1969 Aston Martin DBS Vantage

Description

Rare Vantage six-cylinder model, one of only 78 made; 5-speed manual; three owners from new, the current since 2004; kept garaged and used sparingly; matching numbers; forced sale at a very tempting guide price... 

Launched in September 1967, the Aston Martin DBS was the successor to the DB6 and had sharp, Italianate styling by William Towns. Aluminium-bodied, it had independent suspension all round: wishbones and coil springs at the front, De Dion axle with Watts linkage at the rear. Autocar judged it superior to the DB6 in many respects, offering four full-sized seats in addition to improved handling and roadholding courtesy of the new suspension and standardised power steering.

Originally designed to accept an all-new V8 engine, this was plagued with reliability issues so the DBS was initially fitted with the 4.0 straight-six from the DB6. This was available in Standard or Vantage tune, the former producing 282bhp on triple SU carbs, the latter 325bhp on triple Weber carbs with a higher compression ratio and hotter cams which made it good for a top speed of 140mph.  

Production of the DBS six-cylinder came to an end in April 1972 by which time 802 had been made (621 in RHD; 181 in LHD) of which only around 78 were to Vantage spec. Continuing Aston’s famed 007 connections, a DBS was used by George Lazenby’s James Bond in ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ (1969) and , albeit briefly, by Sean Connery in ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ (1971) while Roger Moore’s Brett Sinclair also drove a Bahama Yellow DBS in the TV series ‘The Persuaders’ (1971/72).

Supplied new by Dickson Motors of Perth in January 1969, this particular Vantage (chassis number 5229) is a Series 1 model, easily distinguished by the twin air vents behind the rear windows which were replaced by a single air vent between the rear screen and the boot lid on the Series 2 models (chassis numbers 5557 onwards). The SVC engine number suffix confirms that it is a factory-built Vantage model and it has the desirable 5-speed manual ZF gearbox (around 44% of DBS production were 3-speed auto). It also retains the attractive wooden dashboard which was replaced by black plastic from mid-1969 onwards.

It has had just three owners from new, according to the V5C, the first of whom kept it until 1980 and the second until 2004 which is when our vendor acquired the car. Always kept garaged and lightly used in fine weather only, old MOTs show that the car has only covered some 3,000 miles in the current 19-year ownership, the odometer currently showing 79,804 miles. 24 old MOTs and many old tax discs show that the car has only covered around 7,000 miles since 1983.

While there is no service history with the car prior to our vendor’s ownership, there are a few invoices for routine upkeep since 2004. These include a service in February 2021, water pump overhaul and repairs to a jacking point in June 2017 and another service and compression check in October 2004. We are also told that new exhaust sections were fitted in 2015 to address an MOT advisory. An original owner’s handbook, warranty card and factory workshop manual are also present but the VIN plate is missing.

As you can see in the photos, it looks very presentable although there are a few paint and bodywork blemishes here and there and the tan leather interior could do with a good clean. Unused for the last couple of years due to illness, it would doubtless benefit from a precautionary check-over before any long journeys are undertaken.

Starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with good 60psi oil pressure, this rare and handsome Vantage is on offer here at a very modest guide price.    

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]