| Aston Martin DB6 Aston Martin Volante | |
| Manufacturer: | Aston Martin |
| Production: | 1965–1970 1,788 produced |
| Designer: | Federico Formenti at Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera |
| Class: | Grand tourer |
| Body Style: | DB6 2-door coupé 2+2 Volante four-seat convertible |
| Layout: | FR layout |
| Engine: | 4.0 L Marek DOHC I6 |
| Transmission: | ZF 5-speed overdrive manual or Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase: | 101.50NaN0[1] |
| Length: | 1820NaN0[2] |
| Width: | 660NaN0 |
| Height: | 53.50NaN0 |
| Weight: | 32500NaN0 |
| Predecessor: | Aston Martin DB5 |
| Successor: | Aston Martin DBS (1967–1972) Aston Martin DB7 |
| Sp: | uk |
The Aston Martin DB6 is a grand tourer made by British car manufacturer Aston Martin and was produced from September 1965 to January 1971. The "DB" designation is from the initials of David Brown who built up the company from 1947 onwards.
The DB6 succeeded the Aston Martin DB5 and featured improved aerodynamics and specification over its predecessor.
After Aston Martin rejected proposals for a replacement for its DB5 from the original DB4 Touring of Milan, the decision was made to focus on their own development car, registered 4 YMC. Wind tunnel testing, begun in February 1965, showed development was necessary to counteract a tendency toward aerodynamic lift [a result of the fastback styling] causing reduced rear-wheel traction at high speed.[3] Final development phases relied upon DB5 chassis, suitably lengthened and titled MP 219, with rear lip-spoiler and abbreviated Kammback tail Aston Martin previously incorporated in sports-racing prototypes. The decision was made to produce MP 219 as the Aston Martin DB6 although the prototype de Dion rear axle was rejected, Aston's soldiering on with its live-axle configuration reducing time to market, cost and complexity.Introduced at the 1965 London Motor Show, the DB6 was already a dated design[4] notable as the first model engineered following a factory relocation from Feltham to Newport Pagnell. The DB6 has a resemblance to its predecessor, the DB5; with the most noticeable differences being its wheelbase, side profile, split front and rear bumpers and rear panels incorporating the Kammback tail rear end. The tail, combined with the relocated rear-axle and the 3.75inches lengthened wheelbase, provide more stability at high speed. Though fashionable – the rear-end Kamm-styled design was similar to the Ferrari 250 – it did not prove popular with conservative, tradition oriented Aston clientele when the DB6 was introduced. Performance was satisfactory: road-tests of the day observed top speed of the Vantage model between 145mph to 148mph, with John Bolster aboard a Vantage spec DB6 reaching a two-way average of 152mph.[5]
The DB6 continued with then high-tech Armstrong Selectaride cockpit-adjustable rear shock absorbers as available on the DB5.[6] Other highlights include adopting front-door quarter windows, an oil-cooler air scoop low on the front valance, quarter-bumpers at each corner, revised tail-lamp clusters. Additionally, the spoiler affected the overall proportions of the DB6, with an increase in length by approximately two inches.
Other notable changes:
Another improvement from the DB5 to DB6 was a change to the superleggera construction technique patented by coachbuilder/stylist Touring of Milan. Instead of the alloy body being supported by steel tubes of even size and strength over a steel punt chassis, as in the DB4 and DB5, the DB6 used a similar punt chassis with a mixture of metal tubes and other steel sections of varying size, weight, complexity, and strength depending on where in the structure the steel support was fitted. This was still "Superleggera" construction and Aston Martin were still required to pay a £5 royalty on each DB6 made to use the "Superleggera" patent, and DB6s all have a "Touring of Milan" and "Superleggera" patent/licence plate in the engine bay and "Superleggera" badges on the bonnet. This practice only stopped when "Touring of Milan" shut down and some later DB6s no longer carry the badging, nor the "Touring of Milan" licence plate, as the royalty was no longer needed to be paid. However, the construction method remained the same for early and late cars. It is a common mistake that early cars are "Superleggera" and later cars are not, just because they don't carry the badging nor the patent plate. This revision to the "Superleggera" system meant that the weight increase of the DB6 over the DB5 was minimal (7.7kg (17lb)), despite being a longer car.
The DB6 is powered by the twin-overhead camshaft (DOHC), in-line six-cylinder Aston Martin engine designed by Tadek Marek. The engine, continued with its triple SU carb setup[7] producing 2820NaN0 at 5,500 rpm; the Vantage engine option is quoted at 3250NaN0 against the 3140NaN0 of the DB5. The DB6 was approximately 17lb heavier than its predecessor, but offered better stability at high speed, added luggage capacity and added comforts for passengers. The rear suspension used helical coil springs with ride control that was adjustable from inside the car.[8]
The DB6 Mark II was announced on 21 August 1969, identified by distinct flares on front and rear wheel arches and wider tyres on 1/2" wider wheels. Available as an optional extra for the Mark II was AE Brico electronic fuel-injection combined with the higher compression ratio cylinder head. The Mark II edition shared many parts with the then-new DBS.
As with previous Aston Martin models, a high-power DB6 Vantage was offered. It was equipped with three Weber carburettors and higher compression ratio cylinder head.A convertible body style was also offered, named the Volante.[9] [10] This was introduced at the 1966 London Motor Show. The DB6-based Volante succeeded the earlier (1965–1966) Volantes which were built on the last of the DB5 chassis' and were known as "short chassis" Volantes. Of the later DB6-based Volantes just 140 were built, including 29 high-output Vantage Volante versions, highly prized by collectors.
Charles III owns a DB6-based Volante MkII that has been converted to run on E85.[11] [12] [13]
A total of six or seven DB6 Shooting-brakes were produced by British coachbuilder Harold Radford, with three more by FLM Panelcraft[14] [15] The engine options (282 and 325 hp) were the same as for the DB6 Saloon.
One of the Radford-built DB6 Shooting Brakes was the 1967 New York Auto Show car. The car was Roman Purple over Natural hide, LHD with factory AC, Borg-Warner automatic gearbox, LSD, Blaupunkt Köln radio with power antenna. It was purchased directly off the show stand by a Mr. S. Tananbaum for $22,500 (nearly 3x the price of a standard DB6), whose family maintained ownership until 2017. It was displayed at the 2018 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance.
| Harold Radford | 1966 | DB6/SB/2272/LC | 400/2792/V | Yes | Unsold at Bonhams' Quail Motorcar Auction in August 2020 with an estimate of US$1,000,000 – 1,200,000.[16] | |
| Harold Radford | 1966 | DB6/S/2688/L | 400/2613 | No | Sold at RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction in August 2015 for $682,000 (including buyer's fees).[17] | |
| Harold Radford | 1965 | DB6/2387/LNK | 400/2488/VC | Yes | Unsold at Bonhams' Boca Raton Auction in February 2013 with an estimate of US$575,000 – 625,000.[18] | |
| FLM Panelcraft | 1967 | DB6/3310/R | 400/3386/VC | Yes | Unsold at RM Sotheby's London Auction in August 2012 with an estimate of £325,000 – £375,000.[19] |
