Aston Martin DBS Automatic

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Introduced at the October 1967 Motor Show, the DBS was the successor to the famed Aston Martin DB6, although the two ran 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 class and sheer road presence.

Longer, wider and more luxurious than the DB6, the DBS employed a platform-type chassis with independent suspension all round: wishbone and coil-spring at the front, De Dion with Watts linkage at the rear. Autocar judged it superior to the preceding DB6 in many areas, offering four full-sized seats in addition to transformed handling and roadholding 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 fitted with the superb four-litre DB6 engine instead. As with the latter, the twin-cam engine was available in standard or Vantage tune - the former producing 282bhp at 5,500rpm via triple SU carburettors, the latter 325bhp at 5,750rpm with triple Webers and hotter cams.

A five-speed ZF gearbox was standard with three-speed automatic transmission optional as was Brico fuel injection. Performance was not quite as rapid as the DB6, the new car carrying extra weight, but the DBS was still no slouch: in its road test of a DBS Vantage, Motor recorded 141mph with 0-60 and 0–l00mph reached in 7.1 and 18.0 seconds respectively.

Production of the DBS stretched between September 1967 and April 1972 during which time just 787 examples were made, making it much rarer than the DB6 (of which 1,967 were produced). 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'. However, prices are nowhere near as stratospheric as the DB6 (yet) and these quick and handsome cars look excellent value today.

First registered in February 1969, this DBS Automatic has had just four owners from new and has been in the current ownership for 37 years. It was first owned by a Peter Rudd of Bristol who sold it to Philippos Catering Co of the same city in June 1977. In April 1978 it was acquired by the well-known dealer Nigel Dawes of Birstmorton Court, Worcestershire, from whom the current owner acquired it in August 1978.

As a copy invoice on file confirms, in June 1978 at 77,743 miles the car was substantially overhauled by Holders of Congresbury Ltd, Bristol, including a full engine and gearbox rebuild. When advertised by Nigel Dawes in July 1978, the car was described as follows: “Pearl Oyster with Blue interior; automatic; chrome wire wheels; power steering; Sundym glass; total engine and gearbox rebuild just completed, requires running in; mileage 74,314 believed genuine but not guaranteed; the whole car is in immaculate condition throughout; a very fine example of a beautiful car. Price £4,300.” (The stated mileage was clearly a mistake as an old MOT from 11th July 1978 states the mileage as 77,743 as does the June 1978 invoice from Holders for the engine rebuild).

The owner used the car only very lightly over the next nine years, covering just 3,750 miles before he fell ill in 1987 and the car was put into storage where it has remained ever since. The current indicated mileage is 81,493. Although the paintwork is now very faded, the car still looks remarkably sound and straight and the blue leather interior is in very good condition and should respond well to a thorough clean. The car has not been started for 28 years so the mechanical condition is unknown.

Supplied with the aforementioned invoices and MOT plus some interesting correspondence between the owner and Nigel Dawes, it also comes with a very nice single digit number plate, YHW 3, which is transferable. Being offered here from a deceased estate, this desirable Aston Martin should amply reward the restoration work now required to return it to the road.

 PS: The engine number matches the number on the chassis plate (see last photo above).