1967 Aston Martin DB6

1967 Aston Martin DB6
Sold for $412,500 Including Commission
RM Auction, Monterey, CA. 2014
Chassis no. DB6/2625/LN
Engine no. 400/3345
Gearbox no. 10116
282 bhp, 3,995 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder engine with triple SU side-draft carburetors, three-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs and shock absorbers, live rear axle with trailing links, Watts linkage, coil springs, and driver-adjustable shock absorbers, and power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 101.5 in.
•Offered from single-family ownership in Southern California
•Only 38,500 original miles; original paint and interior
•Factory air conditioning and automatic transmission
•Original manuals, tools, and receipts from new
The Aston Martin DB6 was introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1965 as the successor to the famed DB5, and it is considered by many to be one of the finest grand tourers ever produced. It was boosted along by a powerful four-liter, twin-cam, inline six-cylinder engine with an aluminum alloy block, seven main bearings, and a deep-breathing cross-flow head, as dreamed up by the brilliant engineer Tadek Marek, making it a genuine 140 mph automobile. It could also carry four adults comfortably in improved seats set on its stretched 101.5-inch wheelbase chassis. A 22-gallon fuel tank offered decent mileage for high-speed travel, while Armstrong Selectaride rear shock absorbers could be adjusted from the driver’s seat, compensating for the weight of the rear seat passengers.
Styling bore a familial resemblance to the DB5, with the aerodynamic, competition-style covered headlights, but the DB6 had a taller roofline and a less steeply raked windshield, improving occupant headroom. A distinctive squared-off Kammback tail with an upswept spoiler lip was not unlike that of its rival, the Ferrari 275 GTB/4, and it reduced rear-lift while also improving high-speed handling. A broad air scoop on the hood and a pair of air vents on the front fenders added to the rakish image.
The elegant early left-hand-drive DB6 offered here has an interesting and unique early history. It was originally delivered on March 29, 1966, to a French gentleman; however, after only 811 kilometers, the DB6 found its way back to the Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell. The car was then prepared, again, as new for its next owner. As reflected on the new data plate, the engine was replaced with a standard unit, the km/h speedometer was swapped with a new Smiths unit reading in mph and the lighting was changed from French to U.S. specification. The factory also carried out the first 500-mile service, which included work on the gearbox.
The DB6 was then sold as a new car on December 4, 1966, through Phillip Long, an auto broker from Southern California, to Mr. and Mrs. William Duke, of Encino, California. The car was complete with such options as chrome wire wheels with three-eared knock-offs, Normalair air conditioning, a heated rear window, Fiamm electric air horns, a Bosch Köln radio with an electric antenna, two pairs of Britax lap and diagonal safety belts, and a brace of Marchal fog lamps; all of these items are documented on a copy of the factory sales document, which is on file. Along with the automatic transmission and limited-slip rear axle, few DB6s were as well equipped.
The Dukes took delivery of their new DB6 from Aston Martin in February 1967, and with it, the factory also transferred the full 12-month warranty to the new owners. During the next 47 years, the car would serve as Mrs. Duke’s pampered occasional weekend transportation, accruing an amazingly low number of miles. When off the road, it was always parked in the family’s home garage and extremely well taken care of, as can be seen from the extensive file of service records and other items of paperwork that are included.
Recently, the Duke family had the car’s triple SU carburetors and master cylinder rebuilt and the fuel line and brakes cleaned. The DB6’s original Platinum White finish is all but unmarked, and its black Connolly leather interior and Wilton wool carpeting both show the expected patina earned over 50 years of careful use. The car is supplied with its correct spare wheel, jack, and a comprehensive tool kit, as well as its original British registration plate, NLU 110F, and it is reported to now run and drive beautifully.
This dashing and desirable Aston Martin presents a rare opportunity to acquire an original, well-documented example of a DB6 in gently used but lovingly kept condition, from the family that has owned and enjoyed it for nearly five decades.
Robert Myrick Photography