1966 Aston Martin

1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage
s/n DB6/2719/R, engine no 400/2712/V
Metallic Grey with Saddle Leather Interior

Introduced in October of 1965 at the London Motor Show, the Aston Martin DB6 was the ultimate development of Aston Martin's legendary line of six-cylinder David Brown cars before the arrival of the more angular DBS. Taking the already successful DB5 as a base, the DB6 included revised aerodynamics to reduce rear end lift at high speed, particularly through the inclusion of a Kamm tail. The wheelbase was also lengthened to improve stability and provide more space for the rear occupants. A ZF 5-speed gearbox was standard, and the engine was a 4 liter triple carbureted variant of the lovely alloy twin-cam inline-6 designed by Tadek Marek, which was available in standard or Vantage tunes. The Vantage specification increased power output by a claimed 43hp thanks to a higher compression ratio and triple 45mm Weber carburetors.

The DB6 was a powerful and elegant sports touring car, one which remains a timeless blue-chip classic thanks to its blend of all the ingredients that make a classic car quintessentially appealing. Mechanically innovative, rare, attractive, high performance, and with a touch of star quality lent by James Bond's famous DB5, the DB6 is an ideal all round classic.

This particular car is a matching-numbers genuine Vantage that was comprehensively restored and upgraded to very high standards. The original factory build sheet indicates that the car was purchased new by D. G. Lynall of Warwickshire, England through Bradbury’s Garage Limited, with a guaranty issued on 30 May 1966. Originally Oystershell with red Connolly interior, the car was factory-specificed with Vantage engine, chrome wire wheels with three-eared knock-offs, Motorola radio with power antenna, and heated rear windscreen. Aston Martin’s records indicate that the car was serviced at the factory through March of 1968. By the early 1980s, the car belonged to Laurence Kayne of Berkeley Square Ltd.

On 3 April 1984, Mr. Kayne sold this car to Scott Vincent, who imported it to the United States, and it subsequently passed on to Arthur Wexler of Larchmont, New York. In 1990, it was acquired by Peter Ungen and Marjan Kraljevic, a well-knoan Aston Martin expert who cut his teeth working on the race cars of famed championship driver Bob Grossman after escaping from communist Yugoslavia. Hired as a mechanic by Aston Martin North America in 1977, Mr. Kraljevic eventually became the chief mechanic of Aston Martin Vintage Racing Services during the 1980s, before founding his own dedicated Aston Martin repair and restoration facility, Vantage Motors, of Stamford, Connecticut, in 1990.

A year after buying the car, Kraljevic bought out his partner in the car, and of course proved to be the ideal custodian for it over the ensuing years. He used it for years before embarking on a complete nut and bolt restoration in late 2004, which proved to be a true labor of love. During the restoration, he built the ideal DB6, significantly upgraded but still retaining the essentially stock appearance and character of the car. Included in this work was a conversion to left hand drive using a factory LHD dashboard. The motor was also complete rebuilt to the highest specification, including larger displacement, lightened and strengthened internals, stainless headers, full stainless exhaust, and 50mm Weber carburetors. As a result, the output of the engine is estimated to be nearly 400hp. A modern electronic ignition system was also fitted and the suspension comprehensively upgraded as well, including the fitment of custom springs. All other mechanical and cosmetic systems also received restorative work, including rebuilt brakes, suspension, new paint, and new interior. 

The car was completed in the summer of 2006 and subsequently won an Award of Excellence at the 2008 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, Best Aston Martin at the 2009 Americana Manhasset Concours d’Elegance, and Best Coachwork at the 2010 Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance.

The car is every bit as nice as one would expect given the quality and recentness of its restoration. The body is extremely straight with excellent gaps and the paint was done to very high standards and is essentially unmarked. The chrome is also like new, as are all lights and lenses other than the front windscreen, which has light wear from road use.

The interior is also in stunning condition, with excellent leather to the seats, door panels, and dashboard. The parcel shelf and headliner are like new, as is the dashboard including instruments and switches. The carpets are luxurious wool and are essentially unmarked and the wood-rimmed steering wheel is both correct and beautifully restored. A period radio is fitted, and like the rest of the car, the interior has been restored to beautiful standards that reflect the excellent workmanship of Vantage Motors.

The engine compartment is very clean and appears essentially stock aside from the stainless headers and high volume cone air filter. The Weber carburetors have tremendous eye appeal and the presentation of the engine is consistent with a car restored to high standards that has been carefully stored and used minimally since. The trunk was also restored with new carpets and the car is complete with owner’s manual, jack, and tools.

This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire an absolutely stunning DB6 Vantage that was owned for many years by the former chief mechanic of Aston Martin Vintage Racing Services and was accordingly restored as his personal car to the highest standards. Significantly upgraded from a mechanical standpoint but appearing essentially stock, this car is the best of both worlds and has won several awards, a testament to the quality of the restoration. A genuine matching numbers Vantage, this is a very rare car indeed and it would be difficult to imagine a nicer example.