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 the 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 Vantage left the Newport Pagnell factory in its original Aquamarine paintwork with Black Connolly hide to Vantage manual specification with Fiamm horns, power steering and Motorola radio. First registered in January 1969 via H R Owen Ltd to a Mr Greaves of Aeromatic Co Ltd in Uxbridge. Mr Greaves returned his new car regularly to the factory for servicing and repair work during the first few years of his ownership with its last visit being recorded in 1972. Its subsequent history is a little unclear but DVLA records show the DBS belonging to Mr Porter from Wisbech in 2005, at which point the colour is listed as Grey which it retains today, and Mr Panks from Lowestoft in 2006. Desmond first came across the Aston in 2011 when a full Road Test Report was carried out and by 2013 he had sold the car on behalf of Mr Panks to its current owner. A full engine re-build was carried out later that year by D J Smail Ltd along with upgrades to front and rear suspension, overhauls to the rear axle and heater system, re-chroming and various other mechanical repairs. Used whenever possible but sparingly over the years by its current keeper, this DBS Vantage remains a very practical and usable example with a lovely ‘lived with’ patina.