Lot 220: 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Saloon

The culmination of Aston Martin’s long-running line of ‘DB’ six-cylinder sports saloons, and thus considered by many to be the last ‘real’ Aston, the DB6 was introduced in 1965, updating the DB5. Although recognisably related to the Touring-styled DB4 of 1958, the DB6 abandoned the Superleggera body structure of its predecessors in favour of a conventional steel fabrication. The wheelbase was now 4” longer than before, resulting in an extensive re-style with more-raked windscreen, raised roofline and reshaped rear quarter windows. Opening front quarter lights made a reappearance, but the major change was at the rear where a Kamm-style tail with spoiler improved the aerodynamics, greatly enhancing stability at high speeds.
‘The tail lip halves the aerodynamic lift around maximum speed and brings in its train greater headroom and more luggage space,’ revealed Motor magazine, concluding that the DB6 was one of the finest sports cars it had tested. ‘The DB6 with its longer wheelbase and better headroom makes an Aston Martin available to the far wider four-seater market, and the design is in every way superior to the previous model. A purist might have though that the longer wheelbase would affect the near-perfect balance of the DB5, but if anything the DB6 is better.’
The Tadek Marek-designed six-cylinder engine had been enlarged to 3,995cc for the preceding DB5 and remained unchanged. Power output on triple SU carburettors was 282bhp, rising to 325bhp in Vantage specification. Borg-Warner automatic transmission was offered alongside the standard ZF five-speed gearbox, and for the first time there was optional power-assisted steering.
A right-hand drive model equipped with the desirable five-speed manual gearbox, DB6 ‘3155/R’ was acquired by the vendor in April 1996, its original engine (’3052’) having already been replaced with the current unit, ‘2327’. Major works undertaken while in the vendor’s care include an ‘unleaded’ cylinder head conversion (by Oselli), a gearbox overhaul (by Andy Chapman) and new clutch (by Rikki Cann), for which invoices are available. Finished in green with black leather interior, the car is offered with old-style logbook, current road fund licence, Swansea V5 registration document and MoT to June 2008.