To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' London event, 1 - 2 November 2024.

• An ideal restoration project with fascinating provenance
• In Japanese ownership since the 1980s; said to have been stored in a garage since an earthquake rocked the country around 30 years ago
• Delivered new to HR Owen wearing Sable with Champagne Connolly hide; now presented in red over a tan leather interior
• Noteworthy optional extras include heated rear screen, power aerial, three-ear hubcaps, Coolair air conditioning, and Borg-Warner three-speed automatic gearbox
• Accompanied by a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT) certificate

Please note this car is offered without registration papers, bidders should satisfy themselves as to registration requirements in their own jurisdiction.

To address minor criticisms around the aerodynamic design of the DB4 and DB5, Aston Martin pursued its own development for the marque’s next flagship model, the DB6, having previously taken counsel from Carrozzeria Touring. Intent on keeping the signature body lines, Aston Martin engineers nevertheless needed to address customer complaints of the DB5’s instability at high speeds and in crosswinds. Wind tunnel testing showed the car’s elegant fastback design created an aerodynamic effect that reduced rear-wheel traction. To rectify this, designers and engineers made various improvements, most notable being the signature “Kamm" tail. A significant advancement in aerodynamic science, the slight upward curve in the tail enhanced stability at high speeds.

Both the DB4 and DB5 had been fitted with occasional rear seating, which was cramped for adults. To remedy this, an extra 9.5 centimetres was added to the DB6’s wheelbase to increase legroom while the roof was also raised for more headroom. The rear axle was repositioned and the suspension shortened, which both increased occupant space and aided stability. With these major updates, the DB6 was recognised as an excellent driver’s car. A top speed of 150 mph and ample room for four adult passengers deservedly earned the car a reputation as one of the world’s best grand tourers.

The example offered here, chassis DB6/3500/RC, was dispatched to HR Owen on 31 October 1968, wearing Sable over Champagne Connolly hide. The Aston Martin was first registered for the road in the United Kingdom, gaining a private registration. The car was featured in Automobile Quarterly in 1983, noted as then being owned by Mr Ian MacLaren. Later taken to Japan, the DB6 was registered in the country in June 1984. Sadly, as an earthquake rocked Japan in the mid-1990s, the car was put into storage immediately afterwards and not uncovered until now. Emerging from its long-term slumber, the elegant grand tourer wears a repainted red exterior—still covered in the dust of its many decades of inactivity—over a tan leather interior. The DB6 retains the desirable features from its build configuration, which include heated rear screen, power aerial, three-ear hubcaps, Coolair air conditioning, and Borg-Warner three-speed automatic gearbox.

Such an opportunity to acquire a restoration project with such fascinating provenance rarely presents itself. This attractive right-hand-drive DB6 presents a platform for an enthusiastic renovator to make their mark on this car’s next chapter.

Please note this lot has entered the UK on a temporary import bond, which must be cancelled either by exporting the lot outside of the UK on an approved Bill of Lading with supporting customs documentation or by paying the applicable VAT and import duties to have the lot remain in the UK.

To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/lf24/.