1968 Aston Martin DBS Sports Saloon
Registration no. NDE 714F
Chassis no. DBS/5069/R
Engine no. 400/3607/S

Although always intended to house the new Tadek Marek-designed V8 engine, the Aston Martin DBS was launched in October 1967 with the 4.0-litre 'six' of the concurrently produced DB6. Styled in-house by William Towns, the beautiful DBS caused quite a stir, Autocar magazine observing that it was 'as modern, handsome and Italianate as anything from the Turin coachbuilders...'

Beneath its shapely exterior the DBS employed a platform-type chassis with independent suspension all round: wishbone and coil-spring at the front, De Dion with Watts linkage at the rear. Larger and more luxuriously appointed than the DB6, the DBS was, inevitably, heavier but the Vantage version's top speed of 140mph and a standing quarter-mile time of 16.3 seconds were highly respectable figures nonetheless. Assessing the virtues of Aston's new flagship, Autocar judged it superior to the DB6 in many areas, the bigger DBS offering four full-sized seats in addition to transformed handling and roadholding courtesy of the new rear suspension and standardised power steering.

Although less well known as such than the earlier 'DB' series, the DBS is yet another 'James Bond' Aston Martin, having featured in the 1969 motion picture, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, starring George Lazenby as the eponymous secret agent.

Chassis number '5069/R' was supplied new via Cyril Williams in Cardiff and first registered on 20th June 1968. A Radiomobile radio and an electric aerial were fitted 'extras'. No further history is known until 1989 when the Aston was owned by a Mr Muddit of Kettering, who commissioned a full restoration (bills on file). The current vendor purchased the car in January 1995 at 42,557 miles (the current odometer reading is 46,900). Aston Workshop then undertook a minor overhaul (seals, hoses, bushes, etc).

During the present ownership the following additional works have been carried out: inner and outer sills replaced; cylinder head overhauled with new valves, valve guides, gaskets, etc; a full re-spray in Aston Martin Aviemore Blue; and wax injection of all sills, cavities, etc. Parts replaced include the clutch, engine damper, starter motor, brake fluid reservoirs, brake lines (now copper), brake calliper pistons (now stainless steel), hydraulic hoses, splined hubs, wire wheels, cut-out switches and the entire primary ignition circuit.

The car is described by the vendor as in generally good/very good condition, the engine registering 160psi compression on all cylinders and 115psi oil pressure at 3,000rpm. It is offered with the aforementioned history file, owner's handbook, tool roll, wheel mallet, current MoT and V5C document.