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Aston Martin DBS V8

Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8
Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8
Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8
Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8Aston Martin DBS V8
Lot number 207
Hammer value £38,000
Description Aston Martin DBS V8
Registration GDD 121K
Year 1971
Colour Metallic Dark Blue
Engine size 5,340 cc
Chassis No. DBSV8/10309/R
Engine No. V/540/276

Introduced at the October 1967 Motor show, the DBS was intended to be the successor to the immortal Aston Martin DB6 although the two ended up running concurrently for three years. 

Styled in-house by William Towns, the aluminium-bodied four-seater had a sharper, more Italianate look than the curvaceous DB6 but still exuded road presence and looks mighty impressive even today. Longer, wider and more luxurious than the DB6, the DBS employed a platform-type chassis with independent suspension all round: wishbone and coils at the front, De Dion and Watts linkage at the rear.

Autocar judged it superior to the preceding DB6 in most areas, offering four full-sized seats in addition to transformed handling and road holding courtesy of the new suspension and standardised power steering.

Originally designed to accept an all-new V8 engine, this was not ready in time for the car's launch so it was initially fitted with the 4-litre straight-six DB6 engine instead. By 1969 the new engine was ready, a 5.3-litre fuel-injected V8 designed by Tadek Marek. It produced between 315bhp and 375bhp (depending on whose figures you believe!), could hit 60mph in 5.9 seconds and had a top speed of 160mph – mighty impressive figures by any standards.

Just 402 cars were built before it was replaced by the V8 model in late 1972. Continuing Aston's famed 007 connections, the DBS was used by George Lazenby's James Bond in the 1969 film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.

Supplied new by HR Owen Ltd in October 1971, this particular DBS V8 Automatic has had just four owners from new and has been in the current ownership for the last 12 years. The vendor believes that the 36,400 miles on the clock is genuine but there is insufficient history to warrant this although the condition of the lovely red leather interior certainly adds weight to this belief.

Photographs in the history file show that the car was completely stripped out in 1999 and treated to a bare metal repaint in the current metallic dark blue, the paint remaining in very presentable condition today. Used in fine weather only, the car has covered some 5,000 miles in the current ownership and has been well maintained throughout that time, primarily by marque specialist Four Ashes of Stratford.

Bills on file show that the gearbox and torque converter were reconditioned in 2001 while the fuel injection system was fully overhauled in 2009 at a cost of some £2,800. A new set of correct Avon tyres have recently been fitted at a cost of some £1,200 and a custom-made stainless steel exhaust system has also been fitted which sounds wonderful.

The car comes with the aforementioned bills and photos, all old MOTs back to 2002, the original owner’s handbook and service book and a period 8-track stereo. Said to drive beautifully, it is due to have a fresh 12 months’ MOT and tax before the sale.

Prices of this most handsome model have been on a steady upwards march in recent years and this cherished example, in a most attractive colour scheme, looks excellent value at the guide price suggested today. Forget the recession, woofling around in this DBS will not only make you feel pretty good about life, it will also cheer up everyone who sees it cruising by.

Please note that the private number plate shown is not included and will be replaced by an age-related number, GDD 121K,  prior to the sale.
 

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