This 1985 Aston Martin Lagonda – affectionately known as the “Ant Eater” – is one of the more curious automotive exotics made in the last few decades. Originally ostracized for its odd looks and numerous reliability failings, it has enjoyed a rebirth as of late as all things old are new again and as enthusiasts look for what remaining 1970s and 1980s enthusiast vehicles have yet to explode in value. This Lagonda is listed here on eBay with bids to $26,000 and the reserve unmet.
The Lagonda was released in very limited quantities in the United States, so it’s a rare find in any condition today. The shape is still downright striking, and whether you feel that is a good or a bad thing, the design is one of the more daring ones we’ve seen enter into production. Turbo-fan style wheels, pop-up headlights, the wind-cheating silhouette – you don’t often all of those in one form factor outside of the clay model stage.
Of course, like all Astons, there was more than respectable thrust under the hood in the form of a 5.3L V8 that generated just shy of 300 horsepower. What always amazes me about super cars and luxury cars like this is that no matter the era they hail from, the manufacturers still swung for the fences in terms of technology and performance. The middle 80s were not peak years in automobile manufacturing, yet here was Aston Martin, jamming out exotic, four-door designs with V8 power and loads of (unreliable) technology.
A Lagonda similar to this one just sold for $60,000, so the current bid price here is off-pace for sure. The seller’s car is in beautiful condition with just over 30,000 miles on the clock. The listing claims the digital cluster is in working order, and that the car has been hiding out in an airplane hangar for the last several years. Regardless of how nice it looks, the goal here is to buy the best-maintained one you can find, so an in-person inspection is certainly worth the time on a car like this.
I’m sure the lack of pictures and low resolution will inspire confidence with perspective Aston buyers. Failing clear coat anyone venture to guess the price of a Lagonda respray? I don’t think there are many car companies that can claim an instrument cluster and dash ran the company to the brink of bankruptcy. I think this was the last revision with VFD display. I think the first was LED which was an industry first which also incorporated capacitive touch buttons. Then came the CRT followed by the VFD. Personally I think the cars are stunning and make quite a statement in person even today.
This is a very interesting article on a gentleman who owns no less than 23 AM Lagondas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hdeGOkUoWE
I was studying industrial design when this car was manufactured – some of its design elements *may* have snuck into concept illustrations I was doing at the time.
If memory serves, a tailor would be sent out to take the owner’s measurements so the cabin ergonomics could be exactly adjusted to fit. Although they probably didn’t ask “dress left, or right?”…
That question was asked right after they inquired, “Left hand or right hand drive?”
I wonder how many BF readers have bespoke Savile Row suits.
I always thought this looked like a circa-1974 GM Design study for what would become the 1977 Caprice, before all the compromises made to the latter to have the space, practicality and manufacturing cost the Caprice-Impala line needed to have. As in, Lagondas have surprisingly small trunks because, when shopping, their owners could be expected to send their purchases home in a taxi. Which of course would be a big Chevy.
The photographer should be fired immediately.
eBay ad states 30k kilometers…
Nice color combination on this rarely seen model, should fetch big $$
I have always liked the look of these, seller has 5 other cars listed. Yes very poor photos.
The only one of these I saw in real life was at a British car show about eight years ago. The Lagonda got more attention than all the other Aston Martin’s.
Probably because it was still running.
I used to see one in Manhattan and on the LIE to the Hamptons that seemed to be chauffeur driven. Or maybe the driver just had a uniform fetish. Anyway out on Long Island the thing would just blast through traffic.
Seeing it was right up there with a sighting of Mrs.Stern’s pink Lamborghini Espada. I always wondered who owned it.
Great looking car at 90mph in the rain.
Thanks Hugh for that highly evocative description! Again in this case a reader’s comment was better than the write up.
Love these things. Wanted one from the day I first saw it. I was just out of school and it signified success to me.
Should have bought one 15 years ago
and so the schnoz is not shown. Never thought about it that much during “the day” or since. Now I wanna see it again for close inspection – no dice.
At least they did not use my most hated – the ‘fish eye’ lens. Just distorts things so much, not worth it to post (& so hated I all ways post my objections). Pretty egotistical but I get rambunctious bein a car guy (“passionate”).
Check out this fellow’s Lagonda. 👇
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/vancouver-sun/20150605/282449937636653
I remember seeing one for the first time in person on Allerton Ave. Bronx,NY. I was stunned to see it there. Funny thing I just read the write up in Car and Driver Magazine. It’s was dark gray color with black out windows. The year I saw it was 1986 or 87. It’s was beautiful with those big tires and how the front and back was a wedge shape. It’s a shame about the dash issues. I think if they stuck with normal setup there would of sold more. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
I guess I am one of the few that has been in one. For as big a car as it is, it feels small on the inside. Much smaller than it really is. And is it ever low. I own a Lotus Europa and it has a similar feel even though much taller people will fit. I believe that these all had dry sump engines because the hood deck was so low and that pushed the engine down. I do not know about the dash or the ride as the car was in the shop for a scheduled check up, but I have been in other Astons and this felt like none of the others.
I fell in love with it. The one I was in was a black on black and I think I like this color combination better. I agree that this will be an expensive car when it finally sells. But you had better have a nice bank balance as these are also fuel sucking monsters more like the muscle cars of the 1960’s. As a piece of automotive art a masterpiece, as a drivable car I am told they are great fun. As daily transportation not so much. But do they make a statement when they show up. Check the internet for other photos to see what I am talking about.
I once sat in the back of my AML and at 6ft 1in and believe me, it was very tight. As for the dash electrical problems, it was designed and built by an American rocket company in Palo Alto, so the faults were built in before they were even assembled in UK!
Lovely car. Comes with its own tow truck.
Ridiculous photos. Why bother posting a car like this with only partial views? Is the seller hiding something?
I was at the factory when the first one was built. I have pictures of the engine being built with serial no. 00001. Each engine was built by one person and then installed on the production line car (the production line was 8 cars long in a U configuration).
And the engine builder had a brass engraved plaque with his name engraved on it, mounted on the rhs of the engine for all to see. It is mounted just above the word MARTIN as can be seen in the picture above.
Meet the man who owns 23 of them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hdeGOkUoWE
Great video John, thank you for sharing it with us on BF’s. I have actually visited this fantastic collection in Barnet, UK. and met the owner who, as can be seen from the video is a wonderful chap. As for his collection of cars he now has over 460 which now includes TWENTY THREE Aston Martin Lagonda wedges and he has put in an offer on number 24! If I had of known him at the time I would have sold him my AML! On another point he mentions that the AML dashboard, which gave many electrical problems, and which most American collectors blame Joseph Lucas for regarding all British cars, was actually designed and built by an AMERICAN rocket company operating out of Palo Alto! Do yourselves a favour guys and have a look at this fascinating video, you won’t be disappointed.
Had one in our shop once that wouldn’t start. Somehow the cams were swapped!!! Yikes! All valves bent! Got it fixed and was beautiful! Instruments? Terrible! Couldn’t fix ’em!
Wrong selling format for this one. BAT all day long…
OK, so it’s advertised in the wrong place with lousy photos, being sold by someone who doesn’t know much about it, etc. etc. Guys, that’s exactly the kind of ad to respond to! You know you’re not dealing with some slick, high-end dealer but more likely some amateur settling an estate and just wanting to sell it quickly. Jump on an airplane and go look at it!
I’ll bite. What’s with the little green bag (sellers second to last photo)?
I think that’s a painted metal crimp-on tag securing a cable through the odometer module and the part of the frame it mounts to, so it can’t be removed without leaving evidence of tampering with that tag/cable.
You are correct. If try to unscrew the cover the dye will open and make a mess. It’s a smart idea to keep people honest about the mileage. 🐻🇺🇸
If toy squint just right while looking at the picture (with the aide of some adult beverages) it looks like the ultimate Volvo 740.
A brilliant, daring design sadly let down by over-ambitious electronic gauges and switchgear for the era. I’ve read A-M offered a retrofit service to update the earlier LED and CRT gauges to the final VFD version or conventional analog gauges, along with physical switchgear.
Made it to $40,104.44, Reserve Not met.
Who comes up with these weird bid amounts?