Description
This is lot number 119 in the Bonhams Goodwood Revival Auction on September 7th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
One of only nine delivered in Bahama Yellow
Iconic 'Persuaders' aesthetics
Automatic transmission
Long-term enthusiast ownership 1975-2015
Extensive restoration works
Circa 46, 000 miles recorded
Extensive history file
"Anyone wondering why Aston Martin bother to make their own vee-8 when so many big American ones are so cheaply available need take only one look at the performance data... for the best explanation in the world. Whatever the undisclosed output of the Aston V8, it is enough to rocket this heavy car to 60mph from rest in exactly six seconds and to 100mph in only 14. 7 seconds. Much more than this, we were able to reach 138 mph from rest in a mile and on the Continent record a mean maximum speed of 161. 5 mph." - Autocar, 8 July 1971.
The 16th production DBS V8 built, '10016/ R' was ordered in Bahama Yellow with dark brown interior by Plough Motors and delivered new to Ashley, Ashley & Newbrook Ltd in Shrewsbury. The original green logbook is present together with an original instruction book and a copy of the build sheet. The latter documents servicing and maintenance work between 1970 and 1972, with the car apparently changing hands once before 1975. Mr Frederick Paul Brightmore purchased the DBS that year and would keep it for the next 40 years (see his letter on file). Some 8, 000 miles were covered over the first 10 years of Mr Brightmore's ownership, but from 1987 the Aston was only used sparingly. Mr Brightmore was a mechanic and carefully and regularly maintained the car himself, as evidenced by the lengthy list of repairs carried out.
In 2015, Mr Brightmore offered the DBS for sale and in 2016 it was purchased by Stratton Motor Company, who placed it in storage. In 2020, Aston was sold to the current vendor. The new owner decided to have the DBS resprayed in its original colour of Bahama Yellow, it being one of only nine to leave the factory in this striking livery. In addition, the interior was restored and retrimmed in black leather to recreate the same look as Roger Moore's DBS in the television series The Persuaders.
Since 2020 the owner has spent around £30, 000 on recommissioning and restoration with Aston Martin specialists Stratton Motor Company, while a further £30, 000 was spent on the retrim and repaint, taking the total to over £60, 000. A further £6, 177 was spent with Richards of England in 2023. The most recent service was carried out by Stratton Motor Company on 30th March 2023, while Richards of England undertook further repairs on 1st August 2023. Detailed records of all the works undertaken by Stratton Motor Company and Richards of England are contained within the accompanying substantial history file and include new polished sills, tyres, stainless exhaust, Chromework and much much more. MoT records show the mileage total increasing from 37, 053 in 1977 to 46, 151 in 2023.