Rare Car Archive

Makes › Aston Martin United Kingdom › DBS › DBS · Rare production · 1967–1972

Aston Martin
DBS

Six-cylinder DBS grand tourer, the first of the DBS line.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · ASTON MARTIN DBS 1967–1972
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
?ProductionNot yet verified
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
Not yet verified
Years
1967–1972
Engine
Straight six · 3,995 cc / 4.0 LFactory: 3,995 cc
Power
209 kW / 284 PSFactory: 280 hp · converted
Top speed
225 km/hFactory: 140 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
William Towns
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The DBS was the first car of Aston Martin's DBS line, a four-seat grand tourer styled by William Towns. It introduced a De Dion rear axle to the range. Its V8 version later gave Aston Martin the engine basis for all its power plants for about 20 years.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

No production figures recorded yet.

History

In 1967 the DBS was intended to replace the DB6, but production of the DB6 did not stop until 1970. Touring of Milan had produced two prototypes for the replacement before the design house went out of business, and William Towns was brought in to design the new car. The DBS was unveiled at Blenheim Palace on 25 September 1967 and was initially only intended for limited production.

The six-cylinder car kept the 3995 cc engine from the DB6 in Standard and Vantage forms. A V8 version was announced in September 1969, and both versions were built until May 1972.

A DBS appeared in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969, the second Aston Martin to star in the Bond series. In April 1972 a revised DBS with two headlamps replaced the four-headlamp car.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard DBS.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutStraight six1
Cylinders61
Displacement 3,995 cc / 4.0 LFactory: 3,995 cc1
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
ValvetrainDOHC1
Fuel systemTriple SU carburettors, triple Weber carburettors or AE Brico fuel injection (options of the original spec)2 Independently researchedOnly the enthusiast site gives this (level D), so it is shown as unverified. From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Power 209 kW / 284 PSFactory: 280 hp · converted1Factory page gives 280 bhp. The enthusiast site lists 210 kW at 5500 rpm for the standard car, which differs in rpm and rating basis; the factory figure is used.
Power at 4,500 rpm1
Torque 390 NmFactory: 390 Nm2 Independently researchedOnly the enthusiast site gives this (level D). No torque figure appears on the factory page. From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Torque at 3,850 rpm2 Independently researchedOnly the enthusiast site gives this (level D). From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxZF five-speed manual or Borg-Warner automatic1
Gears51
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisSteel platform chassis with box-section body frame and aluminium alloy body2 Independently researchedOnly the enthusiast site gives this (level D). From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionDe Dion axle1
BrakesFour-wheel Girling disc brakes2 Independently researchedOnly the enthusiast site gives this (level D). From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
Length 4,580 mmFactory: 4,580 mm1
Width 1,830 mmFactory: 1,830 mm1
Height 1,330 mmFactory: 1,330 mm1
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 1,588 kgFactory: 1,588 kg1Factory page gives 'Weight' without stating dry or kerb basis; entered as kerb weight.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 225 km/hFactory: 140 mph · converted1Enthusiast site gives 225 km/h, consistent with 140 mph.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
0–60 mph 7.1 s1
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Six-cylinder DBS cars built before April 1972 have four headlamps; the revised DBS introduced in April 1972 has two. The DBS was fitted with distinctive wire wheels, which the V8 replaced with GKN light-alloy wheels. The six-cylinder engine is a 3995 cc DOHC straight six.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    DBS - DBS V8 Level A Aston Martin Heritage · 2019-02-02
    • DOHC Straight six, 3995 cc, 280 bhp @ 4500 rpm
    • ZF Five-speed manual gearbox or Borg-Warner automatic transmission
    • ZF Five-speed manual gearbox
    • The adoption of a De Dion rear axle was a departure
    • 4580 x 1830 x 1330 mm
    • 1588 kg
    • Top Speed: 140 mph
    • 0 – 60 mph: 7.1 sec
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    Marks' Site - Aston Martin DBS (1967-1972) Level D Marks' Site (personal enthusiast site) · 2023-11-29
    • triple SU carburettors, triple Weber carburettors or AE Brico fuel injection
    • 390Nm@3850rpm
    • Steel platform chassis, box-section body frame
    • Four-wheel Girling disc brakes
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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