Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today

The Aston Martin Lagonda is easily one of the most iconic luxury cars ever made, but it's also one of the most unusual.

The Aston Martin Lagonda is a truly iconic luxury car...and possibly not for all the right reasons. At the time of its 1976 launch, the car represented a massive departure from Aston Martin's traditional offering. The Lagonda was vast, powerful, and notably came with four doors.

While the car failed to meet Aston Martin's expectations, the was still a lot to like about the Lagonda. From high levels of technical advancement, a hand-built engine, and a luxurious interior. Here are five things we like and five reasons we wouldn't buy one.

Related: 10 Things Gearheads Forgot About The Aston Martin V8 Vantage

One of the greatest aspects of any Aston Martin is undoubtedly the engine. The Lagonda is fitted out with a hand-built 5.3-liter V8, the same as could be found in the V8 Vantage.

The unit output 280 hp, meaning it could propel itself from 0-60 mph in just 7.9 seconds, given the size and scale of the car, this is pretty impressive. The Lagonda will run all the way up to 148 mph before it runs out of steam.

The downside of having that hand-built V8 lump up front is the woeful fuel economy. Given the Lagonda is such a large car, it is not surprising the economy figures can't compete with an econobox, however, it returns fewer MPG than you could even imagine.

Mated to a 3-speed automatic gearbox, the V8 can propel the Lagona for just 8 miles of combined usage from a gallon of fuel. Venture into the city, and this drops further still to just 7 MPG, and on the highway, the situation is not much better at just 9 MPG. Returning single-figure MPG readings means the Lagonda is simply too thirsty for the average classic collector to run, especially given today's gas prices.

At the time of the Lagonda's 1976 launch, there was very little on the market which could even come close to offering the same level of technological advancement.

In fact, the car was the first to feature a digital dashboard. At the time of production, computers and digital displays were completely new to most of the world's population, and it was a truly revolutionary feature that we take for granted these days. The green backlit display has a real retro look, and providing it is still functioning, would give drivers today a truly nostalgic driving experience.

One of the biggest electrical concerns associated with the Lagonda relates to that iconic instrument panel. Just like any electrical or technical equipment of the period, it is vulnerable to malfunction. The car was fitted out with either a CRT or LCD screen, depending on the time of manufacture.

Regardless of the screen type, parts can be hard to come by these days and are often prohibitively expensive if they are available. Couple this with the cost of finding and using the services of a specialized skilled technician, and it is clear that should an issue arise, your wallet will be drained fast.

Related: Aston Martin Rapide: Costs, Facts, And Figures

The Lagonda marked a shift change in Aston Martin's brand direction. Before the launch of the car, Aston was synonymous with luxurious sports and GT cars, which would seat 2 or 2+2.

The Lagonda offered buyers the prospect of a four-door saloon, combining luxury with performance and the ability to carry passengers. In many ways, the car was ahead of its time, and Aston has only recently revived the four-door configuration with the 2010 release of the Rapide sports saloon.

Rust is a common and hated enemy of the majority of cars from this period. The Lagonda is no exception, and the car's sills are especially susceptible, given their proximity to the road and associated water and salt

The rust can spread to other areas of the car, resulting in even more repairs being required. For this reason, it would be money well spent to get a specialist to inspect any potential purchase, to avoid being bitten later on.

During the car's 12-year production run, only 645 examples were built. The car has always been exclusive, and these days it is rarer still.

The car can still be picked up at a fairly accessible price today, with Hagerty indicating a 1979 example in good condition being worth $48,400. This figure has risen 10% over the last 12 months, so could be a good place to invest some cash, or at least enjoy the car without taking a hit.

On the whole, the Aston Martin Lagonda's 5.3-liter hand-built engine should be fairly hassle-free. If there are suspicions the engine has been neglected, however, primarily through infrequent servicing, you might want to seek another example.

The engine block is lined by steel liners, and should these come loose, a costly rebuild is on the cards. Head gasket failure is another concern, and if anti-freeze levels have not been maintained correctly issues can arise.

There is never going to be agreement found on the styling, the vast wedge-shaped car has been controversial since day one.

The looks are an instant talking point, and now that time has elapsed, the car should really be celebrated for its bold, mold-breaking design. Few cars will turn as many heads as the Lagonda, even today, and for this reason, we should all embrace Aston Martin's 1970s vision.

Related: Here How The Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster Is A Stylish Thrilling Roofless Monster

The large and imposing wedge design of the Lagonda required bespoke engineering just to support itself. To achieve the look, the car is composed of a steel sub-frame that is clad in aluminum exterior panels.

One of the downsides of aluminum is that the bodywork can be vulnerable to easy denting. Another more serious issue is that corrosion can occur between the panels. This is a fairly common problem in many examples; however, should this be extensive, the headaches will begin.

Benjamin has always had an interest in all things automotive. He is a keen follower of Formula One, and is particularly enjoying watching the rise of George Russell and Lando Norris. He is most knowledgeable about modern cars, but is learning more and more about classics. Currently based just North of London.