I keep wanting to tell him to turn off the interior lights! He really should comment on how marvelously comfortable the seats are and how luxurious the wool headliner is. The wipers seem prosaic but they move so silently and determinedly across the screen. I owned a 6 cylinder 1969 DBS and the thing felt "safe as houses," as the Brits would say, in the rain. The engine note sounded like a WWII bomber and it would pull from 0 mph in 5th gear. There was a lot to love about it. But I made the mistake of not buying a car with a good history and it was a proper nightmare, from the fan pulley flying off to the brakes seizing and literally catching fire.
@@zairomolino4074 so let it be. It’s not a crime wath is a crime is that 99% of the people envey the wealthy and lose time instead of pursuing ideas, chasing challenges to overcome no matter wath to fulfill their dreams. Now that is a crime that poor people do blame or envey losing time with tik tok, Netflix or drinking with friends on saturdays night.
That’s my favourite Aston of all time. The Lazenby Bond is also my favourite Bond movie. You have to remember at the time the Bond movie came out nobody would have known it was slower than the DB6 when watching. It was Bond in the latest Aston and that was all that counted. Also if you swapped the Influenzo for one of those I wouldn’t be disappointed. LOL
Completely agree, too much importance was put on Lazenby's nationality and acting ability and not enough on the plot, character development and the importance of Theresa in Bonds life.
Yeah, that is the series where I fell in love with this car. Roger Moore in the Aston and Tony Curtis in a lovely Ferrari Dino 246 GT. Two of the best looking cars of the time.
Back in the 70's my dad found an identical alloy wheel as this aston has in a scrap yard. He paid £3 for it and for years and years it was fixed to the garage wall to wind the hose around. Closes i ever got to an aston martin.
Wow! What a coincidence. I parked my much loved DBS Near a scrapyard in 75 or so and came back not an hour later, to find it on bricks with the wheels missing. Needless to say I went to the scrapyard and was lucky to buy 3 matching wheels which they guaranteed me were genuine. They were kind enough to help me fit it. Saved the day.
Fell in love with the DBS as a 5 year old watching Roger Moore & Tony Curtis racing each other in first episode of The Persuaders. I still think 50 years later, it's one of the best looking cars ever designed.
@@heiner71 It is not a surprise that the Iso, the Maserati and the Jenson have affinity of design. Each being from the Italian design tradition. The Aston Martin however, was thoroughly English from the tyres up. I have to say that every car that I have owned, apart from one, was either Italian or styled by an Italian.
Personally I love them - especially the earlier models with twin lamps - like the one featured here! Some of the interior switchgear looks like something off a 70s hi fi though!
I can tell that I would be hopelssly addicted driving this car: The look, the sound, the interior, the power. There was no British car ever that fascinated me as much as the Astons of the Sixites and Seventies. I see that I would sit well in this car : I have very short legs and a long upper body, so this one might be ideal for me. Thanks for sharing this one with us.
Yes... But. It is such an easy place to mount them. Easy to route the wires.... Easy to drill the holes. Everything is easy. And the sound quality is OK. It's not as if it's a new car. So it won't deny the value.... Cars this old are done depreciating and from now on it's just a matter of keeping it running until it finally conks out on the A3 on a wet Tuesday.
@@BanjoLuke1Meh rubbish. It ruins the look even if is is easy to do for botch-job wannabe mechanics. These cars are appreciating in value and have been since the financial crisis of 2008. Speakers on the parcel shelf are poor taste and cowboyish.
Nice one! Looks menacing like an American muscle car from the late 60’s early 70’s. Upgrade the suspension and you’ve got a winner. I wouldn’t mess with the motor. Unless of course it were a V6. Awesome car.
You could definitely get addicted to that beautiful engine note. A bit surprised that the Bahama Yellow DBS V8 from The Persuaders didn’t get a mention. Surely the most iconic moment for the DBS? Enjoyable video. 👍
Looking at the footage of the off side front wheel it seems to bounce a bit. New shock absorbers seem to be required and would probably deal with the suspension issues you keep sensing.
Good choice of subject and nice video. However, let's not do the 6 cylinder DBS too much of a disservice. You mention how much slower the 6 cylinder was and show the triple SU carb set up, but the Vantage option (triple twin choke side draught Weber carbs and different inlet cam) combined with the DBS body shape and wire wheels were sufficient to raise the hairs on the back of my neck on every journey. Aside from the DB4 GT (non Zagato original), the DBS for me made previous AMs thoroughly redundant, despite a little more bulk, V8 engine or not.
As I too have aged, I now think this original DBS styling (pre mid-70s facelift) is the most handsome and contemporary of all the post-war Astons. A brute in a suit indeed. I'd take this over their modern offerings all day long.
I remember when I was working in Germany in the late 1980s. I was driving a colleagues MB E class on the autobahn. The Benz was comfortable sustaining about 200 KPR (125 MPR) and was it exciting to drive for more than an hour at these speeds. At some point I remember a DBS passing me like I was stopped. Its a memory of that great shape blasting by me that has stuck with me for all these years. I was used to being passed by the usual 911s and big engined BMWs etc. but the DBS made the biggest impression. What a glorious sounding V8! It reminds me of the Italian Monteverdi cars. There is something so utterly scrumptious about big V8 GT cars. I truly believe that current Aston designs are esthetically more beautiful than anything coming out of Italy. Less cartoonish and more functional. (I’m sure that will upset a few folks!)
Unless mistaken - and referred to in this upload - the vehicle in OHMSS was on G plate which is a 1968/69 year of registration. Best thing about that car; apart from Diana Rigg(?) *aka Tracey* were the glorious Airhorns lol.
Back in the 80s 6 cylinder DBS were changing hands for less money than a basic Ford Granada. So many really nice cars were so cheap, 911s, e-types etc. The DBS is a stunning looking GT.
Love my DBS! I've got a six cylinder but on triple Weber carbs in Vantage spec - it's not as quick the V8 but it's no slouch, esp with the 5 speed ZF manual! And sounds glorious! You're welcome to drive to compare and contrast!!
When I was a lad, there was a guy lived on the next street over, who by accounts, won big on the pools. He had one exactly the same as the one in the video, same color, parked out on the street. And as this was the heyday of The Persuaders, I loved any excuse to walk by that car.
Brett Sinclair played by Roger Moore in the 1970's TV series, The Persuaders, used a DBS. It was fitted with the wheels of the V8 variant but was in fact powered by the six cylinder from the DB6. Still ultra-cool though. That DBS/V8 body is my all time favourite. More class than any Ferrari or Lamborghini. Love and peace.
This Aston DBS basically is the British "Gentlemen" White Collar version of the all American Mustang GT Blue Collar Muscle car. The styling of the Aston Martin is obviously based up on the Mustang Fastback to begin with, but made less "Vulgair" so the British establishment could also experience a Muscle car in a more stylish and less Vulgair way. In the end the people from the British establishment weren't really that different from those they'd call Vugair. So the Aston Martin DBS --> A 1967 Ford Mustang GT for the Vulgair elite.
By far the most stylish of Astons, in terms of looks the early DBS trumps the later face lift variants. Aston got this one so right, just a shame the engine the engine wasn't ready before the car was launched
Looks like a mix of the Fiat Dino Coupé, Ford Osi 23MTS and Audi Coupe - I like the looks! Please make a test of the German GLAS GT V8 3000 with Frua bodywork and the Swiss Monteverdi 375!
Had the pleasure of being able to drive the Aston Marten DS V8 and I could find no fault with it and an absolute pleasure to drive and loved every time I got behind the wheel of it
When I was a teen in the mid-80s a 1970 DBS appeared in the driveway of a neighbouring farm. The new farm owners bought the property "with all chattels and vehicles" and discovered the Aston forgotten in the barn under a collapsed hayloft. The rear window was broken but the Avons still held air. After changing fuel and battery, the engine fired right up. The owners contacted the seller - an old Mennonite farmer who sold the property so he could do missionary work in South America - and asked about the car. Seems he bought it for his wife but she didn't like to drive it, so it was parked in the barn and forgotten with 1500 miles on it. The new owner said it didn't feel right getting such a valuable car as part of the deal, and insisted on sending the old man some money for it. "Well I paid $4000 for it. The dealer had it marked down because nobody wanted it with the automatic transmission, which is why I thought my wife would like it. If it makes you feel better send me $3000 and we'll call it even". And that was that.
there's definitely a cult fandom for The Living Daylights. I was a little too young to see either Dalton Bond movies, and grew up with Brosnan as Bond. I discovered The Living Daylights just a few years ago and loved it.
Allways appreciate how You allways stay on topic and maintain focus without being extraoredinary in an Clarcsonesque or Amerikan way. And still keep Me watching out of cheer intrest. You make me feel like listening to that one and the only good teacher one had back in the school years. That one that one who just loved his subjekt so much that you just had to love it to.
It is probably the sweetest V8. Mine was frighteningly fast, and yes; the brakes are a little scary when you apply them at a hundred and fifty miles per hour! Nothing seems to happen for the first few minutes.
😂 “minutes” I had a 1979 Jeep Honcho (a full-size, short bed pickup with a frontend that looks similar to the classic Grand Cherokees and Wagoneers), it was one of just ~1200 manufactured between ‘74-‘83. It handled like a shopping trolley being pushed backwards from its nose: squirrelly, with only the mildest whiff of suggestions arriving from the the steering wheel, which could easily travel ~15deg either side of center without any discernible response. It was the worst handling vehicle I’ve ever driven, including farm tractors, modded mini bikes, golf carts, and fishing boats. My high-school jalopy was a ‘87 Olds Cutlass Supreme that was purchased from an insurance auction for $200 in 1998, its engine seized appr. six months later. Driving that Cutlass evoked the sensations of engaging a precision machined bolt action rifle when compared to the Honcho’s flaccid drivechain. Hitting the brakes felt like trying to stop a freight train by throwing tapioca pudding on the rails. Its enormous engine was underpowered, inside they used a cheap sprung bench seat, it rattled like a soup can full of BBs, and just generally inspired its occupants to consider whether they might be more comfortable if they were riding outside of the cabin. In my experience, most classic cars from that era are a pleasure to look at and work on, but a nightmare to drive and use. Still, I wouldn’t change anything. It was special to my father, who relished In the process of restoring and detailing every inch of it. Jeeps have become such a cliched fashion accessory around the Southeast US, I think it was largely the simple pride of owning one of the only “rare” Jeeps around, and as long as it was running off-road it was actually a ton of fun to run around a trail with. Maybe it’s just me, but I think people who purchase and own classic cars are maybe just a little bit _off in the head_ as if we derive some kind of satisfaction from extremely high effort/low reward activities. That’s why the only rich people with car collections are Jay Leno or rappers. Anyone with enough shrewdness to achieve real wealth knows that all cars-but especially vintage ones-are all highly efficient cash incinerators. Their most redeeming quality is that your wife won’t take it in the divorce…and also when your time finally comes to shuffle off this mortal coil, you can pass away feeling happy in the knowledge that sorting out what to do with the damn thing will be a profoundly annoying exercise to leave your kid(s) with.
@@silverXnoise Oh so true. Of course, in my case time is relative. As Einstein once said, 'Having a beautiful woman sitting in your lap for thirty minutes seems like thirty seconds, whilst sitting on a hot stove for thirty seconds seems like thirty minutes'.
The DB6 may have been lighter than the DBS6 and therefore faster until thr first ripply corner when the DBS would have just gone round it riding on its De Dion rear end while the solid axle DB6 would have tramped and shimmied round in a haze of oversteer and tyre smoke.
I have two favourite cars from that period - the twin headlight DBS as driven by Roger Moore in The Persuaders, and the Jensen Interceptor. As I thought the early V8s had fuel injection, but the later models had carbs. Nice video and a really envy you getting to drive that car!
I’ve owned and driven my OI V8 for 25 yrs. They are stunning to drive well, cut your cornering lines precisely Which is a big part of the joy. They are not for kids. Simple roll bar enhancement removes any over tendency to back end slide. The steering is perfect. power of one of the greatest engines ever built by hand in England , is just truly magnificent.
Marek’s V8 is one of the world’s classic engines - in Vantage form, it scared the sh*t out of Barry Gill when he tested it for Wheelbase: “…174mph and still accelerating…”
Just over twenty years ago I was looking at a 6 cyl DBS that had had the engine removed to repower a DB6 and a 350 chev installed with an auto box the price was $15000 Australian and the instillation was a professional job with all the proper engineers certificates, apparently, they are a literal drop in fit with even the mounts lining up! My brother who I was looking at it for (he had the dollars) decide that would go with a Silver Shadow instead as he had the idea that it wasnt a pure Aston Martin, At the time, I said he would regret it, and yes he did. That car has only appreciated in value even without the original engine, other than the engine and gearbox it was in very good condition and I have seen Aston Martins sans Engine and gearbox and needing restoration sell for four times the price or more. Yes like the 246 Dino I nearly bought in the early eighties for 16000 Australian Dollars, it was one of those missed deals.
Innes Ireland, ex GP driver and Motoring correspondent, was an Aston technical advisor at the time, and was instrumental in persuading Aston to adopt the dog leg first, on the grounds that the change from 4th to 5th was more important than 1st to 2nd in real world use. The springs and dampers look shot on that car, meaning the handling observations can be disregarded.
Interesting argument about 1/2 vs 4/5! Personally I disagree :) I'd say 1/2 shifts are more common, and it is more likely you are in a hurry compared to 4/5 shifts. I could buy the argument that 2/3 is more important though, but I'm not 100% convinced - especially on the road and not a track.
@@rogerwennstrom6677 The dog leg 1st was not widely adopted. As 5 speed boxes became more common, the industry standard was to have 5th adjacent to 3rd. Most people find the dog leg 1st clumsy.
The V8 is the one to have. However this car is over 50 years old now, and the suspension could well be tired. I understand they do upgrade kits so these handle a lot better.
In Vantage spec, the DBS is pretty strong. I think I missed it, maybe this is only talking about Aston Martin, but in From Russia With Love, Bond had his Bentley. Maybe it's time for a Bentley to be the car for the next Bond? Especially if it could be a period piece!
Very nice. The rubbish heater system was a complex afterthought and they had 3 different systems in 6 years. Originally early ones had one knob to control everything, then a couple of years later they it two knobs in the centre and sliders on the drivers side before finally getting the combined heater a/c sliders in the centre. The last ones had a confusing automatic system.
One of my all-time favourite cars. What a pity that Aston hadn't sorted out that lovely engine before it was raced in the Lola T70. Jack, I wonder if you ever encounter Harry Metcalfe when the two of you are chucking fast cars up and down that road!
Great review. I was fortunate enough to own an Aston Martin V8 (Weber Carbs) in the ‘80s, it was my first supercar and my dream car! I used to call it the worlds fastest lorry due to its weight and handling, but as you said, the engine was superb! My then wife had an artist produce a painting of the car for my 30th birthday, the car is long gone, but I still have the painting to remind me of what a glorious car that Aston was.
I wish people dissed the DBS for having Hilman Hunter tail lights, Chrysler indicator stalks and Zephyr Executive headlamp nacelles. But instead, it had the performance of the later 1978 AM V8 Vantage without the price. The DBS and DBS V8 was the car that bankrupted Aston Martin, and without Canadian and North American money in a bailout, that would have been it. The costs of fuel injection development and EU and US emissions and safety compliance almost killed Aston Martin. US and Arab Quarter money has bailed out the company three times. Thats love, People❤️✔️
It seems mad now but as an apprentice mechanic 40 years ago I got to work on a DBS Vantage at a small country garage in Somerset. The car belonged to a wealthy farmer who didn't trust the main dealers apparently and he got 'mates rates' from his drinking buddy the owner of the garage anyway. They were both quite happy to let a 20 year old service and repair a car that was a bit of a step up from the Austin Allegros etc I normally worked on. Unfortunately, it depends on your viewpoint, I was not allowed to test drive it. But I did get to go on one memorable road test as a passenger along the Fosse Way at 'who do you think you are' speeds with the boss. The owner was pissed in the back with his still lit pipe burning a hole in the carpet. Amazing how an engine note can bring memories back.
Hi Jack. The DBS V8 in it's original form, in my opinion is one of the most beautiful GT cars ever made! It's a shame that the dash was a bit of a let down with no walnut veneer! Totally agree it does have a certain menace about it! P.S. I remember looking at one of these on a used car lot in the late seventies for GBP 4,500 - wish I had a crystal ball!
Even in the late nineteenties i could buy one (or two) for even less money… the GBP had “crashed” and the taxes were exceptionally raised for big engines…. In fact, i wanted one . I had some savings for a shed(garage) to put it in… that garage was allready plannend for double the costs of a DBS V8, so i could have bought 2 DBS’es but no garage to put it in and storing one on the driveway permanently is a bad idea.. so i Build the garage…. 1 year later i found out that the prices of a DBS V8 had doubled again…. I should have bought a pair and sell one later on to build the garage to put it in…. 😂. Indeed.. a crystal ball would have been nice
A lovely looking thing and to my eyes, prettier than the AM V8 that followed it. Tadek Marek knew his stuff, and was a major asset to Aston Martin, the V8 proving well worth the wait.
In fern green and with wire wheels it is the best looking post war AM ever made imho. Nobody should forget that most cars will never go over 90mph or max out the engine revs in order to get to the shops quicker.
A lot of cars had that all black plastic/vinyl/leather interior in the sixties and seventies. There was a conservative rebound in the eighties because all people wanted wood and leather in their English cars, so Jaguar and Aston Martin and Rover and whatnot obliged. But for the time this interior is perfectly time correct.
No, that's how they made them! Depending on the year the switchgear is a bizarre mix of Lucas (Jaguar), Hifi knobs and other odds and ends. - The fan speed control is from a Peterbilt truck! (the air con is US-made Coolaire so I suppose it makes sense?) Horrible parcel shelf speakers though...
An excellent video about the strange evolution of models from a small UK manufacturer. However... I wonder of we overuse the word "underpowered". In truth, even with the six, a DBS was a swift, powerful car that could outpace almost anything on the road at the time. We can get a little lost in 0-60 times and power output... From well before the DB4 arrived, there have been no underpowered Aston Martins. Being slower than a DB6 does not equate to being underpowered. Excellent video nonetheless.
Before you start the video, I'm old enough to remember when this was introduced and, in my opinion was the nicest looking DBS V8, irrespective of the engineering, let the video begin!
ooooh that engine note is mildly addictive. One of my favourite Astons... shame about the very dodgy speakers in the rear, am I being picky? Nice, no exquisite car Robin.
The Aston Martin DBS V8 ('69 to '72) was equipped with a truly sensational engine. The 5.3 litre (5341 cc) engine's maximum torque was 540Nm at 4,500 rpm - i.e. colossal for the period. The Mustang Mach 1 (1969) fitted with a 5.8 litre engine produced a maximum of 481Nm at a lower 2,600 rpm. As for looks, the said Aston does remind me of the Mustang Mach 1 - however far more stylish.
There's something just so cool about that Brown DBS in TLD. Definitely prefer the 2 headlight version over the quad one. It gives it a muscle car look almost.
I don't look at it as to a muscle car. Its more of a sports car, like Lamborghini Muira. If I compare it to a muscle car, for example, 1970 Chevelle it has so much better muscle car lines, can't beat that.
The William Towns design has always been my favourite Aston - One of the first motoring mags I bought with my pocket money was a What Car edition (1978?) that bizarrely compared a Silver Shadow II, Porsche 928 and Aston V8 - and I've loved it ever since, even when the Vantage grew its Victor Gauntlet-era flared arches. It's a gentlemanly thug.
As regards the handling, I remember a fellow car sales colleague telling me that the suspension for these originated in an Austin Westminster. If true, that might explain some of the, ahem, shortcomings.
James Bond should be grateful to Sir William Lyons that he drove an Aston Martin at all. The film producers asked for some E-Types but were declined. Perhaps the best one was the DB6, a lovely shape and the largest 6 cylinder engine. The DB5 keeps re-appearing in Daniel Craig's films, such as Skyfall, so it must be popular.
The DBS V8 is the quintessential Aston, best Bond car ever, to put your leg down on the ground after a good run and feel the heat wave roll up your leg as you get out, awesome.
Looking at that camera angle it looks to me like it could do with new shocks and springs and a full suspension set up. Love it, my absolute favorite Aston, in green or 'Bret Sinclair' Yellow.
The springs and dampers are shot on that car! Trouble is that these U Tubers don't know how these cars should drive so do not know when they get a good one or a bad one.
It's hard to say from just looking at the footage and the car looks well cared-for but I'm sure mine doesn't wallow like that. Konis on the rear are a good upgrade.
@@ralphmillais5237 I think that's true for a lot of people. They think, "Old car; so it must be slow, wallowy and under-braked," and not every owner is necessarily aware of how good their car could be.
the DBS and V8 Vantage remain my favourite looking Astons. gorgeous soundtrack from the engine. interesting comment about the 'Italian driving position', the design of this generation of Astons is very similar to some of the Italian GTs from the same era.
I love these cars because they remind me of American muscle cars spiffed up with luxury features - some versions of The DBs have a late 60s Mustang fastback stance and feel. An elegant British brute in a Saville Row suit!
Nice video Jack! I have a '76 V8 in the same colour: It's called "Cambridge Blue Cosmic Fire" (how '70s is that? ;-) The steering column is a Jaguar XJ item (as is the rack) so the wheel position is adjustable (spin the lock ring behind the wheel and push/pull). The pedals need a spanner but are also moveable. - The factory would have positioned them for the customer on delivery). I agree with the other comments saying the car looks like it needs a suspension overhaul but it's never going to rival the Influenzo. The engine is an absolute beast and much nicer (albeit thirsty!) on Webers.
Peter, I also have a '76. Great car, amazing engine! The upgrades that are available for these cars make a huge difference to their performance, reliability and pleasure-to-drive factor. I've owned it for 20 years, sunk a ton of money into it without regret... and have no plans to sell! :)
I keep wanting to tell him to turn off the interior lights! He really should comment on how marvelously comfortable the seats are and how luxurious the wool headliner is. The wipers seem prosaic but they move so silently and determinedly across the screen. I owned a 6 cylinder 1969 DBS and the thing felt "safe as houses," as the Brits would say, in the rain. The engine note sounded like a WWII bomber and it would pull from 0 mph in 5th gear. There was a lot to love about it. But I made the mistake of not buying a car with a good history and it was a proper nightmare, from the fan pulley flying off to the brakes seizing and literally catching fire.
My late father owned a DBS V8 in 1972.I bought a DB9 in 2007.He died before I bought it.I think he would have loved it.
You rich folk
@@zairomolino4074 Not necessarily rich, but also enthusiasts who appreciate fine things and made sacrifices to enjoy them.
@@2Truth2you well said.
@@zairomolino4074 so let it be. It’s not a crime wath is a crime is that 99% of the people envey the wealthy and lose time instead of pursuing ideas, chasing challenges to overcome no matter wath to fulfill their dreams. Now that is a crime that poor people do blame or envey losing time with tik tok, Netflix or drinking with friends on saturdays night.
@2Truth2you I'm not rich.I used my late wife's life insurance to buy my dream car.She told me to do it.😊
That’s my favourite Aston of all time. The Lazenby Bond is also my favourite Bond movie. You have to remember at the time the Bond movie came out nobody would have known it was slower than the DB6 when watching. It was Bond in the latest Aston and that was all that counted. Also if you swapped the Influenzo for one of those I wouldn’t be disappointed. LOL
Completely agree, too much importance was put on Lazenby's nationality and acting ability and not enough on the plot, character development and the importance of Theresa in Bonds life.
Telly Savalas was the best villain for sure.
@@V8_screw_electric_cars now i`m gonna watch it lol
Not to mention Diana Rigg as Theresa.
@@michaeltb1358 and her Mercury Couagar.
The talk about the DBS brought back memories of Roger Moore driving one in The Persuaders. His had the V8 wheels but the six cylinder engine.
Yeah, that is the series where I fell in love with this car. Roger Moore in the Aston and Tony Curtis in a lovely Ferrari Dino 246 GT. Two of the best looking cars of the time.
@@Goc67It was the Bahamas Yellow paintwork I liked on the DBS it really suited the car.
@@Goc67 Agree 110%!
Back in the 70's my dad found an identical alloy wheel as this aston has in a scrap yard.
He paid £3 for it and for years and years it was fixed to the garage wall to wind the hose around.
Closes i ever got to an aston martin.
Too Funny...
Wow! What a coincidence. I parked my much loved DBS Near a scrapyard in 75 or so and came back not an hour later, to find it on bricks with the wheels missing. Needless to say I went to the scrapyard and was lucky to buy 3 matching wheels which they guaranteed me were genuine. They were kind enough to help me fit it. Saved the day.
Well i was lucky to find the wheel that was in D Brown flat when he passes away .it must have been a prototype.
I love this car, I couldn't afford the petrol, but its still awesome.
Especially the boot lid without the lip.
Fell in love with the DBS as a 5 year old watching Roger Moore & Tony Curtis racing each other in first episode of The Persuaders. I still think 50 years later, it's one of the best looking cars ever designed.
As a 5yo I agree.
I always thought the original DBS had the look of an early 70s American muscle car. I really like the styling.
Heavens no! American design from that era (and any other post war era) was a sinonim of flashy and flamboyant taste. Sorry.
It's the poshest muscle car ever made.
It certainly seems to have the handling of one. Looks very European though. Mix of Ghibli and Jenson Interceptor. Perhaps a bit Iso Griffo mixed in.
@@heiner71 It is not a surprise that the Iso, the Maserati and the Jenson have affinity of design. Each being from the Italian design tradition. The Aston Martin however, was thoroughly English from the tyres up. I have to say that every car that I have owned, apart from one, was either Italian or styled by an Italian.
@@milosbrajkovic9855 ok, so we have different opinions on that. To my eyes, the exterior has the feel of cars like the original Mustang Mach 1.
Personally I love them - especially the earlier models with twin lamps - like the one featured here! Some of the interior switchgear looks like something off a 70s hi fi though!
Quite possibly!
@@paultucker4923 I think they raided the BMC parts bin.
Last David Bond Aston & last true Aston, face lift looked like it hit a wall.
Love to know how the last version with the X Pack and two decades of development compares. One of my favourites of all time.
I can tell that I would be hopelssly addicted driving this car: The look, the sound, the interior, the power.
There was no British car ever that fascinated me as much as the Astons of the Sixites and Seventies. I see that I would sit well in this car : I have very short legs and a long upper body, so this one might be ideal for me. Thanks for sharing this one with us.
Always remember that car from the 'persuaders' with Roger more at the wheel & Tony curtis in the Dino 246, loved it🙂
Get those speakers out of the parcel shelf.
Yes... But. It is such an easy place to mount them. Easy to route the wires.... Easy to drill the holes. Everything is easy. And the sound quality is OK.
It's not as if it's a new car. So it won't deny the value.... Cars this old are done depreciating and from now on it's just a matter of keeping it running until it finally conks out on the A3 on a wet Tuesday.
@@BanjoLuke1 point taken, I didn’t mean to be offensive. It’s a lovely car.
@@BanjoLuke1Meh rubbish. It ruins the look even if is is easy to do for botch-job wannabe mechanics. These cars are appreciating in value and have been since the financial crisis of 2008. Speakers on the parcel shelf are poor taste and cowboyish.
@@davidmacdonald1695 so if the owner were a cowboy, would it make it acceptable?
Why drive Aston V8 to listen to 8 track??? Big fan of Karen Carpenter, Bread & Carole King?
Nice one! Looks menacing like an American muscle car from the late 60’s early 70’s. Upgrade the suspension and you’ve got a winner. I wouldn’t mess with the motor. Unless of course it were a V6. Awesome car.
One of my favourite Astons ... always felt it had a whiff of Italin uber-cool styling about it, wouldn't be surprised to see a pininfarina badge on it
My all time favourite Bond car. How disappointed was I though when you didn't drop a slick of oil or machine gun another car.
It's an old Aston - they all drop oil slicks ;-)
I loved the version in the living daylights. Volante too. My favourite bond car. I also like the film and Timothy Dalton. Underappreciated.
The Living Daylights 100% 👍🇦🇺
You could definitely get addicted to that beautiful engine note. A bit surprised that the Bahama Yellow DBS V8 from The Persuaders didn’t get a mention. Surely the most iconic moment for the DBS? Enjoyable video. 👍
That was actually a 6 cylinder car dressed as a V8.
It’s not a v8 but a dressed up 6
Yep…they wanted a V8 but as the V8 was delayed they used a 6 cylinder Vantage and dressed it as a V8
And orange!
I think the same dogleg ZF was also being used by contemporary Maseratis (Ghibli, Indy, Khamsin, Quattroporte), a pretty indestructible piece of kit.
DBS for me is Bret Sinclair’s Bahama yellow example used on the Persuaders.. I believe that example was a 6 cylinder as the V8 wasn’t ready…
Looking at the footage of the off side front wheel it seems to bounce a bit. New shock absorbers seem to be required and would probably deal with the suspension issues you keep sensing.
Good choice of subject and nice video. However, let's not do the 6 cylinder DBS too much of a disservice. You mention how much slower the 6 cylinder was and show the triple SU carb set up, but the Vantage option (triple twin choke side draught Weber carbs and different inlet cam) combined with the DBS body shape and wire wheels were sufficient to raise the hairs on the back of my neck on every journey. Aside from the DB4 GT (non Zagato original), the DBS for me made previous AMs thoroughly redundant, despite a little more bulk, V8 engine or not.
The V8 Osca India is my favourite understated, rich man’s Ford Mustang ! Love that sound! “ A brute in a suit!” Thanks Jack!
Love the Mk2 Ford Cortina front indicator/ side light units and Hillman Hunter rears👍😎
This iteration of the Aston's are absolutely the BEST LOOKING . As you said Brutish but Elegant . One of the Handsomest cars ever built .
As I too have aged, I now think this original DBS styling (pre mid-70s facelift) is the most handsome and contemporary of all the post-war Astons. A brute in a suit indeed. I'd take this over their modern offerings all day long.
you would prefer this to a DB5 nonsense and a huge sum of money difference in the millions
I remember when I was working in Germany in the late 1980s. I was driving a colleagues MB E class on the autobahn. The Benz was comfortable sustaining about 200 KPR (125 MPR) and was it exciting to drive for more than an hour at these speeds.
At some point I remember a DBS passing me like I was stopped.
Its a memory of that great shape blasting by me that has stuck with me for all these years.
I was used to being passed by the usual 911s and big engined BMWs etc. but the DBS made the biggest impression.
What a glorious sounding V8!
It reminds me of the Italian Monteverdi cars.
There is something so utterly scrumptious about big V8 GT cars.
I truly believe that current Aston designs are esthetically more beautiful than anything coming out of Italy. Less cartoonish and more functional. (I’m sure that will upset a few folks!)
Unless mistaken - and referred to in this upload - the vehicle in OHMSS was on G plate which is a 1968/69 year of registration.
Best thing about that car; apart from Diana Rigg(?) *aka Tracey* were the glorious Airhorns lol.
There is a horn selector switch on the dash: "Town" is standard electric hooter. "Country" is the full air horn ensemble. :-)
Back in the 80s 6 cylinder DBS were changing hands for less money than a basic Ford Granada. So many really nice cars were so cheap, 911s, e-types etc. The DBS is a stunning looking GT.
Love my DBS! I've got a six cylinder but on triple Weber carbs in Vantage spec - it's not as quick the V8 but it's no slouch, esp with the 5 speed ZF manual! And sounds glorious! You're welcome to drive to compare and contrast!!
That’s very kind thank you!! Can you send me an email with your details?
I agree they are the best Bond car. I also think they are one of the best looking cars ever made.
When I was a lad, there was a guy lived on the next street over, who by accounts, won big on the pools. He had one exactly the same as the one in the video, same color, parked out on the street. And as this was the heyday of The Persuaders, I loved any excuse to walk by that car.
Well, I'd love a DBS V8 Vantage please! 👀👍🇬🇧
Nice. My boss had a V8 Vantage in BRG back in the early 80s. A real beast of a car at that time.
One of the best looking cars of all time.
I agree.
Brett Sinclair played by Roger Moore in the 1970's TV series, The Persuaders, used a DBS. It was fitted with the wheels of the V8 variant but was in fact powered by the six cylinder from the DB6. Still ultra-cool though. That DBS/V8 body is my all time favourite. More class than any Ferrari or Lamborghini. Love and peace.
This Aston DBS basically is the British "Gentlemen" White Collar version of the all American Mustang GT Blue Collar Muscle car. The styling of the Aston Martin is obviously based up on the Mustang Fastback to begin with, but made less "Vulgair" so the British establishment could also experience a Muscle car in a more stylish and less Vulgair way. In the end the people from the British establishment weren't really that different from those they'd call Vugair. So the Aston Martin DBS --> A 1967 Ford Mustang GT for the Vulgair elite.
The original Bond Aston wasn't a DB5.It was a modified DB4.
By far the most stylish of Astons, in terms of looks the early DBS trumps the later face lift variants. Aston got this one so right, just a shame the engine the engine wasn't ready before the car was launched
Looks like a mix of the Fiat Dino Coupé, Ford Osi 23MTS and Audi Coupe - I like the looks! Please make a test of the German GLAS GT V8 3000 with Frua bodywork and the Swiss Monteverdi 375!
Had the pleasure of being able to drive the Aston Marten DS V8 and I could find no fault with it and an absolute pleasure to drive and loved every time I got behind the wheel of it
When I was a teen in the mid-80s a 1970 DBS appeared in the driveway of a neighbouring farm. The new farm owners bought the property "with all chattels and vehicles" and discovered the Aston forgotten in the barn under a collapsed hayloft. The rear window was broken but the Avons still held air. After changing fuel and battery, the engine fired right up.
The owners contacted the seller - an old Mennonite farmer who sold the property so he could do missionary work in South America - and asked about the car. Seems he bought it for his wife but she didn't like to drive it, so it was parked in the barn and forgotten with 1500 miles on it. The new owner said it didn't feel right getting such a valuable car as part of the deal, and insisted on sending the old man some money for it. "Well I paid $4000 for it. The dealer had it marked down because nobody wanted it with the automatic transmission, which is why I thought my wife would like it. If it makes you feel better send me $3000 and we'll call it even". And that was that.
Great car, great and informative vid again. I cried a bit when I saw the speakers haha.
The living daylights is one of my favourite Bond films, and Dalton made a fantastic Bond. Yes, the V8 made a great Bond car too 👍🏻
there's definitely a cult fandom for The Living Daylights. I was a little too young to see either Dalton Bond movies, and grew up with Brosnan as Bond. I discovered The Living Daylights just a few years ago and loved it.
100%
I love the OHMSS DBS. It’s probably my favourite Bond car after the DB5
Allways appreciate how You allways stay on topic and maintain focus without being extraoredinary in an Clarcsonesque or Amerikan way. And still keep Me watching out of cheer intrest. You make me feel like listening to that one and the only good teacher one had back in the school years. That one that one who just loved his subjekt so much that you just had to love it to.
Jack, this was another riveting and engrossing "you are there" video - fantastic veloce driving too !!!
It is probably the sweetest V8. Mine was frighteningly fast, and yes; the brakes are a little scary when you apply them at a hundred and fifty miles per hour! Nothing seems to happen for the first few minutes.
😂 “minutes”
I had a 1979 Jeep Honcho (a full-size, short bed pickup with a frontend that looks similar to the classic Grand Cherokees and Wagoneers), it was one of just ~1200 manufactured between ‘74-‘83. It handled like a shopping trolley being pushed backwards from its nose: squirrelly, with only the mildest whiff of suggestions arriving from the the steering wheel, which could easily travel ~15deg either side of center without any discernible response.
It was the worst handling vehicle I’ve ever driven, including farm tractors, modded mini bikes, golf carts, and fishing boats. My high-school jalopy was a ‘87 Olds Cutlass Supreme that was purchased from an insurance auction for $200 in 1998, its engine seized appr. six months later. Driving that Cutlass evoked the sensations of engaging a precision machined bolt action rifle when compared to the Honcho’s flaccid drivechain. Hitting the brakes felt like trying to stop a freight train by throwing tapioca pudding on the rails. Its enormous engine was underpowered, inside they used a cheap sprung bench seat, it rattled like a soup can full of BBs, and just generally inspired its occupants to consider whether they might be more comfortable if they were riding outside of the cabin. In my experience, most classic cars from that era are a pleasure to look at and work on, but a nightmare to drive and use.
Still, I wouldn’t change anything. It was special to my father, who relished In the process of restoring and detailing every inch of it. Jeeps have become such a cliched fashion accessory around the Southeast US, I think it was largely the simple pride of owning one of the only “rare” Jeeps around, and as long as it was running off-road it was actually a ton of fun to run around a trail with. Maybe it’s just me, but I think people who purchase and own classic cars are maybe just a little bit _off in the head_ as if we derive some kind of satisfaction from extremely high effort/low reward activities. That’s why the only rich people with car collections are Jay Leno or rappers. Anyone with enough shrewdness to achieve real wealth knows that all cars-but especially vintage ones-are all highly efficient cash incinerators. Their most redeeming quality is that your wife won’t take it in the divorce…and also when your time finally comes to shuffle off this mortal coil, you can pass away feeling happy in the knowledge that sorting out what to do with the damn thing will be a profoundly annoying exercise to leave your kid(s) with.
@@silverXnoise Oh so true.
Of course, in my case time is relative. As Einstein once said, 'Having a beautiful woman sitting in your lap for thirty minutes seems like thirty seconds, whilst sitting on a hot stove for thirty seconds seems like thirty minutes'.
The DB6 may have been lighter than the DBS6 and therefore faster until thr first ripply corner when the DBS would have just gone round it riding on its De Dion rear end while the solid axle DB6 would have tramped and shimmied round in a haze of oversteer and tyre smoke.
I have two favourite cars from that period - the twin headlight DBS as driven by Roger Moore in The Persuaders, and the Jensen Interceptor. As I thought the early V8s had fuel injection, but the later models had carbs. Nice video and a really envy you getting to drive that car!
I’ve owned and driven my OI V8 for 25 yrs. They are stunning to drive well, cut your cornering lines precisely Which is a big part of the joy. They are not for kids. Simple roll bar enhancement removes any over tendency to back end slide. The steering is perfect. power of one of the greatest engines ever built by hand in England , is just truly magnificent.
Marek’s V8 is one of the world’s classic engines - in Vantage form, it scared the sh*t out of Barry Gill when he tested it for Wheelbase: “…174mph and still accelerating…”
The nicest Bond Aston, yes!
Just over twenty years ago I was looking at a 6 cyl DBS that had had the engine removed to repower a DB6 and a 350 chev installed with an auto box the price was $15000 Australian and the instillation was a professional job with all the proper engineers certificates, apparently, they are a literal drop in fit with even the mounts lining up! My brother who I was looking at it for (he had the dollars) decide that would go with a Silver Shadow instead as he had the idea that it wasnt a pure Aston Martin, At the time, I said he would regret it, and yes he did. That car has only appreciated in value even without the original engine, other than the engine and gearbox it was in very good condition and I have seen Aston Martins sans Engine and gearbox and needing restoration sell for four times the price or more. Yes like the 246 Dino I nearly bought in the early eighties for 16000 Australian Dollars, it was one of those missed deals.
Those early DBS are very nice looking cars
Innes Ireland, ex GP driver and Motoring correspondent, was an Aston technical advisor at the time, and was instrumental in persuading Aston to adopt the dog leg first, on the grounds that the change from 4th to 5th was more important than 1st to 2nd in real world use. The springs and dampers look shot on that car, meaning the handling observations can be disregarded.
Interesting argument about 1/2 vs 4/5! Personally I disagree :)
I'd say 1/2 shifts are more common, and it is more likely you are in a hurry compared to 4/5 shifts.
I could buy the argument that 2/3 is more important though, but I'm not 100% convinced - especially on the road and not a track.
@@rogerwennstrom6677 The dog leg 1st was not widely adopted. As 5 speed boxes became more common, the industry standard was to have 5th adjacent to 3rd. Most people find the dog leg 1st clumsy.
@@ralphmillais5237 I'm aware :) It is Innes Irelands argument here for the dogleg configuration that baffles me.
@@rogerwennstrom6677 Sadly he is no longer here to ask.
This is probably the best DBS V8 review
Did anyone else spot the obvious error in the two 'Bond' clips at the beginning? Jack..?
The V8 is the one to have.
However this car is over 50 years old now, and the suspension could well be tired.
I understand they do upgrade kits so these handle a lot better.
In Vantage spec, the DBS is pretty strong.
I think I missed it, maybe this is only talking about Aston Martin, but in From Russia With Love, Bond had his Bentley. Maybe it's time for a Bentley to be the car for the next Bond? Especially if it could be a period piece!
Is that cabin light supposed to be on all the time?
I absolutely adored the Vantage in The Persuaders!
Very nice. The rubbish heater system was a complex afterthought and they had 3 different systems in 6 years. Originally early ones had one knob to control everything, then a couple of years later they it two knobs in the centre and sliders on the drivers side before finally getting the combined heater a/c sliders in the centre. The last ones had a confusing automatic system.
This was one of my 'poster' cars when i was a kid in the late 60's early 70's. Fantastic. Sounds great. Thanks.
One of my all-time favourite cars. What a pity that Aston hadn't sorted out that lovely engine before it was raced in the Lola T70.
Jack, I wonder if you ever encounter Harry Metcalfe when the two of you are chucking fast cars up and down that road!
Great review. I was fortunate enough to own an Aston Martin V8 (Weber Carbs) in the ‘80s, it was my first supercar and my dream car! I used to call it the worlds fastest lorry due to its weight and handling, but as you said, the engine was superb! My then wife had an artist produce a painting of the car for my 30th birthday, the car is long gone, but I still have the painting to remind me of what a glorious car that Aston was.
I wish people dissed the DBS for having Hilman Hunter tail lights, Chrysler indicator stalks and Zephyr Executive headlamp nacelles. But instead, it had the performance of the later 1978 AM V8 Vantage without the price. The DBS and DBS V8 was the car that bankrupted Aston Martin, and without Canadian and North American money in a bailout, that would have been it. The costs of fuel injection development and EU and US emissions and safety compliance almost killed Aston Martin. US and Arab Quarter money has bailed out the company three times. Thats love, People❤️✔️
It seems mad now but as an apprentice mechanic 40 years ago I got to work on a DBS Vantage at a small country garage in Somerset. The car belonged to a wealthy farmer who didn't trust the main dealers apparently and he got 'mates rates' from his drinking buddy the owner of the garage anyway. They were both quite happy to let a 20 year old service and repair a car that was a bit of a step up from the Austin Allegros etc I normally worked on.
Unfortunately, it depends on your viewpoint, I was not allowed to test drive it. But I did get to go on one memorable road test as a passenger along the Fosse Way at 'who do you think you are' speeds with the boss. The owner was pissed in the back with his still lit pipe burning a hole in the carpet.
Amazing how an engine note can bring memories back.
Thanks for the memories and for watching the video!
Hi Jack. The DBS V8 in it's original form, in my opinion is one of the most beautiful GT cars ever made! It's a shame that the dash was a bit of a let down with no walnut veneer!
Totally agree it does have a certain menace about it! P.S. I remember looking at one of these on a used car lot in the late seventies for GBP 4,500 - wish I had a crystal ball!
Agreed on the no-wood fascia. I'd be tempted to have a few panels made up by a local craftsman.
Even in the late nineteenties i could buy one (or two) for even less money… the GBP had “crashed” and the taxes were exceptionally raised for big engines…. In fact, i wanted one . I had some savings for a shed(garage) to put it in… that garage was allready plannend for double the costs of a DBS V8, so i could have bought 2 DBS’es but no garage to put it in and storing one on the driveway permanently is a bad idea.. so i Build the garage…. 1 year later i found out that the prices of a DBS V8 had doubled again…. I should have bought a pair and sell one later on to build the garage to put it in…. 😂. Indeed.. a crystal ball would have been nice
I've always wondered why they never had a wooden facia. Seems I am in good company. Seems a perfect car to fit a modern engine management system to.
Johnny English drive a gorgeous red car in the 3th movie
A lovely looking thing and to my eyes, prettier than the AM V8 that followed it. Tadek Marek knew his stuff, and was a major asset to Aston Martin, the V8 proving well worth the wait.
In fern green and with wire wheels it is the best looking post war AM ever made imho. Nobody should forget that most cars will never go over 90mph or max out the engine revs in order to get to the shops quicker.
Aston owner: "hold my G&T"...
Not entirely sure that interior came out of the factory looking like that... 😂 One of my favourite cars though after the Jensen Interceptor....👍
certainly didn't look good.
A lot of cars had that all black plastic/vinyl/leather interior in the sixties and seventies. There was a conservative rebound in the eighties because all people wanted wood and leather in their English cars, so Jaguar and Aston Martin and Rover and whatnot obliged. But for the time this interior is perfectly time correct.
@@ingvarhallstrom2306 Yes, I never realised those early cars had such naff switch gear! The later V8 models certainly upped the game a bit 😂👍
No, that's how they made them! Depending on the year the switchgear is a bizarre mix of Lucas (Jaguar), Hifi knobs and other odds and ends. - The fan speed control is from a Peterbilt truck! (the air con is US-made Coolaire so I suppose it makes sense?) Horrible parcel shelf speakers though...
It's a typical late 60s car interior - trim and dashboard wise.
Io sono invece assolutamente innamorato follemente della 6 cilindri con le ruote a raggi .... ❤ Grazie Giacomo, un abbraccio dall'Italia
'The brilliant Persuaders theme song and Roger Moore driving along rhe Riviera in France. Sweet memories
An excellent video about the strange evolution of models from a small UK manufacturer.
However... I wonder of we overuse the word "underpowered". In truth, even with the six, a DBS was a swift, powerful car that could outpace almost anything on the road at the time.
We can get a little lost in 0-60 times and power output... From well before the DB4 arrived, there have been no underpowered Aston Martins. Being slower than a DB6 does not equate to being underpowered.
Excellent video nonetheless.
Fabulous selection of classic car reviews - thank you, really enjoyable
Thank you Gregor!!
Before you start the video, I'm old enough to remember when this was introduced and, in my opinion was the nicest looking DBS V8, irrespective of the engineering, let the video begin!
ooooh that engine note is mildly addictive. One of my favourite Astons... shame about the very dodgy speakers in the rear, am I being picky? Nice, no exquisite car Robin.
Speakers are very nasty. - plus who wants to listen to the radio when you have that built-in V8 soundtrack? :-)
What a fantastic looking car..... I'll take mine in British racing green 💚.
Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👏👍
That is a car for James Bond at his most rakish or Terry Thomas at his most caddish. Absolute ballers car.
Great work as ever Jack. Loved these from the day they were released when I was a lad of 9. And a Vantage X Pack just makes me go weak at the knees
The Aston Martin DBS V8 ('69 to '72) was equipped with a truly sensational engine. The 5.3 litre (5341 cc) engine's maximum torque was 540Nm at 4,500 rpm - i.e. colossal for the period. The Mustang Mach 1 (1969) fitted with a 5.8 litre engine produced a maximum of 481Nm at a lower 2,600 rpm.
As for looks, the said Aston does remind me of the Mustang Mach 1 - however far more stylish.
There's something just so cool about that Brown DBS in TLD. Definitely prefer the 2 headlight version over the quad one. It gives it a muscle car look almost.
I don't look at it as to a muscle car. Its more of a sports car, like Lamborghini Muira. If I compare it to a muscle car, for example, 1970 Chevelle it has so much better muscle car lines, can't beat that.
The William Towns design has always been my favourite Aston - One of the first motoring mags I bought with my pocket money was a What Car edition (1978?) that bizarrely compared a Silver Shadow II, Porsche 928 and Aston V8 - and I've loved it ever since, even when the Vantage grew its Victor Gauntlet-era flared arches. It's a gentlemanly thug.
Hello Jack. I think that this has been the best of recent videos. A mixture of great content, presentation and production. Best wishes.
Great looking car - special handmade V8. Maybe an overhaul of brakes and suspension would help?
It is such an amazingly beautiful car 😍. I’m in love with the design of these even if they don’t have the best handling.
your editing is getting better
It’s an improvement on a very low starting base!!
As regards the handling, I remember a fellow car sales colleague telling me that the suspension for these originated in an Austin Westminster. If true, that might explain some of the, ahem, shortcomings.
James Bond should be grateful to Sir William Lyons that he drove an Aston Martin at all. The film producers asked for some E-Types but were declined. Perhaps the best one was the DB6, a lovely shape and the largest 6 cylinder engine. The DB5 keeps re-appearing in Daniel Craig's films, such as Skyfall, so it must be popular.
The V8 from living daylights is the only Aston I buy tbh, love the looks , modern astons I’m just not interested in
Beautiful looking car, I'd have it for the engine alone another brilliant review jack 👍
My favourite Bond vehicle would be the moon buggy in " Diamonds Are Forever".
That Aston does sound glorious there, though.
Nice vid, Jack.
The DBS V8 is the quintessential Aston, best Bond car ever, to put your leg down on the ground after a good run and feel the heat wave roll up your leg as you get out, awesome.
Looking at that camera angle it looks to me like it could do with new shocks and springs and a full suspension set up.
Love it, my absolute favorite Aston, in green or 'Bret Sinclair' Yellow.
The springs and dampers are shot on that car! Trouble is that these U Tubers don't know how these cars should drive so do not know when they get a good one or a bad one.
It's hard to say from just looking at the footage and the car looks well cared-for but I'm sure mine doesn't wallow like that. Konis on the rear are a good upgrade.
@@ralphmillais5237 I think that's true for a lot of people. They think, "Old car; so it must be slow, wallowy and under-braked," and not every owner is necessarily aware of how good their car could be.
the DBS and V8 Vantage remain my favourite looking Astons. gorgeous soundtrack from the engine. interesting comment about the 'Italian driving position', the design of this generation of Astons is very similar to some of the Italian GTs from the same era.
I love these cars because they remind me of American muscle cars spiffed up with luxury features - some versions of The DBs have a late 60s Mustang fastback stance and feel. An elegant British brute in a Saville Row suit!
Probably not the association Aston was desiring
Beautiful car and another good video 🚘🚙🚗👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👏👏👏
I love that car. One day I will have it in my garage.
Nice video Jack! I have a '76 V8 in the same colour: It's called "Cambridge Blue Cosmic Fire" (how '70s is that? ;-) The steering column is a Jaguar XJ item (as is the rack) so the wheel position is adjustable (spin the lock ring behind the wheel and push/pull). The pedals need a spanner but are also moveable. - The factory would have positioned them for the customer on delivery). I agree with the other comments saying the car looks like it needs a suspension overhaul but it's never going to rival the Influenzo. The engine is an absolute beast and much nicer (albeit thirsty!) on Webers.
Peter, I also have a '76. Great car, amazing engine! The upgrades that are available for these cars make a huge difference to their performance, reliability and pleasure-to-drive factor. I've owned it for 20 years, sunk a ton of money into it without regret... and have no plans to sell! :)