically chronicling the rebuild in depth. The books were bound in leather and, naturally, monogrammed with the Aston Martin logo on the front of each, and the owner was almost as delighted with these as he was with the car itself, as it will allow him to show off exactly what has been done. The DB5 work was more than just a simple rebuild though. Sympathetic modern upgrades have transformed the way the car drives and handles, although despite all the enhancements, the car still looks just as original as it did when built.

The proof of any pudding is in the eating, though, and not long after the handover, Works Service received welcome feedback from the still-delighted owner.

“He drove the car all around the south of England before going back to Europe,” says David. “He’s now having luggage specially made because he plans to do a lot more touring in it!”

Attention to detail by the Restoration Centre produces fantastic results

On the coverUnveiled: The new DBR9, which will spearhead Aston Martin’s return to motor racing in 2005.

We hope you like our magazine and we welcome your ideas, opinions and contributions. If you know someone who has an Aston Martin, please tell them about Works Torque and we will be delighted to send them a copy.

Please write to: The Editor, Works Torque, Aston Martin Works Service, Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire MK16 9AN, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 (0) 1908 619264 Email: [email protected]

A time to refl ect on a fantastic year

ContentsBack on the track: A very special Aston Martin DB7 fulfi lls its destiny

A more personal service: new-car handover from Newport Pagnell

Centre of excellence: the new Heritage Restoration Centre is creating great levels of interest

Dawn of a new era: we take a closer look at the new Aston Martin DBR9 racing car

Owners Club and heritage: news, events and a road test

News

3

Features

5

6-7

8-9

6–7

RegularsA day in the life of: a Fast-Track Technician

Glove compartment: check out the latest stylish accessories we offer

Me and my Lagonda: Roger Ivett talks about his “obsession”

11

13

1512

The new year is a time both for looking back and looking forward. Refl ecting on 2004, I am amazed at how far we have come.

With the advent of the DB9, we have welcomed many new friends into the Aston Martin family, and our range of services has expanded to meet their needs.

There is even more to look forward to for 2005. We, our friends and customers will be eagerly following Aston Martin’s progress on the racetrack; we will also be preparing for the biggest and best ever Bonhams auction in Works Service .

We can also announce further improvements to our service. With a major expansion of our accident repair centre now complete, we are proud to say that Works Service has the world’s biggest and most technologically advanced repair centre dedicated to Aston Martin and Lagonda.

All these initiatives have been made with the customer in mind so that we can continue to offer all our owners the very best for their cars — whether yours is the latest DB9 or an historic and well-loved DB4.

We look forward to helping you enjoy your car during 2005, and I

hope to see you at Works Service before too long.

Kingsley Riding-FelceDirector, Customer Relations

The 6.0-litre V12 DBR9 was unveiled at Aston Martin’s Gaydon facility on November 4 and will undergo an intensive testing programme prior to its planned 12-hour debut race at Sebring, Florida, in March 2005.

Aston Martin Racing will run two cars at Sebring before moving to Europe to prepare for the Le Mans 24 hours in June. This will mark our return to the race which we won in 1959 with Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby in the cockpit of a DBR1. In recognition of this, the DBR9 will carry the same green and yellow livery.

Aston Martin Racing will build 12 Works cars, to be run by three Works teams in the major international GT series.

Twenty racing cars, built to the same specification, will be made available to selected customers to race or keep in private collections.

The DBR9 GT racing car is based on the DB9 — but is significantly modified for competition use. The DB9’s bonded-aluminium body architecture

is shared with the DBR9 and provides both with a lightweight rigid chassis. The race engine uses the same aluminium cylinder block and head as the DB9’s 450bhp 6.0-litre V12 unit, but with racing modification it is expected to produce in the region of 600bhp.

The DB9’s double wishbone suspension configuration has been retained, but upgraded. Formula One-style carbon brakes are fitted front and rear and a competition six-speed sequential gearbox is mounted at the rear axle.

The wheels have also been specially designed for the car and are made from forged magnesium.

The DBR9 was styled by Aston Martin Racing’s own design team, which made extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimise the

aerodynamics before producing the final body surface. In the cockpit, a carbon composite dashboard,

lightweight racing seat and the driver’s instrument panels have replaced all the original car’s trim.

The panels are handmade from carbon fibre


Aston Martin has unveiled the new DBR9 – the car which will spearhead

the company’s return to international motor racing in 2005.

RETURN TO RACING

“The DBR9 is the first step in

our return to motorsport and

I know that our customers

and enthusiasts are looking

forward to seeing Aston

Martin racing again at an

international level in 2005.”

NEW ERA

composite, helping the car to meet its 1,100kg minimum weight and giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 550bhp per tonne — more than double that of the road car.

The result is a GT racing car with outstanding performance but with the beauty and integrity of an Aston Martin.

To lead the marque’s return to international motorsport, a new division called Aston Martin Racing has been created in partnership with Prodrive, the world’s leading motorsport and automotive technology specialist.

Prodrive, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, will be responsible for Aston Martin Racing’s global operations and will play a pivotal role in the plans to see a competitive Aston Martin programme return to the world sports car championships.

Dr Ulrich Bez said: “We need to create heightened awareness of Aston Martin around the world and motorsport will allow us to do this. The DBR9 is the fi rst step in our return to motorsport and I know that our customers and enthusiasts are looking forward to seeing Aston Martin racing again at an international level in 2005.”

He added: “The DBR9 is more than just a car. It signals the beginning of a new era for Aston Martin. Motorsport is a key part of our rich heritage and with the Aston Martin Racing DBR9 it will now become part of our future.”


NEW ERA

What the press said…“There can only be one verdict on the car,” said Classic Driver, “utterly gorgeous.”

Sporting Life welcomed the prospect of “the legendary Aston Martin name” returning to racing in 2005, while 4car said: “New suspension, steering and chassis componentry will ensure the DBR9 is a feather-light track demon.”

Autocar said the launch of the DBR9, coupled with the DB9 coupe and new Vanquish S, showed Aston Martin was a “blossoming car company reaping the benefi ts of sensitive management”.

Comparing it to the DB9 Volante, the magazine’s Steve Cropley said: “The DBR9 is a beautifully engineered, racing-only 600bhp version of the DB9 supercar.” He praised the car’s hand-built carbon fi bre and aluminium construction, adding: “The DBR9’s superb fi nish far exceeds most race cars.”

The DBR9 “is surely heading for Le Mans glory”, adds the magazine, “if the old adage about great-looking cars being quick holds true.”

The DBR9 — more than just a car.

ss said…

componentry will ensure the DBR9 is

said the launch of the DBR9, coupled with the DB9 coupe and new Vanquish S, showed Aston Martin was a “blossoming car company reaping the benefi ts of sensitive management”.

superb fi nish far exceeds most race cars.”The DBR9 “is surely heading for Le Mans glory”,

said the launch of the DBR9,

Vanquish S, showed Aston Martin was a

works torque • january 05 issue 18 9

Tool box


Word POWER

Word POWER — the Aston Martin A—Z of acronyms.

In this issue: L–P

LCD — Liquid Crystal Display

LED — Light Emitting Diode

LPG — Liquefi ed Petroleum Gas

OBC — On Board Computer

OE — Original Equipment

PAG — Premier Automotive Group

PAS — Power Assisted Steering

Take care of your car as well as yourself this winter. This time of year always puts extra strain on cars, even when they’re as well built as Aston Martins.

Earlier, darker nights and lower temperatures mean the battery has to work harder than usual due to increased electrical usage, and however advanced a vehicle is, the good-old fashioned fan belt is still a vital link in any engine’s chain. It’s also essential that safety-crucial items,

such as tyres and wipers, are operating at optimum performance, and antifreeze is at its optimum level.

To make sure that your Aston Martin — old or new — is in the best of health during the winter, talk to Works Service on 01908 619264, who’ll be happy to undertake a thorough examination, and also check for the effects of road salt underneath the car and remove any potentially harmful accumulation if necessary.

You know where you are with satellite navigation — or do you? If your navigation system is now more than a year or two old, it may be time for you to change the map CD to keep pace with new road developments and other changes affecting navigation.

Works Service can help with upgrading your satellite navigation technology, whether or not the team fi tted the original system for you. ■ For advice, please contact the team on 01908 619264.

Beating the winter blues

The Works Service team is geared up to meet new standards on the sale of fi nancial products.

New regulations are being introduced by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and come into force on January 14. They cover products relating to insurance, including warranty protection and breakdown recovery services such as those offered by Works Service.

In anticipation of the new rules, the team has reviewed its products and policies to ensure it complies fully with the new regulations, meaning even greater peace of mind for our customers.■ To fi nd out more about the Works Service range of extended warranty products, please contact the team on 01908 619264.

Gearing up to meet new rules

TLC: Treat your Aston Martin to a well-earned service.

Do you know where you are?

When Works Torque caught up with Christian, on a typical day in Fast-Track, there wasn’t much time to stop and chat. Such is the nature of the six Fast-Track Technicians’ roles — getting Vanquish and DB9s in and out of the Newport Pagnell workshops in a few hours — that the team is constantly on the go.

“It’s about getting it right at speed,” said Christian.

But although the working day is intensive, there’s still the same feeling for the cars that you can observe in the rest of Works Service. “Whenever you’re working with an Aston Martin, it’s always personal. Each car has its

own character, and no two are the same.”

The Fast-Track process starts immediately a customer pre-books his car in. The day before the vehicle arrives, all the necessary parts are parked next to the service bay so they’re immediately to hand when needed.

“It’s also essential that the vehicle itself arrives on time. With three to fi ve cars a day going through Fast-Track,

any delays can affect what else is due in,” explained Christian. However, the system can be fl exible as well.

“There have been a few times where a customer has driven past and just popped in to see if there was a slot

available — and we could fi t his car in without upsetting the rest of the work fl ow.”

A service can take

between two and six hours, depending on the customer’s, and the car’s, requirements. “If anything unexpected needs to be done, the technician will try to fi x it within the day. Obviously, all the parts are immediately available to us here. Otherwise, we’ll give the customer the option to leave it with us, or put it back in another day,” said Christian.

“A lot of customers have also requested upgrades while their cars have been with us. Headrest pads, parking sensors and upgrades of the music system have been popular.”

Once the service has been done, the car goes off for a service valet, by which time another one has replaced it on the service ramp. And then it all begins again….


“If anything unexpected

needs to be done, the

technician will try to fi x

it within the day”

Christian and the rest of the skilled Fast-Track Technicians ensure quick but thorough servicing.

From the moment the owners call to book in their cars, Christian

and the rest of the Fast-Track team are hard at work ensuring

everything runs smoothly for a rapid and professional service.

From the moment the owners call to book in their cars, Christian

A day in the life of . . .name: Christian Lewis

job description: Fast-Track Technician

time spent at Aston Martin: 4 years

High-profi le event

THE highest-profi le event ever for the Aston Martin Owners’ Club is set to take place on Saturday, April 23 — The Royal Windsor St George’s Day Festival of Aston Martin.

The main part of the festival will be a strictly Members-only affair, and will feature a parade of more than 200 Aston Martins. The parade of vehicles will assemble in Windsor, drive through St George’s Gate and then on slowly through the private grounds of Windsor Castle, passing a dais where the cars will be reviewed and a photograph taken of every vehicle participating.

The event, held in association with the Rotary Club of Windsor and Eton, will raise funds for the Prince Philip Trust Fund, and all members taking part will be asked to contribute a donation of £50.

The historic parade will include some of the very earliest Aston Martin models as well as the very latest, together with some world-famous racing cars and some four-wheeled stars from the James Bond fi lms.

The cars will then gather in Frogmore, where there will be an

opportunity for owners to socialise. The public will then be admitted to view the cars and enjoy an equestrian and military display put on by The Light Cavalry of The Honourable Artillery Company.

Members will also be able to enjoy other AMOC events before and after the parade, including a New Orleans Jazz Cruise on the Thames on April 21, and a glittering 70th Anniversary Dinner on the evening of April 23.■ For further details, or to enquire about membership, please contact Diane Howe, Club Secretary, on 01865 400400, or visit www.amoc.org

Make a date…

AS announced in the last issue of Works Torque, the next Aston Martin Heritage Trust event is the Walter Hayes Memorial Lecture at the RAC in London on January 19. Jeremy Main will be speaking about the DBR9’s development and this year’s competition plans. As you would expect, tickets have been going quickly.

The Trust will also be represented on the AMOC stand at February’s International Historic Motor Sports Show at Stoneleigh.

The Dudley Coram Memorial Lecture will take place on April 10 at the Barn, and will be as fascinating as ever. Details will be publicised on the website, www.amheritrust.org

Incoming Trust Secretary, Robert Ellis, said: “The Trustees would like to wish all readers of Works Torque a prosperous New Year.

“Last year saw some changes at the Trust. However, plans for 2005 are advancing, and all the administration is now being dealt with directly from the Barn.

“Watch the website for details of all the Trust’s events and other developments during the year.” ■ For details of any of these events, please contact Robert on 01895 400414.


2005calendar of events

AMOC AND HERITAGE TRUST

Key: ■ AMOC events ■ other events

January 29 AMOC Annual Presentation of AwardsApril 9 Curborough Track/ Instruction Day

April 21-24 Royal Windsor St George’s Day Festival of Aston MartinApril 29 Mallory Track Day April 30 AMOC AGMMay 1 Mallory Race Day May 14 Wiscombe HillclimbMay 22 Curborough Sprint — long circuitJune 4 Bonhams AuctionJune 5 Spring Concours — Waddesdon June 11 Snetterton Race DayJune 26 Donnington Race Day

July 9 St John Horsfall Race Day. Silverstone July 24-26 Goodwood Festival of SpeedJuly 15 Goodwood Track Day July 16 Goodwood SprintJuly 31 Loton Park HillclimbAugust 20 Brands Hatch Race DaySeptember 18 Curborough Sprint — short circuitSeptember 21 Grand Palaces Tour—October 1 — Switzerland & ItalyOctober 1 Oulton Park Race Day


Glove compartment

Whichever Aston you drive, Works Service has got you covered — with an eye-catching and elegant range of umbrellas.

The team at Works Service is offering customers the traditional-style Aston Martin umbrella — a perfect fi t for your DB7 or Vanquish — at a bargain price.

The new DB9 driver, meanwhile, can now order a purpose-made, shorter-length umbrella which exactly fi ts into the car’s boot, and has all the quality and style you expect from all things Aston Martin. ■ For further details of how Works Service can protect you and your car from the weather, contact the team on 01908 619264.

Umbrellas – the long and the short of it

Aston Martin has revived a link which goes back more than 70 years with venerated Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre in order to create the AMV0X1.

This exclusive gentleman’s timepiece houses precision engineering in a design inspired by the past, with the case, hands and functionality refl ecting the rich heritage of the two companies. However, the colour of the dial, the high-tech case and the layout of the digits, which are arranged in a sweep of 270 degrees rather than the conventional 360 degrees, give the watch a contemporary look.

The watch will be produced in two versions: a limited numbered series of 750 pieces in titanium, and a special edition in stainless steel. ■ For further details, contact the Works Service team on 01908 619264.

Precision engineering — on your wrist!

A celebration of true style…In the autumn, Aston Martin revealed an impressive new collection — a range of merchandise and fashion accessories celebrating the most signifi cant period of change in the company’s 90-year history.

The Aston Martin Collection features items from luxury clothing to children’s toys, as well as a range of leather luggage designed by Aston Martin’s Interior Design Manager, Sarah Maynard, whose infl uence is seen on the interior of the DB9.

Many of the 120 items are unique to Aston Martin, from the sterling silver ‘Wheelspinner’ cuffl inks to the colourful selection of ladies’ suede driving gloves. Every piece has been chosen because it either refl ects Aston Martin design or has an inherent quality that is unique to The Collection.■ To view the full collection range,visit: www.astonmartin.com

than the conventional 360 degrees, give the watch a contemporary look.

750 pieces in titanium, and a special edition in stainless steel. ■


HERITAGE AND RESTORATION

Put to the road test: Lagonda

The language of LagondaIt seems incredible that a car known for its futuristic good looks should have taken its name from an ancient language spoken by American Indians.

Lagonda is named after the Shawnee Indian word for Buck Creek, a stream near Springfi eld, Ohio — the home town of the car’s developer, Wilbur Gunn.

An engineer and opera singer, Gunn came to the UK as a performer, and at the end of the 19th century built motorcycles at his home in Staines. In 1904, he built his fi rst three-wheeled ‘tricar’.

In 1913 Gunn introduced the light 11.1, and a year later a four-seater. The company rapidly established a name in motor racing, and in 1921, a single-seater Lagonda set fi ve records and covered 79.17 miles in one hour. The records were all lost to Aston Martin one week later.

A Lagonda won at Le Mans in 1935, and in 1938 a V12 saloon covered 101.5 miles in one hour.

Lagonda’s name was kept alive by Alan Good, who re-formed it as LG Motors, and launched the 4.5-litre LG45.

1948 saw the merger of Lagonda with Aston Martin, under David Brown, and production moved to Feltham. Two- and four-door saloons and a convertible followed.

When, in 1955, David Brown took over Tickford Motor Bodies in Newport Pagnell, production was moved to the site. In 1961 the 4.0-litre Rapide was launched.

In 1972, the company was sold to Company Developments, which in 1974 produced the Lagonda V8.

The takeover of Aston Martin Lagonda by American Peter Sprague and Canadian George Minden in 1975 heralded the appearance of a new V8 Lagonda in 1976. Its strikingly modern appearance and advanced specifi cation made a huge impact. It remained in production until 1990.

Are you a Lagonda owner? In 1977 Motor Trend magazine ran a four-page report on the launch of a motoring legend, whose space age looks made a huge impression on the style-conscious 70s motorist.

“One of the most elegant wedges

yet seen on four wheels,” wrote an excited John Blunsden, adding: “If the styling is exciting, the interior and its equipment are remarkable.”

And it is not diffi cult to see why. In place of the standard instrument panel, the car featured a strip running

the full length of the fascia, with a rectangular ‘read-out’ above the steering column, coupled with a series of touch-sensitive control surfaces.

“The latest Lagonda offers a new concept of luxury car accommodation and car control, including electronically controlled instrumentation,” he added.

To the reviewer’s delight, more touch switches controlled the lights, windows, door locks, seats, air conditioning and screen cleaning — as well as the automatic cruise control and automatic transmission selector.

The four-overhead-camshaft 5340cc engine, a top speed of 140mph and a 0–60mph acceleration time of seven seconds were all appreciated, and the car’s 17ft 4in length also impressed.

He concludes: “It’s one heck of a car with which to revive the classic name Lagonda.”

All these years on, it’s hard not to agree.

Motor Trend magazine’s 1977 road test.


ME AND MY LAGONDA

OBSESSIONA natural

Aston Martin

Lagonda

enthusiast Roger

Ivett’s passion

for the marque

comes from his

appreciation of

007 movies —

and a love affair

with his 1980

Lagonda.

Roger Ivett’s Lagonda is no everyday vehicle.

In 1995, Roger Ivett bought a 15-year-old car to use as an everyday vehicle to commute between Luton and London. Nothing too unusual in that perhaps . . . except the car he chose to cover around 10,000 miles a year in was a 1980 Lagonda, one of the most distinctive, flamboyant and complicated creations the marque has ever built.

“I’d always liked Aston Martins — I guess it was the James Bond connection,” says Roger. “The Lagonda I liked subsequently, after I saw one in Highgate which planted a seed in my mind.”

That seed didn’t just grow into the 1980 gold Series 2 example (chassis no 13049) you see here. It also became something he has good-naturedly referred to as an ‘obsession’, leading to him joining the Aston Martin Owners’ Club and the Lagonda Club, organising events for other owners and setting up a highly informative website at www.astonmartinlagonda.net

Living close to Works Service means that Roger’s Lagonda has had the best of

care, proving generally reliable over the last decade. Even its advanced electronic dashboard — spectacular for the 1970s — has only had the ‘odd glitch’ during the car’s British and French trips.

There was a momentary aberration in 2001 when Roger sold his car, but almost immediately regretted it. “I knew where it had gone, and six months later, I went and bought it back!” And there are certainly no plans to part company with it again. “It would have to be under duress. Although I might consider changing it for a different one….”

Roger Ivett — facts ■ Roger works in fi nance and lives in Harlington, Bedfordshire, handily close to Newport Pagnell for when his Lagonda requires any attention.■ He has one Lagonda at the moment, but would ideally love to own more. “I’d like to have one of each of the three dashboard designs!”■ Non-enthusiasts are often surprised that Roger’s car was built by Aston Martin. “Usually, they come up and ask what it is. On these early cars, there aren’t too many identifying badges.”

Roger with his 1980 Lagonda.

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Aston Martin Works Service, Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire MK16 9AN, United Kingdom.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1908 619264 Facsimile: +44 (0) 1908 216439

Email: [email protected] Website: www.astonmartin.com

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