Aston Martin DBS

The Aston Martin DBS is a Gran Turismo, of the British car manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.. was prepared. The first model of this name was built from 1967 to 1972. He is the forerunner of built until 1989 Aston Martin V8.

The DBS was the successor to the Aston Martin DB6 series. The car differed from its predecessor mainly by a completely redesigned body, as well as a new suspension; if the motor is initially remained unchanged.

The decision to replace the DB6, fell in 1966. Was planned, his successor for sale from the beginning with a new engine. An eight -cylinder engine was for some time in development. Prototypes of the engine were tested in 1967 and even tested in racing conditions. In this case, it turned out that the new engine was not reliable and still required some development work. Aston Martin introduced the new DBS called coupe, which was already technically designed for the eight- cylinder engine, therefore perforce first with proven six -cylinder engine from the DB6 ago. Only two years later, the eight- cylinder went under the name DBS V8 in the sale. For a time, both models were offered in parallel.

The name of the new car was with DBS deliberately chosen (instead of actually to be expected DB7 ). The label should remind a tight, two -seat coupe named Aston Martin DBSC, which had presented the Carrozzeria Touring in the summer of 1965 and was well received by the public.

  • 2.1 The eight-cylinder engine
  • 2.2 The production
  • 3.1 Shooting Brake
  • 3.2 sedan

The Aston Martin DBS

The body

With the design of a body of the Carrozzeria Touring in Milan was initially re- commissioned, which had already designed the models DB4 DB5 and DB6. Touring produced two prototypes of a pure two-seater coupe, which were presented in October 1966 at the Paris Motor Show. Both designs which differed in detail, were comparatively inelegant, so that David Brown ruled against the series production of this model.

The second draft was then created in-house. Responsible was now William Towns, a former designer of the Rootes Group, the Aston Martin had set in the early 1960s, initially for the design of seats. In the sources, the Note considers that Towns had planned from the beginning a four-door and a two-door version. The four-door version to have been created first before this design was reduced in a second step to a two-door coupe. Towns had been of the opinion that it is easier to shorten a four-door model as a two-door ( for later limousine version ) subsequently to extend.

The coupe was wearing a slowly sloping fastback with tight rear side windows. The sideline was slightly curved; the back of the car was designed as demolition rear. Overall, the design seemed powerful and independent. However, critical observers want to see a resemblance to American Muscle Cars; especially the side view brings back memories of the Ford Mustang in the first series. William Towns, however, said decades later that he had been inspired by the Chevrolet Camaro.

A special feature of Towns draft were the four integrated in the radiator grille round headlights. At the rear tail lights were installed by the Hillman Hunter.

Towns ' body design was quickly accepted by Aston Martin management. It formed the basis for all Aston Martin models that should be made ​​in the next 20 years.

The technique

The DBS used a heavily revised chassis of the DB6, which was changed in the dimensions so that it could accommodate an eight-cylinder engine. The ancient rear axle of the DB6 was replaced by a De Dion axle with Watt linkage and trailing arms, front there were wishbones, coil springs and stabilizers curve.

The engine

The DBS was forced initially available only with the known from the DB6 six-cylinder Tadek Marek. The engine developed in the basic version 207 kW ( 282 hp), but there was also a DBS Vantage with 239 kW ( 325 hp) for the same price. The Vantage was increased to 9,4:1 compression and was regularly fed by three double carburetors. Optional there was next to a version with fuel injection, which, however, did not significantly increased the performance. Overall, the DBS was slower than the DB6 in the Vantage version, since it was designed heavier and aerodynamically favorable than the old model. The customer could choose between a Borg Warner automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual transmission.

The production

The Aston Martin DBS was presented at the Paris Motor Show 1967, the public; immediately after the sale began. The DB6 was produced as a coupe and Volante for a time in parallel; The end of 1970 the obsolete series was, however, finally ceased.

The DBS Coupe was sold until the summer of 1972 under the name Aston Martin DBS. After David Brown, the company had in 1972 sold to Company Developments, the term DBS was ordered to wipe out so any reference to David Brown. The Aston Martin DBS with six-cylinder engine was produced in a total of 787 copies. The last 70 copies were sold even after the takeover of the company by Company Developments; they carried the name Aston Martin Vantage ( even if they did not use the leistungserhöhten motor).

The Aston Martin DBS was very expensive. In Switzerland, the car was offered in 1969 at a price of 62,000 Swiss francs. For the same amount you got a Maserati Mexico, and a Ferrari 365 GT 2 2 was to be had for 65,500 Swiss francs. Measured by the performance of the DBS from the point of view of many customers were disappointing.

Data (1972)

  • Engine: 4.0 -liter inline six- cylinder engine
  • Power: 207 kW ( 282 hp) at 5500 rpm
  • Torque: 390 Nm at 3850/min
  • Weight: 1707 kg
  • Price: 5700 lbs 1967-6250 pounds in 1972

The Aston Martin DBS V8

The Aston Martin DBS V8 in 1969 finally presented the car, the Aston Martin in 1967 had wanted to offer: an attractively designed coupe with a modern, high-performance eight-cylinder engine.

The eight-cylinder engine

At the London Motor Show in September 1969 Aston Martin DBS V8 was presented with a new, made ​​of light alloy eight-cylinder engine, whose origins go back to 1965. The engine was developed again by Tadek Marek and oriented in essence, still on its six-cylinder engine. In particular, the bore of the six-cylinder (96 mm) was maintained, therefore cost the same flask were used. The engine had a displacement of 5.3 liters and gave the first draft of 350 hp from. He had already been tested extensively in the past time, including in a ( unsuccessful ) race in a Lola T70. With this engine, the Aston Martin DBS V8 was more than 240 km / h. However, the consumption was very high. The German trade magazine auto, motor und sport 1970 determined a consumption of 28 liters per 100 kilometers.

Externally the DBS V8 differed only slightly from the six-cylinder model. He also wore the DBS - face with four dual round headlights.

The production

The Aston Martin DBS V8 was produced from 1970 to 1972 in 402 copies. For a short time he was parallel to the DBS, built to DB6 DB6 Volante and. After the end of the David Brown era, the model received a new front end and was sold under the name Aston Martin V8 Saloon.

Special models

Shooting Brake

The UK body repair Coachwork FLM Panel Craft introduced in 1971 as a single piece of a two-door station wagon based on the Aston Martin DBS ago. It was a work commissioned by a Scottish nobleman. The vehicle was driven by the well-known six-cylinder model. A special feature was a chrome luggage rack that took up the entire length of the roof and was designed to carry, among other fishing rods. Unlike the models based on the previous DB5 and DB6 harmonize the curved belt but not with the otherwise straight rear structure. The one-piece tailgate came from the estate version of the Hillman Hunter.

Limousine

In 1969, to manufacture David Brown, a four-door sedan based on the DBS. It was a body version, which was already created in the design concept by William Towns from the beginning. The vehicle was referred to as DBS Lagonda V8. The car was already equipped with the eight-cylinder engine of the DBS. There was initially a one-off until 1974, the new Aston Martin- management began series production of the sedan. The vehicle - now provided with the front of the Aston Martin V8 - was sold under the name Aston Martin Lagonda. Overall, only seven copies were produced 1974-1976.

Motorsport

With the Aston Martin DBS, the name returned to the world of sports car racing. The Aston - Martin dealer Robin Hamilton prepared with factory support a private DBS for participating in long-distance races. The car, which has been continually developed over the course of the 1980s, was given the chassis number RHAM1 1974. It had a compared to the series models aerodynamically revised, forwardly inclined front end and was equipped with the 5.3 -liter eight-cylinder engine, which was initially ventilated via four Weber carburettors. The engine's power is specified with 520 hp; a top speed of 303 km / h

Hamilton reported the car for 24 - hour race at Le Mans in 1977. According to the classification and qualification problems, it was ultimately admitted to race. Drivers were Hamilton and Mike Salmon. They finished the race in 17th place overall. For the 24 - hour race at Le Mans 1978 Hamilton upgraded the engine of RHAM1 with a turbocharger. Thus, the performance should increase to 800 hp. The turbocharged engine consumed during a test drive 120 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. Since the RHAM1 was not competitive in this form, Hamilton pulled the message back shortly before the race. The following year the RHAM1 was provided with a fuel injection. Hamilton and Derek Bell had here to contend with the preponderance of cars and weakly dimensioned brakes. After three hours, the team gave up.

Trivia

  • The DBS was driven by James Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty 's Secret Service ( Her Majesty's Secret ). In this James Bond car there were no special fittings, such as the previously used Aston Martin DB5. In the last scene of the film, the wife of James Bond, Tracy, is shot in the car. In the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever with Sean Connery in the lead role, one sees such a DBS in the background of a phone call scene. There, the car is currently equipped with missiles.
  • In the television series The Two Roger Moore drives a six-cylinder DBS, which was optically prepared as an eight- cylinder in the role of Lord Brett Sinclair. The color was " Bahama Yellow".

Market situation

The Aston Martin DBS with the six-cylinder engine is an underrated classic. On the classic car market, he is clearly in the shadow of the V8, so that an elaborate restoration from an economic perspective rarely worthwhile. Well-preserved DBS were obtained for prices around € 40,000 in 2009.

Competitors

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