Time has been favourable or not?

Author
Discussion

M138

Original Poster:

555 posts

6 months

Sunday 13th July
quotequote all
Got me thinking this week.
That Aston Martin Lagonda to me looked fabulous when it came out but now doesn t appeal to me at all.
I see a TVR Tasmin late 80s convertible this week and thought it looked great but 25 years ago I thought they looked terrible. For the car s benefit it seemed a lot shorter than I remembered back in the day. Time has been good to the Tasmin imho.
Any cars where your opinions on them have changed over the years?

Edited by M138 on Sunday 13th July 06:35

TarquinMX5

2,249 posts

95 months

Sunday 13th July
quotequote all
Which Lagonda are you talking about, I'm guessing the 1970s/80s wedge one?

I always thought that the early 60s Lagonda was an acquired taste, and one that I've yet to acquire, whereas the early 70s Lagonda (DBS-based) was a good looking car. I was never that keen on the the early wedge ones, but the later more rounded ones have 'mellowed' over the years and are now good looking cars, IMHO.

The XJ-S; never much of a fan when they came out, but the early ones now look good, arguably better than the final colour-coded-bumper ones.

Jensen CV-8; I used to think it had very 'challenging' styling, whereas I think they look okay now - I'd like to see one with faired-in headlights to see what difference that made.

E-Type; I used to love the looks whereas now the narrow track seems a bit odd - still a great shape overall but it's lost some appeal (no doubt I'll be flogged for suggesting that).

CanAm

11,299 posts

287 months

Sunday 13th July
quotequote all
TarquinMX5 said:
Which Lagonda are you talking about, I'm guessing the 1970s/80s wedge one?

I always thought that the early 60s Lagonda was an acquired taste, and one that I've yet to acquire, whereas the early 70s Lagonda (DBS-based) was a good looking car. I was never that keen on the the early wedge ones, but the later more rounded ones have 'mellowed' over the years and are now good looking cars, IMHO.

The XJ-S; never much of a fan when they came out, but the early ones now look good, arguably better than the final colour-coded-bumper ones.

Jensen CV-8; I used to think it had very 'challenging' styling, whereas I think they look okay now - I'd like to see one with faired-in headlights to see what difference that made.

E-Type; I used to love the looks whereas now the narrow track seems a bit odd - still a great shape overall but it's lost some appeal (no doubt I'll be flogged for suggesting that).
Eagle E-Types can fix that for you.

But, I sat in a standard coupé last week for the first time, and found it was very tight on headroom with the original fixed back bucket seats, and I'm only 5'11". Legroom wasn't overly generous either. But they still look lovely (with wider wheels!)


Edited by CanAm on Sunday 13th July 21:40

TarquinMX5

2,249 posts

95 months

Sunday 13th July
quotequote all
I agree, some of the Eagle cars look superb smile

Mr Tidy

26,912 posts

142 months

Sunday 13th July
quotequote all
TarquinMX5 said:
Which Lagonda are you talking about, I'm guessing the 1970s/80s wedge one?

I always thought that the early 60s Lagonda was an acquired taste, and one that I've yet to acquire, whereas the early 70s Lagonda (DBS-based) was a good looking car. I was never that keen on the the early wedge ones, but the later more rounded ones have 'mellowed' over the years and are now good looking cars, IMHO.

The XJ-S; never much of a fan when they came out, but the early ones now look good, arguably better than the final colour-coded-bumper ones.

Jensen CV-8; I used to think it had very 'challenging' styling, whereas I think they look okay now - I'd like to see one with faired-in headlights to see what difference that made.

E-Type; I used to love the looks whereas now the narrow track seems a bit odd - still a great shape overall but it's lost some appeal (no doubt I'll be flogged for suggesting that).
Wow I'm exactly the same, except I've always liked the 60s Lagonda Rapide.

Although while I've grown to like the XJS, I still think an XK8 looks much better!

Kuwahara

1,248 posts

33 months

Sunday 13th July
quotequote all
First generation Cayenne, fugly and ungainly at launch but now seems weirdly attractive but still kinda ugly…

Puzzles

2,910 posts

126 months

Sunday 13th July
quotequote all
The bmw Z4, I think it got better with age.

coppice

9,228 posts

159 months

Monday 14th July
quotequote all
I saw my first 911s in the late sixties . They looked rater staid after the swoopy glamour of E-Types and DB5s . And now ? The E-Type looks increasingly daft , with its narrow track and absurdly phallic bonnet, and any glamour the DB5 had (and it had plenty ) has been devalued by the endlessly tiresome 007 connection .

And an early 911 now looks simply wonderful. It has a purity of line I never appreciated in period .

Mr Tidy

26,912 posts

142 months

Monday 14th July
quotequote all
coppice said:
And an early 911 now looks simply wonderful. It has a purity of line I never appreciated in period .
Especially when parked next to a new one!

M138

Original Poster:

555 posts

6 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
coppice said:
I saw my first 911s in the late sixties . They looked rater staid after the swoopy glamour of E-Types and DB5s . And now ? The E-Type looks increasingly daft , with its narrow track and absurdly phallic bonnet, and any glamour the DB5 had (and it had plenty ) has been devalued by the endlessly tiresome 007 connection .

And an early 911 now looks simply wonderful. It has a purity of line I never appreciated in period .
I think the old 911s look too small now, bit like TR6s when I see one now.
Both great cars nonetheless.

M138

Original Poster:

555 posts

6 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
TarquinMX5 said:
Which Lagonda are you talking about, I'm guessing the 1970s/80s wedge one?

I always thought that the early 60s Lagonda was an acquired taste, and one that I've yet to acquire, whereas the early 70s Lagonda (DBS-based) was a good looking car. I was never that keen on the the early wedge ones, but the later more rounded ones have 'mellowed' over the years and are now good looking cars, IMHO.

The XJ-S; never much of a fan when they came out, but the early ones now look good, arguably better than the final colour-coded-bumper ones.

Jensen CV-8; I used to think it had very 'challenging' styling, whereas I think they look okay now - I'd like to see one with faired-in headlights to see what difference that made.

E-Type; I used to love the looks whereas now the narrow track seems a bit odd - still a great shape overall but it's lost some appeal (no doubt I'll be flogged for suggesting that).
Yeah the 70/80s wedge ones.
I’m with you on the XJ-S, time has been good to them. Some of the sporty Jags made in recent times they really have got the styling right. The XKR and the F-type being a case in point.

vpr

3,850 posts

253 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
CanAm said:
TarquinMX5 said:
Which Lagonda are you talking about, I'm guessing the 1970s/80s wedge one?

I always thought that the early 60s Lagonda was an acquired taste, and one that I've yet to acquire, whereas the early 70s Lagonda (DBS-based) was a good looking car. I was never that keen on the the early wedge ones, but the later more rounded ones have 'mellowed' over the years and are now good looking cars, IMHO.

The XJ-S; never much of a fan when they came out, but the early ones now look good, arguably better than the final colour-coded-bumper ones.

Jensen CV-8; I used to think it had very 'challenging' styling, whereas I think they look okay now - I'd like to see one with faired-in headlights to see what difference that made.

E-Type; I used to love the looks whereas now the narrow track seems a bit odd - still a great shape overall but it's lost some appeal (no doubt I'll be flogged for suggesting that).
Eagle E-Types can fix that for you.

But, I sat in a standard coupé last week for the first time, and found it was very tight on headroom with the original fixed back bucket seats, and I'm only 5'11". Legroom wasn't overly generous either. But they still look lovely (with wider wheels!)


Edited by CanAm on Sunday 13th July 21:40
Conversely I loved the Eagle Etype when launched but now find it a bit offensive.

In period it was always the S3 V12 Etype for me as the S1 looked under-wheeled. Nowadays I m not so keen on the S3 but adore the S1 look with the wheels tucked in.

XJS, yes, think they look very cool today, cat-like in the rear view mirror with ovalish headlights. Never liked the car in the day, probably because it was no replacement for the E

I’m 6.2” and no issue with headroom in a Coupe. What you find is that if a car has been re trimmed that they use the wrong foam and they’re overly plumped or they don’t sink to the original spec.

Edited by vpr on Tuesday 15th July 08:32

Lotobear

7,986 posts

143 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
coppice said:
I saw my first 911s in the late sixties . They looked rater staid after the swoopy glamour of E-Types and DB5s . And now ? The E-Type looks increasingly daft , with its narrow track and absurdly phallic bonnet, and any glamour the DB5 had (and it had plenty ) has been devalued by the endlessly tiresome 007 connection .

And an early 911 now looks simply wonderful. It has a purity of line I never appreciated in period .
....it's 'purity' of line was unfortunately not followed by purity of engineering

coppice

9,228 posts

159 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
Well , the flat six configuration seemd to have worked out welll. What's up with them ?

Lotobear

7,986 posts

143 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
coppice said:
Well , the flat six configuration seemd to have worked out welll. What's up with them ?
Apart from the engine hanging out the back resulting in the dreaded pendulum effect and the pitter patter of an overly light front end not much really. Decades of perseverence and teutonic determination and a stubborn refusal to be wrong eventually got things under control but I would submit the fundamental concept was wrong from an engineering point of view - great for a cheap peoples car but did not translate well into a sports car (IMO)


CanAm

11,299 posts

287 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
vpr said:
Conversely I loved the Eagle Etype when launched but now find it a bit offensive.
>
>
>
How can you not love this?


coppice

9,228 posts

159 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
Lotobear said:
Apart from the engine hanging out the back resulting in the dreaded pendulum effect and the pitter patter of an overly light front end not much really. Decades of perseverence and teutonic determination and a stubborn refusal to be wrong eventually got things under control but I would submit the fundamental concept was wrong from an engineering point of view - great for a cheap peoples car but did not translate well into a sports car (IMO)
Yes, rubbish . Amazing that sundry derivations won Le Mans , Monte Carlo rally , Paris Dakar , Targa Florio and so much more besides . .

lowdrag

13,107 posts

228 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
For many years I wrote a column about Jaguar auction prices and they have certainly changed, far more so in Europe than in the USA. As regards Eagle E-types, one was sold in May for over £160,000, but the most expensive would be the original 12 lightweights or the early outside-lock cars, of which only four were made in RHD form. They fetch around £1 million still. In the USA the LHD FHC cars, only twenty being made, make around $600,000 too.But any1961 LHD roadster will probably top $100,000 0ver there. The least valuable E-type will be an imported LHD car converted to RHD, a 2+2 coupé, and auto to boot. £30,000 is the base line there. I still have mine, a 1961 RHD roadster, owned for more than forty years but that has plummeted since 2017 when a top car was fetching over £200,000. I'd probably expest about £100,000 now. But then it isn't for sale and probably will only be sold after I have turned my toes

up

williamp

19,831 posts

288 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
Is the DB7 still one of the most beautiful cars ever??

Lotobear

7,986 posts

143 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
coppice said:
Lotobear said:
Apart from the engine hanging out the back resulting in the dreaded pendulum effect and the pitter patter of an overly light front end not much really. Decades of perseverence and teutonic determination and a stubborn refusal to be wrong eventually got things under control but I would submit the fundamental concept was wrong from an engineering point of view - great for a cheap peoples car but did not translate well into a sports car (IMO)
Yes, rubbish . Amazing that sundry derivations won Le Mans , Monte Carlo rally , Paris Dakar , Targa Florio and so much more besides . .
The same could also be said for many prosaic cars, my point was in relation to the concept. That it won some competitions does not alter the fact that the design/layout is at best 'odd' in engineering terms. I actually like 911's - they are testament to the sheer determination and endeavour/bloody mindedness of a manufacturer to make something work in the face of certain immutable facts - a very German approach.