Aston Martin DB6

The Aston Martin DB6 is a grand tourer made by British car manufacturer Aston Martin and was produced from September 1965 to January 1971. Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Aston Martin DB6
Aston Martin DB6
1967 Aston Martin DB6 MkI
Brian Snelson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
ManufacturerAston Martin
Production1965–1970
1,788 produced
Body and chassis
ClassGrand tourer
Body styleDB6 2-door coupé 2+2
Volante four-seat convertible
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine DOHC Straight six, 3995 cc, 282 bhp @ 5500 rpm 280 lbs-ft @ 4500 rpm
TransmissionZF 5-speed overdrive manual or Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase101.5 in (2,578 mm)[1]
Length182 in (4,623 mm)[2]
Width66 in (1,676 mm)
Height53.5 in (1,359 mm)
Curb weight3,250 lb (1,474 kg)[3]
Chronology
PredecessorAston Martin DB5
SuccessorAston Martin DBS
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Aston Martin DB6

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 DB6 succeeded the Aston Martin DB5 and featured improved aerodynamics and specification over its predecessor.

History and design

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.[4] 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[5] 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 3.75-inch (95 mm) 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 145 mph (233 km/h) to 148 mph (238 km/h), with John Bolster aboard a Vantage spec DB6 reaching a two-way average of 152 mph (245 km/h).[6]

The DB6 continued with then high-tech Armstrong Selectaride cockpit-adjustable rear shock absorbers as available on the DB5.[7] 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:

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  • Roof line raised by two inches improving headroom especially for rear seat passengers
  • Genuinely useful leg room for rear passengers
  • More steeply raked albeit taller windscreen
  • Split front and rear bumpers
  • Standard chrome wire wheels on bias-ply whitewall tyres [in USA market]
  • Optional power steering
  • Optional air conditioning
  • Standard ZF five-speed manual unit or a BorgWarner three-speed automatic gearbox available at no extra cost
  • Optional Vantage specification retaining triple side-draft Weber 45DCOE carburetors with other minor revisions raising quoted output to 325 hp

Another major change from the DB5 to DB6 was abandonment of the full superleggera construction technique patented by coachbuilders/stylist Touring of Milan. For later DB6's construction, the more common body-on-platform technique was used; this was primarily due to the extended rear requiring a stronger and more rigid design utilizing a folded sheet metal supporting structure. Surprisingly the modifications combined to add only seventeen pounds weight compared to the DB5.[8]

Specifications

The DB6 is powered by the 3,995 cc (243.8 cu in) twin-overhead camshaft (DOHC), in-line six-cylinder Aston Martin engine designed by Tadek Marek. The engine, continued with its triple SU carb setup[9] producing 282 bhp (210 kW; 286 PS) at 5,500 rpm; the Vantage engine option is quoted at 325 bhp (242 kW; 330 PS) against the 314 bhp (234 kW; 318 PS) of the DB5. Although the DB6 was approximately 17 lb (7.7 kg) heavier than its predecessor, the stability at high speed, added luggage capacity and comforts for passengers in this grand tourer more than offset any imperceptible loss in performance caused by additional weight. The rear suspension used helical coil springs with ride control that was adjustable from inside the car.[10]

  • Curb weight: 1,474 kg (3,250 lb)
  • Engine: 4.0 L (3,995 cc (243.8 cu in)) straight-6
  • Compression ratio: standard=8.9:1 ; Vantage=9.4:1
  • Power: 282 hp (210 kW) at 5500 rpm (standard engine)
  • Power: 325 hp (242 kW) at 5750 rpm (optional Vantage engine)
  • Torque: 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) at 4500 rpm
  • Top Speed: 241 km/h (150 mph)
  • 0–60 mph (97 km/h) Acceleration: 8.4 s
  • Steering: rack and pinion with optional power assist
  • Fuel tank capacity: 19 imp gallons (standard)
    16 imp gallons (with optional air conditioning fitted)
...
Aston Martin DB6. Kieran White from Manchester, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Later models and variants

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 carburetors and higher compression ratio cylinder head.

A convertible body style was also offered, named the Volante.[11][12] 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, Prince of Wales, owns a DB6-based Volante MkII that has been converted to run on bioethanol.[13][14] The car was given to him by his mother on his 21st birthday.[14]

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1967 DB6 Vantage. Brett Weinstein (Wikipedia User: Nrbelex), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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1967 Aston Martin Volante, DB6-based, Vantage-specs. Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shooting Brake

A total of six or seven DB6 Shooting-brakes were produced by British coachbuilder Harold Radford, with three more by FLM Panelcraft [15][16] The engine options (282 and 325 hp) were the same as for the DB6 Saloon.

  • Kerb weight: 1,587 kg (3,499 lb)
  • Overall length: 180 in (4,572 mm)
  • Overall width: 66 in (1,676 mm)
  • Height: 52 in (1,321 mm)
  • Turning radius: 34 feet
  • Wheelbase: 98 in (2,489 mm)
  • Track: 54 in (1,372 mm)(f)
    53.5 in (1,359 mm)(r)
  • Fuel tank capacity: 16 imp gal (73 L; 19 US gal)
...
1967 Aston Martin DB6 Shooting Brake coach built by Harold Radford at the 2018 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance. Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Aston Martin DB6 Shooting Brake coach built by FLM Panelcraft. Ben, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Comments

Aston Martin Lagonda road car timeline, 1948–present.

Type 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
89012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901
OwnerDavid BrownWilliam WilsonMinden & SpragueVictor Gauntlett et al.FordIndependent consortium
City CarCygnet
Luxury CarRapide
2.6 ltr3 ltrRapideLagondaTaraf
Grand TourerDB4DB5 & VolanteDBS & VantageV8 VantageV8 VantageVantageVantage
DB1DB2DB2/4 & MKIIIDB6DB7DB9 & V12 VirageDB11
DBS V8 & AM V8V8 VirageV8VanquishDBS V12VanquishDBS Superleggera
Limited ProductionOne-77VulcanVictor
DB4 ZagatoV8 ZagatoDB7 ZagatoDB AR1V12 ZagatoDBS/DB9/Virage ZagatoVanquish ZagatoDBS GT ZagatoValkyrie
Valhalla
Sports prototypeV12 Speedster
SUVDBX
Concept Car
Colour code

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