Lot 116: 1969 Aston Martin DBS Vantage

Although always intended to house the new Tadek Marek-designed V8 engine, the Aston Martin DBS first appeared with the 4.0-litre ‘six’ of the concurrently produced DB6. Styled in-house by Bill Towns, the beautiful DBS caused quite a stir, Autocar magazine observing that, ‘Without the aid of an Italian stylist the Newport Pagnell team came up with something as modern, handsome and Italianate as anything from the Turin coachbuilders at that time.’
Beneath its shapely exterior 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. Larger and more luxuriously appointed than the DB6, the heavier DBS disappointed some by virtue of its slightly reduced performance, but the Vantage version’s top speed of 140mph and a standing quarter-mile time of 16.3 seconds were highly respectable figures nonetheless. Assessing the virtues of Aston’s new flagship, Autocar judged it superior to the preceding DB6 in many areas, the bigger DBS offering four full-sized seats in addition to transformed handling and roadholding courtesy of the new rear suspension and standardised power steering.

Delivered new to Switzerland, this DBS Vantage remained in its second owner’s possession from 1972 until 2004 when it was acquired for Gran Turismo Classic. A left-hand drive model fitted with the desirable ZF five-speed manual gearbox, the car has undergone extensive refurbishment since acquisition, work undertaken in 2005 having included a major service and bare-metal re-spray. More recently, in 2006, it has been updated with a Koni rear shock absorber conversion, while the valve clearances have been adjusted, the carburettors cleaned and reset and the ignition timing adjusted. Finished in blue with matching leather interior, this well cared for DBS Vantage is offered with invoices relating to the aforementioned work totalling in excess of €15,000 together with current Netherlands registration and roadworthiness papers.

Livrée neuve en Suisse, cette DBS Vantage est restée aux mains de son deuxième propriétaire de 1972 à 2004, année de son achat par Gran Turismo Classic. Modèle à conduite à gauche équipé de l'excellente boîte manuelle ZF à cinq rapports, cette voiture a bénéficié d'une remise en état générale depuis son acquisition, les travaux entrepris en 2005 ayant porté sur une révision totale et une peinture complète depuis la tôle nue. Plus récemment, en 2006, elle a été équipée d'un ensemble de conversion des amortisseurs arrière Koni et a bénéficié d'un réglage des jeux de soupapes, d'un nettoyage des carburateurs et d'un réglage de l'allumage. Peinte en bleu avec intérieur cuir assorti, cette superbe DBS Vantage trés entretenue est accompagnée des factures des travaux indiqués précédemment pour un montant de plus de €15 000 ainsi que de ses papiers néerlandais actuels, certificat d'immatriculation et rapport de contrôle technique. Pour les amoureux du modèle, l’exemplaire à acquérir.