1968 Aston Martin DB6

Details

Aston Martin has produced bespoke sports cars for over 100 years. The company began in 1913, when founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford realised their desire to build distinctive, high quality sports cars that were both exhilarating to drive and a beauty to behold. Martin regularly competed in hill climb races at Aston Clinton, and a simple combination of the name of the event and the driver gave birth to one of the most famous automotive marques. Source: www.astonmartin.com

Whilst Aston Martin produced some wonderful cars in their early years business was always a struggle and the company was severely disrupted during both World War I and II. The company went bankrupt on more than one occasion and has endured many different owners throughout its history.

David Brown acquired Aston Martin in February 1947 and the first car produced during his ownership was the Aston Martin 2 Litre Sports, later known as the DB1, which was built in extremely limited numbers from 1948 to 1950. This was succeeded by the Aston Martin DB2 in 1950, which featured a new double overhead cam straight six engine of 2.6 litre (2580 cc) capacity, and was a car that really put post war Aston Martin on the map. The David Brown era was arguably Aston Martin’s finest with the company winning LeMans in 1959 and the sixties producing the legendary DB4, DB5 and DB6 models.

Aston Martin launched the DB6 at the 1965 London Motor Show. This was the final evolution of the DB4 based models and it was effectively built on a lengthened DB5 chassis to ensure the car could seat four adults. Externally the front of the DB6 is similar to its predecessors, however, in profile and from the rear the car is easily identifiable by way of its spoiler and Kamm tail. Mechanically the DB6 is similar to the DB5.

The February 2012 issue of Octane magazine ran a feature article on the Aston Martin DB6. To quote Keith Adams:

” . . . the DB6 is the best, most complete all round DB4 based model of them all. And right now, thanks to the vagaries of fashion and logic, it’s also the most attainable. How long can this situation remain?”

” . . . the DB6, the end of its line and the most evolved version, really ought to be the most desirable of them all. That it also offers potentially the greatest scope for investment makes one seem like an irresistible proposition.”

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1967 Aston Martin DB6 MkI. This factory right hand drive example was delivered new into the UK and sold through HR Owen in London to its first owner in Aberdeen, Scotland. The car was first registered as SAA 336G on the 27^th September 1968.

The Heritage Certificate on file confirms the car has a build date of the 23^rd August 1968 and it was originally silver birch with a black interior, as the car is finished today. This DB6 retains its original ‘matching numbers’ engine and it was fitted with power steering from new.

The car has a thick and extensive history file with old MOT’s dating back to 1982, service records back to 1990 as well as other documentation. The V5 on file confirms the car had only four owners throughout its life whilst in the UK.

This car came from the long term ownership of David J Bateman from Bembridge on the Isle of Wight in the UK, from where it was acquired in early 2007 by The Classic Throttle Shop and imported into Australia. Bateman acquired the car from JR Etheridge Ltd (Aston Martin and Ferrari specialists) in Watford in November 1990.

When the car arrived into Australia it was a very original example in excellent mechanical condition. The Throttle Shop had the car repainted and retrimmed and it was then offered for sale. The car’s current and only Australian owner acquired the DB6 from the Throttle Shop on the 17^th December 2007. It joined an interesting collection of cars based in Brisbane. The car was regularly used and well maintained by its passionate and enthusiastic owner. In 2016 the owner and his car collection relocated to Tasmania. The Apple Isle is a fantastic place to enjoy a classic car and the DB6 is right in its element cruising the ‘very English’ country roads.

In the last two years the following work has been done to the car: the SU carburettors have been rebuilt, all of the hoses have been replaced, a new fuel pump fitted, the car was tuned, the suspension has been rebuilt and upgraded with stiffer springs to improve handling, the brakes have been overhauled and rebuilt, a new stainless steel exhaust has been fitted, new Dayton wire wheels have been fitted and a new Moto-Lita steering wheel fitted (the original steering wheel will accompany the car). 

Today this Aston Martin DB6 can only be described as an absolutely stunning example of the marque. The silver birch paint work is in excellent condition all round as is all of the external trim, chrome and glass. Inside the cabin everything is also stunning. The black leather trim remains like new and all of the instruments and controls are in similar condition. The engine bay is also immaculate.

As with all DB6’s to start the car when cold you need full choke and a few pumps on the accelerator pedal. Then on the turn of the key the 3996cc 6 cylinder engine bursts to life. Once warm it’s all systems go! What’s immediately apparent is how tight this particular car is on the road. The car handles superbly and there are no rattles or squeaks at all. Everything works as it should, including the ride adjust control.

This DB6 has power steering and a sun roof. The car was originally fitted with an automatic gearbox, however, at some stage prior to arriving in Australia it has had a manual ZF gearbox fitted.

Today the odometer reads 19221 miles. The car has travelled just over 7000 miles in the current owner’s tenure of eleven years.

There is also an original and hard to find owner’s manual that will accompany the car.

In summary, this Aston Martin DB6 would have to be one of the best presented and driving examples in the country. It is just a STUNNING car and it would be hard to find better.

The car is currently on historic registration in Tasmania, which is not transferable. Therefore the car will be sold unregistered.

 

 

 

 

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