Lot 187: Aston Martin DB 6

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. 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. This particular DB6 is an example of the more practical and last of the immortal DB series Astons has been in the current ownership of a leading academic over the last two decades. The car presents in lovely original order throughout and boasts a particularly well-preserved original interior, which does not require any remedial repair work to retain its charming "rolling gentleman's club appearance. Equally, and as one of the premier GT cars of its time, the car retains its original manual transmission. The DB6 was the first Aston Martin to be optionally equipped with automatic, whereas this example still holds the ability to thrill a spirited driver. Purchased by the vendor directly in the UK a number of years ago, this is a very capable and usable example, with the added benefit of being a genuine four-seater. The car still retains its UK V5 registration document, and has seen genuine regular and reliable use in recent times. Questa vettura si presenta in buone condizioni originali, in particolare vanta degli interni eccezionalmente ben conservati, che non richiedono alcun lavoro di riparazione per mantenere il suo aspetto elegante. Altresì conserva la trasmissione manuale originale, quale una delle prime GT della sua epoca. La DB6 fu la prima Aston Martin ad essere equipaggiata con il cambio automatico opzionale, ma questo esemplare invece può fornire al guidatore il piacere della guida sprintosa. Acquistata dall'attuale proprietario direttamente in Gran Bretagna parecchi anni fa, questa automobile è molto maneggevole, con anche il vantaggio di avere quattro posti. La vettura è attualmente offerta con il modello V5 inglese ed è stata usata regolarmente.