Aston Martin DBS (1969)

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4.0-Litre Straight-Six Engine Rare and highly collectible, one of just 787 Six-Cylinder DBS models built, approximately 300 examples produced in 1969 Meticulously restored by David Brown Services, a highly regarded specialist with extensive expertise in the Aston Martin DBS, located in IJmuiden, the Netherlands The combination of deep blue exterior paint and light ivory leather creates a restrained and distinctly British sense of luxury that suits the character of the DBS exceptionally well Famously associated with James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) Today, the 1969 DBS is celebrated as the crucial link between Aston Martin’s classic David Brown six-cylinder era and the legendary V8 models of the 1970s and early 1980s Introduced in 1967, the Aston Martin DBS arrived as a bold expression of a changing automotive world. Designed by William Towns, it replaced the graceful curves of the DB6 with a wider, sharper and distinctly more modern silhouette. Early DBS models used the celebrated 4.0-litre DOHC straight-six, available in standard and more desirable Vantage specification. In 1969 the DBS became a cinematic icon in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Just around 787 six-cylinder DBS cars were produced in total, together with approximately 402 DBS V8s. During the 1970s, the DBS evolved into the Aston Martin V8, the model that carried the marque through a turbulent but fascinating decade. ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE This particular car is an early Series I example, built on 27 March 1969 and despatched on 14 April 1969 to H.R. Owen Limited for the British home market. Its accompanying British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate tells that the DBS left the factory finished in Platinum with Blue trim, together with Ambassador Blue carpeting. Factory-fitted equipment included a Borg-Warner automatic gearbox, power steering, Radiomobile radio, Fiamm horns, twin Q1 fog lamps and Avon tyres. The certificate also records its original London registration, AGH 157G. Today, the car presents in a particularly elegant deep Pacific Blue, complemented by a beautifully retrimmed interior in very pale ivory leather with a warm cream or parchment undertone. Depending on the light, the upholstery can appear almost off-white, giving the cabin an exceptionally light and refined character without appearing stark. A charming period detail remains visible inside: an H.R. Owen Ltd. London dealer plaque mounted to the sill, carrying the historic Berkeley Street, Mayfair and Melton Court, Knightsbridge addresses. An interesting chapter in its known history is recorded by the specialist international DBS census, which placed the car in the United States in March 2012. In November 2015 it was acquired from Beverly Hills Car Club in Los Angeles for USD 47,500 and subsequently shipped to the Netherlands. There it became the subject of an extensive restoration, principally undertaken by David Brown Services in IJmuiden, supported by a number of recognised Aston Martin and specialist workshops. The car was completely dismantled, with the aluminium body skin removed from the steel platform chassis so that the structure could be thoroughly inspected. Extensive sections of the chassis and body structure were renewed where necessary, including sills, chassis legs, jacking points, outriggers, floor sections and wheel wells. The drivetrain and running gear were also comprehensively rebuilt, including the engine, rear axle and De Dion differential, suspension, braking system and power steering. During the restoration, the original Borg-Warner automatic transmission was replaced by a Tremec five-speed manual gearbox, supplied as a complete DBS conversion by Steel Wings in the United States. The body was subsequently refinished in Pacific Blue, while the interior was professionally retrimmed in its present cream leather and black carpeting.