1970 | Aston Martin DBS

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Cliveden House event, 8 July 2025.
£125,000 - £175,000 GBP

• One of a reported 317 right-hand-drive, manual gearbox examples of the DBS
• Finished originally in the rare shade of Roman Purple over Scarlet Connolly leather; now presents in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service-style olive green over cream hide
• Powered by a replacement straight-six engine bored out to 4.7-litre capacity
• Over £235,000 spent by the vendor with specialist RS Williams since July 2010

Alongside the celebrated DB lineage and V8 models, the DBS has often seemed like a spectre in Aston Martin history. Yet, the model boasts remarkable pedigree. Designed by the great William Towns, it was the last creation formed during the David Brown era of the company and the last car to sport Tadek Marek’s famed straight-six. The DBS was also cast in The (New) Avengers and The Persuaders! to list but two notable on-screen credits.

The right-hand-drive, ZF manual gearbox example offered here was originally configured in the magnificent shade of Roman Purple over Scarlet Connolly leather with Red carpets and Grey headlining, as confirmed by a copy of the factory build sheet. Sources indicate that as few as 14 examples were finished in this rare colour. Set against the more restrained palettes that typified the 1970s, chassis number DBS/5554/R would have been a real head turner—if less than ideal for carrying out any covert operations at, or indeed against, M’s behest.

Delivered on 8 May 1970, the DBS was bought new by Mr N Ermini of Hemel Hempstead. He plainly had all the time in the world for his new car, as a service note records that 5,483 miles had been covered by the end of November. Per the Aston Martin Owners Club, in the late-1970s the DBS belonged to a Mr Reade. He raced it in 1977, claiming 3rd at Donington Park and 2nd at Brand Hatch. By 1993, a Mr J E Ashfield had acquired the Aston Martin. From November 2001, it was owned in Cornwall.

Since changed to a dark blue hue, the DBS was bought by the vendor in June 2009. As the generous history file documents, work since has mostly been entrusted to leading marque specialist RS Williams of Cobham. Invoices from July 2010 total some £238,600. Most notably, this includes fitting the replacement straight-six with Cosworth pistons as part of the process of increasing capacity to 4.7-litres. The car has also been refinished in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service-style olive green.

Housing an enormous powerplant paired to a five-speed manual gearbox, here is a hugely appealing example of the undersung DBS. It would make for an idyllic cruiser to retrace a secret agent’s tracks on the journey from London to Piz Gloria.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/ch25/.