- Unusual Aston Martin shooting brake started life as rare Series 3 Lagonda sedan.
- Switzerland’s Roos Engineering transformed it during an extensive conversion in ’00.
- The slimline, V8-powered wagon is being auctioned by Broad Arrow in November.
We’ve seen Aston Martin wagons based on everything from the DB5 to the Vantage, Vanquish and even the four-door Rapide. But this one-off Lagonda shooting brake heading for auction might be the strangest and definitely the wedgiest load-lugger ever to wear Aston Martin badges.
Related: Aston’s New Valen Is The World’s Most Powerful Front-Engined Production Car
The donor was already pretty special. First registered in Switzerland in March 1987, it’s one of just 76 Series 3 Lagonda sedans reportedly produced. Its owner acquired it in 1996 and subsequently commissioned Switzerland’s Roos Engineering to transform it, with Aston Martin approving the project and supplying factory parts. The finished shooting brake was delivered in 2000.
Broad Arrow
Roos retained the sedan’s original overall length to avoid forcing the car through a fresh homologation process. But the roof was extended to create a dramatic Kamm tail rear and offer a big increase in cargo capacity – if hardly troubling Volvo station wagons of the period.
And plenty changed underneath during the bespoke build. The 5.3-liter V8 was stripped and rebuilt with new components, while the automatic transmission was similarly overhauled and updated. Roos also recalibrated the engine computer, completely renewed the electrical system that was legendarily troublesome on these cars, and developed bespoke rear dampers to cope with bigger payloads.
New Glass, More Lights
Broad Arrow
Custom glass was produced to satisfy homologation requirements, while the cabin gained Connolly leather, Alcantara and bespoke carpeting extending through the cargo area. Extra rear lights were incorporated into the bumper so the car remains visible with its tailgate raised, and Roos even installed a system designed to keep exhaust fumes outside when the trunk lid is up.
Broad Arrow
The result is probably more useful for carrying shorty surfboards than wardrobes, and some might argue it would have looked better with a slightly shorter roof and angled rear window. Another Lagonda S3, converted in the mid 2000s and sold by RM in 2019, took that approach.
Broad Arrow
Broad Arrow will offer up the unique Lagonda at its Zurich Auction in November with the estimate currently standing at CHF 250,000 to CHF 350,000, equivalent to $308,000-431,000. That’s serious money for an old wagon, but looks like bargain territory next to the $1.765 million someone paid for a less rare, but more desirable DB5 Shooting Brake a few years back. You can check out the Broad Arrow auction listing for the Lagonda here.