1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Sports Saloon
Registration no. LLN 166D
Chassis no. DB6/2709/R
Engine no. 400/2706/V

'If you want a truly British driver's car, the ultimate development of a continuous line of thoroughbreds from the Vintage era to the present day, there is nothing in quite the same field as the Aston.' – The Motor on the DB6, 26th November 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.

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.

Like Motor, Autocar found much to commend in the DB6 Vantage, remaking on the car's much improved handling, outstanding adhesion and exceptionally good braking figures. A mean maximum speed of 148mph was achieved while the standing quarter-mile time of 14.5 seconds was the fastest the magazine had recorded for a four-seater. At 120mph the Aston was as effortlessly relaxed as other powerful cars at 80.

This DB6 is offered from a private collection that has housed and cherished Aston Martins of various types over the last 30 years. 'LLN 166D' was in the previous owner's possession for over 15 years and there are numerous bills and expired MoTs on file detailing maintenance and the recorded mileage during this period of its life. Somewhat unloved and neglected when acquired by the vendor, the DB6 has been nurtured and is now described by him as a reliable and highly rated example. The automatic gearbox benefits from recent overhaul by a specialist and the engine is said to perform strongly.

Undertaken over the last 3-5 years, the partial restoration involved a complete strip down and repaint in the car's original Aston racing colour of Olive Green metallic. The original black leather upholstery is described as nicely patinated and the Wilton carpeting is said to be excellent. Currently displaying a genuine odometer reading of 78,612 miles from new, the car is offered with sundry restoration invoices, MoT/tax to 2015 and V5C registration document.