1970 Aston Martin DBS Vantage

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 Italianate 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-type chassis with independent suspension all round: wishbone and coil-spring 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 fitted with the legendary four-litre DB6 engine instead. As with the latter, the twin-cam engine was available in standard or Vantage tune - the former producing 282bhp at 5,500rpm via triple SU carburettors, the latter 325bhp at 5,750rpm with triple Webers and hotter cams.

A five speed ZF gearbox was standard with three-speed automatic transmission optional as was Brico fuel injection. Performance was not quite as rapid as the DB6, the new car carrying extra weight, but the DBS was still no slouch: in its road test of a DBS Vantage, Motor recorded 141mph with 0-60 and 0-l00mph reached in 7.1 and 18.0 seconds respectively.

Production of the DBS stretched between September 1967 and April 1972 during which time only 70 RHD Vantage examples were produced. Continuing Aston's famed 007 connections, the DBS was used by George Lazenby's James Bond in the 1969 film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.

According to a copy of the original factory build sheets, DBS/5662/R was delivered new to Dorking, Surrey with the registration D111 by H.W Motors. The factory guarantee was issued on 14th October 1970. This stunning car had a further 3 keepers in the UK before it was purchased by the vendor three years ago as a rolling project. Over a two year period the car has been rebuilt to a high standard with the suspension, engine and body all being recommissioned by classic car experts in France. Both the engine and original automatic gearbox match the factory build sheets.

Finished in the very same olive green as used by James Bond, this car is being returned to the UK for sale and is supplied with French registration documents. DBS values have been overshadowed by DB4/5/6 prices of late. However, many believe this understated little brother is long overdue an increase in both demand and value. Offered today as it left the factory, Silverstone Auctions are delighted to offer such a rare and interesting Aston Martin.