Lot 334: 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage 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. Aware that increased headroom and legroom was required to extend the car’s appeal to a wider market, Aston Martin lengthened the wheelbase by 4” and undertook an extensive re-style, incorporating a more-raked windscreen, raised roofline and reshaped rear quarter windows. Although still recognisably related to the original Touring-styled DB4 of 1958, the DB6 abandoned the Superleggera body structure of its predecessors in favour of a conventional steel fabrication. 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 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.
This DB6 Vantage, to manual gearbox specification, was sold new via Broadway Autos of Cricklewood to first owner W Miller & Sons Ltd of London E3 and originally registered ‘LLB 111D’. The accompanying copy build sheet records the original livery as Dubonnet with black leather interior, and lists ‘non-standard’ equipment that included the Vantage engine, chromed wheels, heated rear screen, 3-ear hubcaps, Motorola radio and power-operated aerial. Although the build sheet lists SU carburettors, service records from 1967 suggest that the present Webers were in fact fitted from new. ‘2498/R’ subsequently resided in New Zealand for a time, returning to the UK in 2001 (all duties paid) and is currently privately owned in the Republic of Ireland. Registered ‘66 WW 504’, it is offered from a small but distinguished stable of cars in that country. The Aston comes with copy owner’s handbook and the aforementioned copy build sheets, and will have been driven to the sale from County Wicklow.