Registration number: AM-00-04

What a beast of a car, this Aston Martin DBS is. Truly a delightful car, especially with that V8 under the hood. This model caused quite a stir back in the day. Let's take a trip down memory lane: in 1967, Aston Martin had the DB5 and DB6, and they knew very well that they had to come up with something new. They had the six-cylinder engine; a beautiful machine, but the competition was not standing still. In the American market, the eight-cylinder engine had been the standard for quite some time, and the Aston team came up with the idea of developing a brand-new V8. Initially, the idea was to launch the engine together with the new DBS, but there were delays, so Aston Martin decided to introduce the DBS with the six-cylinder engine. It wasn't until 1969 that Aston Martin equipped the DBS with the V8.

When we think of classic Aston Martin, most people will undoubtedly mention the DB5 and the strong association with the James Bond film Goldfinger, where actor Sean Connery drove through the beautiful Swiss Alps. So, although less well-known than the earlier 'DB' series, the DBS is also a 'James Bond' Aston Martin, seen in the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, with George Lazenby as the titular secret agent.

As a full-fledged four-seater, the DBS used a platform-type chassis with independent suspension all around. This meant double wishbones and coil springs at the front and De Dion suspension at the rear. The DBS was received with the six-cylinder engine as larger and more luxurious than the DB6, but disappointed some due to its performance, which certainly wasn't better than the previous models. When the DBS arrived in 1969 with the eight-cylinder engine, those complaints disappeared like snow in the sun.

Our example here at Gallery Aaldering was built in 1970, and we're talking about an original left-hand drive variant equipped with a manual transmission! The first Swiss owner ordered this car in a beautiful color. This car was "resident" at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix Geneva for a long time. Among the accompanying documentation, we find the original (service) booklets, with the service booklet beautifully stamped. We also find, among other things, a restoration report with photos, meticulously describing the restoration and revision work.

The exterior of the car is in good and restored condition, with bodywork that fits together neatly. The car sits on the original wheels, which are also in excellent condition and equipped with good, correctly sized tyres. The paintwork appears neatly presented with only slight signs of use. Underneath the car everything is solid and also in good condition.

The interior is upholstered in blue leather on the seats and blue carpets. The dashboard and instrumentation are beautifully designed, and the whole is in neat condition. What immediately catches the eye is the manual gear lever located in the interior. What a delightful combination, a V8 with a manual transmission!

Mechanically the car is in good order. The engine runs smoothly, and the manual transmission shifts precisely. The gear ratios are tuned for sporty driving and long distances, with shorter first gears and a true overdrive gear in the final gear for effortless long-distance driving. The 5.4-liter V8 engine delivers more than enough torque, even at low speeds. The suspension is firmly sprung but still comfortable, giving great feedback as to what the wheels are doing. The brakes are powerful enough to quickly reduce speed and are well modulated.

What a car, this Aston Martin! A V8 with a manual transmission is something that gives us a warm feeling. A great car to drive. Are you interested in this DBS? Then contact us now, we are happy to assist you further.