1968 Aston Martin DBS

• Very early, UK-supplied, right-hand drive, six-cylinder DBS with the 5-speed manual transmission
• Tastefully finished with Olive Green paintwork, Fawn Connolly leather seating and matching Woburn Sand carpets
• Comprehensive history folder including invoices for recent recommissioning, Heritage Trust Certificate and a 2017 insurance valuation for ú175,000
• A lovely, matching numbers example, recommissioned and performing well

Introduced at the October 1967 Motor Show, the DBS was the successor to the famed Aston Martin DB6, although the two ran concurrently for three years. Styled in-house by William Towns, the aluminium-bodied four-seater had a sharper, more Italian look than the curvaceous DB6, but still exuded road presence and looks mighty impressive even today. Longer, wider and more luxurious than the DB6, the DBS employed a platform chassis with independent suspension all round: wishbone and coil springs at the front, De Dion with Watts linkage at the rear. Autocar judged it superior to the preceding DB6 in many areas, offering four full-sized seats in addition to transformed handling and road holding courtesy of the new suspension and standardised power steering. Originally designed to accept an all-new V8 engine, this was not ready in time for the car's launch, so it was initially fitted with the legendary four-litre twin-cam DB6 engine producing 282bhp at 5,500rpm through triple SU carburettors. A total of just 787 DBS' rolled off the production line from 1967-1972. Although less well known as such than the earlier DB-Series, the DBS is yet another James Bond Aston Martin, having featured in the 1969 motion picture, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, starring George Lazenby as the eponymous secret agent.

First registered on 12/06/1968, this lovely home market, early Aston Martin DBS had been tastefully specified with Goodwood Green paintwork and contrasting Fawn Connolly leather interior. It was fitted with the standard 4-litre Six fuelled through triple SU HD8 carburettors and specified with the 5-speed ZF transmission. The Heritage Certificate included in the history folder lists optional extras including Motorola radio, Avon tyres and Woburn Sand carpet. Our vendor is an Aston Martin enthusiast and informs us that this example remains 'numbers-matching' and wears an unusual factory fitted DBS badge on the rear. The owner prior to our vendor kept this car for 40 years and, after a period of dry storage, the decision was taken to recommission the car and refinish the exterior in AM Olive Green. The interior appears original and presents very well with a lovely patina.

Accompanying chassis number 40 is a history folder containing the current V5c, a copy of the original build sheet, its Heritage Certificate and an insurance valuation dated 2017 from a highly regarded marque specialist stating that