Background

First shown in September 1967, the DBS was styled by William Towns who had joined the company a year earlier. A development of the DB6, the DBS was initially conceived as a limited production fast two seater and prepared to accommodate the new V8 engine designed by Tadek Marek which had been raced in experimental form in The Lola Aston Martin. To accommodate the width of a V8 engine the steel platform chassis of the DB6 was increased in width by 4 1/2" and the wheel base lengthened by 1" to allow the engine to be lowered behind the front cross member. Although wider than a DB6 by 6� it is both lower by 1" and Shorter by 1", which gives the car a powerful compact appearance.

The standard engine produced 282 b.h.p. whilst 325 b.h.p. was claimed for the Vantage. A de Dion rear axle was fitted with a limited slip differential. The model was in production from October 1967 to May 1972, during which time 787 cars were produced. In 1972, David Brown sold Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd., to Company Developments Ltd. In April of the same year, a revised version of both the DBS and DBS V8, were announced. The DBS V8 became the AM V8 (in later years it is thought that it was members of the Aston Martin Owners Club who designated it as the AM V8 Series II) and the DBS became this car, the AM Vantage. The most obvious design change to both models was to the front of the car. The four or more commonly referred to as twin head lamps were replaced by two 7" quartz iodine headlights. These flanked the grill as opposed to being inset within the grill. Thus the appearance more closely resembled the familiar shape introduced with the DB3S and continued through the range. This distinctive shape continued through the range and can been seen today in current A.M. Models. Other than the last two cars produced, they were all fitted with the C-Type Vantage engine.

Use of the name Vantage to describe a particular model was a departure from the custom started in 1951, where the term was only used to describe a tuned version of a standard production model. As an example, there is the standard DB6 and a tuned version referred to as a DB6 Vantage. Thankfully, after the AM Vantage, and so as to avoid further confusion, the company returned to the previous established practice which continues today.

In basic specification, the AM Vantage was the same as its predecessor, the DBS. However, there were a number of detailed modifications as follows. Same manual gearbox ratios as the DBS V8 and AM V8 with the 3.73:1 back axel (3.54:1 with automatic transmission). The dished steering wheel was leather covered. It is fitted with three 450 COE Weber Carburettors, special camshafts and has 9.4:1 compression ratio and power of 325 b.h.p. at 5,750 r.p.m.

Although demand was concentrated on the AM V8, demand for the 6-cylinder car called for the production of seventy odd AM Vantages. This may have been due to the price differential between the two models as the V8 was more expensive by 29%.

Vehicle History

This AM Vantage is rare in that it has an extensive file documenting its history over more than thirty years, the combination of servicing, maintenance, and MOT records that tally with the recorded mileage.

The maintenance records begin in 1976 when the mileage was 24,235 and confirm regular and extensive work throughout its life by Aston Martin approved dealers R S Williams and Hyde Vale Garage, and the Aston Martin specialists DJR Services, Promech Automotive, and Ken Shergold. This consistent level and quality of maintenance is immediately evident when driving the car and using its performance to the full.

Importantly, there is a well-documented summary and photographic record of an extensive restoration of the chassis and sills in 1992, since when the car has travelled less than 3,000 miles.