Image: David Brown Lagonda LTD.
The world recently said goodbye to the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Phillip) and payed their respects in a number of ways. From firing cannons in London to laying pretty flowers along pavements, the royal family lost one of its longest-serving members and all over the internet, acknowledgements and tributes have been made.
Intake however, always strives to do things a little differently. And with that in mind, to pay respect to the Duke, here are some the greatest cars he's ever used.
1. Lagonda 3-Litre Drophead
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Equipped with an in-car telephone and even made an appearance at the 1956 Olympic games in Melbourne, Australia, this was the car that put the Aston Martin Lagonda name on the royal map for the years to come.
Equipped with the same W.O Bentley designed straight six engine as the Aston Martin DB2, this luscious convertible produced 140bhp and was expanded from 2.6 to 3 litres for extra torque. The body was made by coachbuilders, Tickford and just 270 were produced in total. That includes all three body variants which included the Prince's convertible, 4-door saloon and 2-door.
The Lagonda was also used by Phillip and Queen Elizabeth to open up the M1 motorway in 1959.
2. Alvis TD21 Drophead
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
This elegant cruiser was ordered by Phillip with a 5-speed ZF manual gearbox (a 3-speed automatic was the other option) alongside the request for a taller windscreen and an electrically-folding roof. Class!
The TD21 - like the other post-war Alvis' - sported a 3.0 litre straight six churning out 115bhp. It could achieve a 0-60 time of 13.5 seconds and go onto a top speed of 104mph.
The body was hand built by Park Ward who were also synonymous with Rolls Royces and Bentleys at the time. Just 285 variants of the Series 2 TD21s were ever made - and that includes both the 2-door saloon and drophead bodies.
3. Ogle Triplex Scimitar GTS
If you glance at this car and think that it's an early Reliant Scimitar with a shooting brake bit added to the back, you'd be correct!
In 1965, the Triplex Glass Company wanted to show off their laminated sundym glass and commissioned British design company, Ogle to create a car for them.
The Scimitar was the base which was extensively modified to create a shooting brake design complete with heat absorbing and curved glass. The car was bought by the Duke who kept it for a couple of years before it was loaned to the Beaulieu Motor Museum.
And because it was 1965, this is pretty much the predecessor to the famous Scimitar GTE!
4. Various Land Rovers
Image: Land Rover Newsroom.
The Duke was a sizable fan of the iconic 4x4s and proceeded to own and drive a fleet of the things. Anything from the classic Series and Defenders to the upmarket Range Rover of the modern era. If you ever saw Prince Phillip on the road, you could guarantee he would be in a Landy of some degree.
One of his personal favourites was the humble Freelander 2 - which made headlines before involving a rather horrific accident in January, 2019.
For as long as the Duke was married to Queen Elizabeth, a good Landy has always been widely favoured in the royal family.
5. Land Rover Defender 130 Hearse
Phillip it seems, was a man who liked to have a plan. So much so, that back in 2003, he collaborated with Land Rover in order to build his own hearse.
It's based on a Defender TD5 130 and upon request, painted in bronze military green as per many Land Rovers used by the armed forces. The Duke oversaw the modifications as it was being built in Land Rover's Solihull factory at the time.
It carried the Duke's body to St George's Chapel on Saturday, 17th April when the car was used for its intended purpose.
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