1966 Aston Martin DB6 4.2-Litre Sports Saloon

Footnotes

'Stage by stage, as the DB has become dominant in the Aston Martin strain, the successive cars have changed their image. Today the aim is to offer the maximum of luxury and refinement as well as the ultimate in road performance. The minor barbarities of so many great sports cars of the past are no longer acceptable – at least in the hand built models now leaving Newport Pagnell. Obviously such a car as the DB6 is expensive and exclusive but the value matches the price.' – Autocar, 1966.

The culmination of Aston Martin's long-running line of 'DB' six-cylinder sports saloons and thus considered by many to be the last 'real' Aston, the DB6 had been introduced in 1965, updating the DB5. Although recognisably related to the Touring-styled DB4 of 1958, the DB6 abandoned the Carrozzeria Touring-developed Superleggera body structure of its predecessors in favour of a conventional steel fabrication while retaining the aluminium outer panels.

Increased rear-seat space was the prime DB6 objective so the wheelbase was now 4" longer than before, resulting in an extensive re-style with more-raked windscreen, raised roofline and reshaped rear quarter windows. Opening front quarter lights made a reappearance but the major change was at the rear where a Kamm-style tail with spoiler improved the aerodynamics, greatly enhancing stability at high speeds. These many dimensional changes were integrated most successfully, the DB6's overall length increasing by only 2". Indeed, but for the distinctive Kamm tail one might easily mistake it for a DB5.
The Tadek Marek-designed six-cylinder engine had been enlarged to 3,995cc for the preceding DB5 and remained unchanged. Power output on triple SU carburettors was 282bhp, rising to 325bhp in Vantage specification, complete with triple Webers. Borg-Warner automatic transmission was offered alongside the standard ZF five-speed gearbox, and for the first time there was optional power-assisted steering.

Its accompanying copy order form records that chassis number '2592/R' was sold new in April 1966 via H W Motors to first owner, Appleby Brothers Ltd of London SW1. The DB6 was delivered finished in Dubonnet with black Connolly leather trim, while non-standard equipment included Borg Warner automatic transmission, chrome road wheels, heated rear screen, 3-ear hubcaps, and a power operated aerial. Factory service work listed includes fitting a new engine in January 1967, the gearbox being exchanged for a manual unit at the same time. The current engine is numbered '400/2942' (original was '400/2605').

Previous registered 'XKF 7' (1990) and then 'REJ 45', the Aston was restored in 1989 via Southern Classics of Chertsey for a Mr M Jones, as evidenced by accompanying bills totalling circa £33,000. There are also bills from Bodylines (dated 1991) to a previous owner, Mr Ransom, for works that included DB6 Mark 2 body modifications, wider wheels, etc (see photographs on file). In 1995 the Aston was fitted with power steering by Archway Engineering, and then in 1998 the interior was re-trimmed by Gary Wright. The re-trim was carried out in light grey Connolly hide (4181) piped with dark blue Connolly hide (perforated on fluted sections) with dark blue Wilton carpets bound in dark blue Ambla. At the same time, the front seats and centre console were remade to the owner's design; a new headlining in off-white PVC installed; and a new sunroof cover in dark blue Everflex fitted.

In 2000, by which time it had been refinished in Winchester Blue, the Aston was purchased by W D Clouston of Northumberland via the renowned marque specialists, R S Williams Ltd. Prior to sale, the cylinder head was converted to unleaded compatibility; the carburettors overhauled; a new fuel pump fitted; new shock absorbers installed; later-specification anti-roll bar and mounts fitted; and sound proofing added behind the door panels. The file contains a full list of all the works carried out at this time by RSW, who continued to maintain the DB6 throughout Mr Clouston's ownership. There are related bills on file totalling £50,000, including one of £14,000 for enlarging the engine to 4.2 litres in 2002.

In 2014 the Aston was acquired by the vendor via RSW and has been maintained by them ever since, the most recent bill on file (for £4,400) being dated October 2017. The car's maintenance history, plus most MoTs dating back to 1989, is contained in a nice RSW green lever-arch file.