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Aston Martin - Aston Martin DBS V6 LHD

Aston Martin
Aston Martin DBS V6 LHD
1969
Verkocht - Sold - Verkauft
Margin
Silver Birch with a blue leather interior
3995cc DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine, automatic gearbox
282 bhp

Aston Martin DBS (1969)
Rare LHD model (1 of 181)

  • Rare factory delivered left hand drive example with automatic transmission and air conditioning. (1 of only 181 produced)
  • The last Aston Martin under Sir David Brown's leadership.

Aston Martin is one of the most famous marques in auto history. It was founded by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin in 1913 but got real famous when tractor maker David Brown bought the company. During David Brown’s tenure, the company created some of its most famous models, all bearing his initials, starting with the DB2 and culminating with the fabulous DBS.

Aston Martin’s fame was only further heightened by the adoption of the marque into the James Bond movie franchise, which gave the initials 'DB', instant, worldwide recognition. First with Sean Connery's stint as Britain's favorite spy, driving a wonderfully modified DB5, bristling with weapons and gadgets and then in 1969, with the only one-time Bond actor, George Lazenby, for Bond's sixth outing in ‘On Her Majesty's Secret Service’, driving the latest offering from Aston Martin, the DBS. In the Bond film ‘Diamonds are Forever’ a DBS sits in Q's famous workshop getting prepared for action.

The Aston Martin DBS was introduced in 1967, the new DBS was the successor to the DB6 – it represented a new, very modern look for Aston Martin. The William Towns-designed DBS created quite a stir, as it represented such a radical departure from the familiar Touring bodied Astons that had been in production since 1958. The interior was as usual luxuriously appointed with the finest Connolly hides available in best Aston Martin fashion. A superb expression of the automotive design off its era, the Aston Martin DBS has become an icon of the marque, and also marks the last model produced under Sir David Brown's leadership at Aston Martin.

Robert Bamford
It is interesting to see which names were destined to endure through time and which were not. Who was Robert Bamford, for example? A very fair question, as his name seems to ring no particular bells with most people and he died in relative obscurity in 1942, at the age of 59. He was however, the founding half of one of the most famous marques in history. He started a business selling Singer motorcars in 1912.

His business partner in this venture, was a keen motorcar racer, who particularly favoured the small Aston Hill track in Buckinghamshire, just west of London. His name was Lionel Martin and when the pair decided to start building their own cars the following year, for some reason, they settled on the name Aston Martin, thereby consigning poor Bamford to the list of history's great unknowns (he actually left the company altogether in 1922, four years prior to its second bankruptcy, at which time, Martin left too). However, the company they founded survived a string of financial misfortunes to become the legend that it is today.

David Brown
One person's name (or more specifically, his initials) that has certainly left an indelible mark on automotive history, is David Brown. He was a tractor maker (much like one of his competitors, Ferrucio Lamborghini) who made his fortune selling tractors during the Second World War. In 1947, he responded to a classified ad in the back of the London Times that offered a 'High Class Motor Business' for sale, which he ultimately acquired, for 20,500 Pounds Sterling. This of course, turned out to be Aston Martin, the company he spearheaded until 1972. During his tenure, the company created some of its most famous models, all bearing his initials, starting with the DB2 and culminating with the fabulous DBS (he sold the company in 1972 and consequently, the DBS is the last true 'DB' Aston ever made), thus ensuring his place on the roster of famous names.

James Bond 007
This fame was only further heightened by the adoption of the marque into the James Bond movie franchise, which gave the initials 'DB', instant, worldwide recognition. First with Sean Connery's stint as Britain's favourite spy, driving a wonderfully modified DB5, bristling with weapons & gadgets and then in 1969, with the only one-time Bond actor, George Lazenby, for Bond's sixth outing in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, driving the latest offering from Aston Martin, the DBS. Interestingly enough, it was not only Lazenby's first (and only) appearance as 007, but also the first (and only) time that Bond ever gets married (albeit for a very short time, as his new bride, played by Diana Rigg of Avengers fame, is fatally shot as they drive away from their wedding ceremony in the DBS).

Aston Martin DBS
The Aston Martin DBS Introduced in 1967, the new DBS was the successor to the DB6 – it represented a new, very modern look for Aston Martin. Styled in-house by William 'Bill' Towns, the beautiful DBS caused quite a stir, Autocar magazine observing that: "Without the aid of an Italian stylist the Newport Pagnell team came up with something as modern, handsome and Italianate as anything from the Turin coachbuilders at that time."

The DBS was intended as the successor to the Aston Martin DB6, although the two ran concurrently for three years. Powered by a straight-six engine, it was produced from 1967 until 1972, eventually being phased out in favour of the Aston Martin V8. It was a larger coupé than the DB6, with four full sized seats, but was powered by the same 4.0 L engine as the previous car. Claimed engine output was 282 bhp.

The DBS was intended to have a more "modern" look than the previous series of Aston models (the DB4 through DB6), and it incorporated a fastback style rear end and squared off front grille, atypical of Astons at the time, but very much then in vogue in automotive design circles of the late sixties. Trademark Aston design features, such as a bonnet scoop, knock off wire wheels, and side air vents with stainless steel brightwork were however retained.

The DBS was wider and had a lower profile than its predecessor, giving a more aggressive look and offering more cabin space. The engine was placed further back in the chassis, behind the front axle, resulting in an almost 50/50 weight ratio. Using a de Dion rear axle, the DBS exhibited excellent handling characteristics.

Of the Aston Martin DBS only 787 units were produced, 181 LHD models and 606 RHD models.