Description
Just as Aston Martin had got it right first time with the DB2 and DB4, so they did in 1967 with the DBS.
Sports car styling was moving away from the essentially 50’s influences of its predecessor the DB6, and as such Aston Martin turned to their in-house designer William Towns to come up with a design which was to remain as a mainstay of the company for the next 25 years!
The DB6 chassis was widened by 4½ inches and wheelbase increased by 1 inch to facilitate re positioning of the engine rearwards to improve balance. Although longer in wheelbase the body of the DBS was actually 1½ inches shorter than its predecessor but a full 6 inches wider giving Towns design a pleasingly aesthetic but purposeful look.
Because the new Tadek Marek V8 engine was still under development, the DBS was fitted with the 4 litre, 6 cylinder unit in either standard or Vantage form at no extra cost!
The DBS first became available in October 1967, and although the DBSV8 was introduced in 1970, the DBS remained in production until May 1972 with a total of just 829 cars ever leaving the factory.
This DBS left the factory in March 1969 in its original Silver Birch with Black Connolly colour and trim combination which it still retains today. Originally registered via H. R. Owen to its first keeper Mr Askew from London, it had acquired just two further keepers before coming to Desmond J Smail in 2007. Desmond sold the DBS to its 4th owner who embarked on a comprehensive restoration which included a bare metal re-spray in its original Silver Birch, engine re-build to 4. 2 Cosworth spec, full re-trim of carpets and much more. Finished in 2011 the car was sold to the current keeper who has kept it lovingly serviced and maintained on a regular basis exclusively by Desmond J Smail Ltd.
