1967 Aston Martin DB6

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Chassis DB6/3280/R was completed on November 24th 1967 and finished in the elegant combination of Platinum Silver with a Black leather interior. The car was dispatched to Callanders Garages Ltd of Glasgow a few days later, and records show it made several trips back to Newport Pagnell for servicing through the 1970s, and at some point the DB6 was repainted in White.

After spending several decades in Japan, it was returned to the UK in 2016, and while complete, was in need of restoration. The car was entrusted to Aston Martin specialist restorer Richards of England for an extensive 2,500-hour “body-off” restoration, which was carried out between 2018 and 2020. The work transformed the DB6 into a car of unparalleled quality. Much of the restoration was carried out in-house, but specialists Bodylines were called upon to craft two new aluminium door skins and fabricate a replacement nose section using traditional techniques.

The original engine, numbered 400/3360, was overhauled and upgraded to 4.2-litre ‘Vantage’ specification, complete with revised camshaft profiles and triple Weber carburettors. The axle was fitted with a limited-slip differential and a Harvey Bailey handling kit was installed along with telescopic rear shock absorbers. Notably, the restoration of DB6/3280/R was carefully documented with photographs chronicling every step of the process.

The current owner, having acquired the car in November 2020, undertook a detailed shakedown and continued to refine this exceptional car. As part of this process he decided to reinstalled the original ‘Selectaride’ rear shock absorbers, though the brackets for the telescopic shocks were left intact should a future owner wish to use them.

With just under 900 miles since its restoration, this DB6 remains in excellent condition and ready to be enjoyed, with the car’s exterior remaining stunning, with the gleaming Platinum Silver paint contrasting beautifully with the striking Red Connolly leather interior.

This DB6 is now offered for sale with its V5C Registration Document, Heritage Certificate, history file, Lake & Elliot ‘Millennium’ jack, and a leatherbound book documenting the restoration.

MODEL HISTORY  

The DB6 was the ultimate development of a bloodline that, for many enthusiasts, still defines the classic Aston Martin. Although it retained the basic Touring styling of its DB4 and DB5predecessors, the DB6 was a more practical car that featured an extended wheelbase and a higher roofline in order to provide more room in the rear.

It also introduced a redesigned rear end, with a Kamm-style ‘cut off’ and a spoiler that reduced lift and gave the DB6 a link to Aston Martin’s Project 215 racer.

The Tadek Marek-designed, 3995cc straight-six engine was offered in either triple-SU specification or as the triple-Weber Vantage. A Powr-Lok limited-slip differential, chrome wire wheels and automatic transmission were offered as no-cost options. 

Beneath the skin, there was rack-and-pinion steering and independent front suspension, with a live rear axle and Watt linkage. Girling disc brakes were fitted all round, and a five-speed manual gearbox was standard fitment. 

The DB6 was launched at the 1965 London Motor Show and was offered in both coupé and open-top Volante forms. Motor magazine began its road test of a Vantage model by stating that it was ‘superior in every way’ to its predecessor and that, in terms of its handling, ‘the Aston is in a strong position to say to 99 per cent of production cars, “anything you can do, I can do better”.’

John Bolster wrote in Autosport that he was ‘astonished by its flexibility’ and added that ‘it will idle through traffic like a dowager’s limousine and will accelerate on a high gear in a manner which is rare even among the biggest V8 power units.’

A Mk2 version was introduced in 1969 – with wider wheels and optional fuel injection – and the model remained in production until late the following year before finally being discontinued.