Lot 247: 1966 Aston Martin DB6 MK I Vantage

The DB6 marked Aston Martin's first real departure in body shape from a design that appeared as the DB4 in 1958. The DB5 that followed was a truly beautiful car with impressive performance, but Aston Martin felt that a wider market required increased front and rear leg room, always a criticism of the DB4/DB5. In order to achieve this the platform chassis was lengthened, increasing wheelbase by almost four inches. Like the DB4/DB5, the DB6 used the Superleggera method of construction by Touring of Milan whereby aluminium body panels were attached to a lightweight steel tube frame, but the DB6's extended rear necessitated a more rigid design using folding sheet metal frames. Thanks to these changes, the DB6 was the most refined and luxurious of this line. Power was provided by the DB5's 3,995cc twin overhead camshaft, straight six engine developing 282bhp at 5,550rpm; transmission remained a ZF five speed. Suspension was also the same as for the DB5, i.e. independent at the front via coil spring and wishbone, with a live coil sprung rear axle located by Watt linkage and parallel trailing arms. Brakes were servo-assisted discs all round. However in Vantage specification a revised head, increased compression ratio and triple Weber 45 DCOE carburettors raised power to 325bhp at 5750rpm from the standard 282bhp. This endowed the Vantage with prodigious performance; The Motor recorded a 0-60mph time of just 6.1 seconds and a maximum speed of 148mph, the fastest of any British production car at the time.The car on offer today has the desirable Vantage specification, fitted with manual gearbox and is described by the vendor as being in excellent condition. It has had only three owners from new, covered only 46,700 miles, and has not changed hands in the last 18 years. The red leather interior is original, and is reported to be in excellent condition. The car was stored in dry ventilated conditions for 12 years from 1990 until 2003, and has subsequently had a bare metal respray in silver birch and an extensive mechanical overhaul carried out between 2003-2005. Chassis and box sections have also been wax oiled and the car is completely rust free. The car has a current MoT valid until January 2006 and comes complete with invoices for spares and recent work as well as old MoT's. Here is an opportunity to acquire an Aston from the classic DB series which is both beautiful and entirely usable.