Bonhams Cars : 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Volante Convertible Chassis no. DBVC/3736/R Engine no. 400/4171 (2024)

• One of only 140 Mark 1 DB6 Volantes on the long wheelbase
• Previous ownership for 30 years
• Maintained by RS Williams 2003-2015
• Engine rebuilt and ZF five-speed manual gearbox fitted by RS Williams in 2007 (bills available)
• Matching engine and chassis numbers
• Only some 3,000 miles covered since 2007

"I have driven most of the Aston Martin models that have been produced, from the racing twin-cam 1½-litre of the 1920s onwards. For years my favourite has been the DB3S sports-racer, but now my allegiance is wavering. There can be little doubt that the DB6 is the best Aston yet and it is a credit to British engineering." - John Bolster, Autosport, 21st October 1966.

Considered by many to be the last 'real' Aston Martin, the DB6 was launched in 1965, updating the DB5. Although Royal patronage of the marque undoubtedly helped DB6 sales, the car arrived at a difficult time for Aston Martin, with the home economy in a parlous state and the US market subject to ever more restrictive legislation.

Though recognisably related to its Touring-styled DB4 ancestor, the DB6 abandoned the underlying Superleggera body structure of its predecessors in favour of a conventional steel fabrication while retaining the aluminium outer panels. Somewhat confusingly, 'Superleggera' badges continued to be applied for a time, presumably until stocks ran out. The wheelbase was now 4" (100mm) longer than before, resulting in an extensive restyle with more-raked windscreen, raised roofline and reshaped rear quarter windows. Opening front quarter lights made a reappearance but the major change was at the rear where a Kamm-style tail with spoiler improved the aerodynamics, greatly enhancing stability at high speeds. "The tail lip halves the aerodynamic lift around maximum speed and brings in its train greater headroom and more luggage space," declared Motor magazine, concluding that the DB6 was one of the finest sports cars it had ever tested.

The Tadek Marek-designed six-cylinder engine had been enlarged to 3,995cc for the preceding DB5 and remained unchanged. Power output on triple SU carburettors was 282bhp, rising to 325bhp in Vantage specification. Borg-Warner automatic transmission was offered alongside the standard ZF five-speed gearbox, and for the first time there was optional power-assisted steering.
Premiered at the 1965 London Motor Show, the convertible DB6 marked the first occasion the evocative 'Volante' name had been applied to a soft-top Aston Martin. After 37 Volante convertibles had been completed on the DB5 short-wheelbase (8' 2") chassis, the model adopted the longer DB6 chassis in October 1966. The stylish Volante offered four-seat accommodation and was generously appointed with leather upholstery, deep-pile carpets, aircraft-style instrument cluster, and an electrically operated hood.

In the summer of 1969, the Mark 2 DB6 was announced in saloon and convertible versions. Distinguishable by its flared wheelarches and DBS wheels, the Mark 2 came with power-assisted steering as standard and could be ordered with AE Brico electronic fuel injection. When DB6 production ceased in 1970, a total of 1,575 saloons had been made, plus 178 of the long-wheelbase Volante convertibles, 140 of which were to Mark 1 specification. With so few produced, the DB6 Volante is now considered one of the most collectible of all Aston Martins.
This DB6 Volante belonged to the previous owner for 30 years. Between 2003 and 2015 the car was serviced by Aston Martin specialists RS Williams Ltd, who swapped the original automatic transmission for a ZF five-speed manual gearbox in 2007. At the same time RS Williams rebuilt the engine (at 13,039 miles), the total cost of these works being £47,000. Only some 3,000 miles have been covered since. The engine is said to start and drive perfectly having been well maintained, as evidenced by the history file.

The Volante is finished in Dawn Blue, while the interior has been changed to cream from its original grey, and the carpets and roof replaced. The car has not been repainted during the current owner's tenure. The car was last serviced in September 2021 at an indicated 15,674 miles by Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists Mulsanne Motors, while two new fuel tanks were fitted in 2022 after small leaks were detected in the old ones. Accompanying paperwork consists of a V5C Registration Certificate and a significant collection of bills and service history dating back to the 1970s.