1970 Aston Martin DBS V8

The DBS ushered in a whole new look for Aston, its modern lines the work of Englishman William Towns, and the shape and chassis were to prove long-lived, lasting until 1988 and the introduction of the Virage. Designed to replace the DB6, which continued in production through late 1970, the DBS was both longer and wider than its predecessor and was intended to be powered by Tadek Marek's all-new race-bred aluminium, quad-cam 5.3ltr. V-8 but that wasn't ready in time so the DBS entered production with the straight-six from the DB6. The 310bhp V8 was finally ready in 1970, but the 6-cylinder car continued in production in parallel for another couple of years being marketed as an entry-level Aston. With its chic bodywork, opulent interior and Aston Martin cachet, the DBS V8 became Aston Martin's first "Supercar", a term coined by the motoring press in the seventies.

This original UK right-hand drive DBS V8 automatic, chassis #10016/R, left the Newport Pagnell works in 1970 finished in Bahama Yellow with a Saddle Brown interior, similar to the car in the TV series 'The Persuaders', where the Aston Martin DBS driven by Roger Moore had become infamous. The owner prior to our vendor purchased the car in 1975 from a widow in Bradford-on-Avon who preferred a quick sale. A sum was swiftly agreed, which at that time, was the equivalent to the price of a semi-detached house Oxford! In his first 10 years of ownership, the previous keeper covered approximately 8,000 miles before laying the car up around 1987 until May of this year when it was recommissioned before a decision was taken to sell it, which is when our vendor acquired chassis #10016/R.

Some of the work carried out in the late eighties included:

Re-coring the radiator

New stainless steel exhaust

Brake pipes and discs were renewed

Respray in Rolls Royce Cotswold Beige Metallic

Outer left and right-hand sill box sections (waxed internally)

Re-chroming of front and rear bumpers, footstool frame on passenger side & bonnet stay.

This year the car has received a new battery, thermostat top / bottom hoses, petrol filler cap pipes, new ignition coil, 8 plugs, petrol / oil filters and new fluids.

The history file that accompanies this DBS V8 includes a buff log book, the original drivers manual, invoices for parts supplied when the car was recommissioned and some old MoT certificates - the first of which dates back to 1977 when the car had covered 37,053 miles. Given its many years of inactivity, we believe that the current odometer reading of 45,590 miles may well be genuine. Bought with the intention of returning the car back to its original Bahama Yellow (perhaps as a result of the resurgent popularity of 'The Persuaders), a change in direction for our vendor has meant that this car is now available once again. Mechanically sound and with a rust-free body, 'FVG 719J' is the perfect candidate to return back to its former glory.

Supplied with a UK V5c and MoT tested until 11th June '16, these rare DBS V8's, one of 405, (making it rarer than the 1,025 DB5's produced) are now warmly receiving the attention they have for so long deserved and are benefitting from the recent financial inaccessibility of the DB4,5 and 6. This car offers a fabulous opportunity to take on a great winter project ready to show off next summer!