Guide: Aston Martin DB5 & DB6 Radford Shooting-break
Background
Combining the best elements of a coupe and estate, the Shooting-brake has been a configuration attempted by far too few manufacturers.
Perhaps the most commercially successful examples were comparatively mainstream models from Volvo (1800 ES) and Reliant (Scimitar GTE). However, neither of these would have tempted buyers away from high end European brands.
A couple of Ferraris were re-bodied at the behest of the firm’s North American distributor, Luigi Chinetti, but they were not officially sanctioned or particularly beautiful.
Carrozzeria Touring also produced the sensational Lamborghini Flying Star on a 400 GT. The firm soon went into liquidation though and no further copies were produced.
Considering the Shooting-break body style originated in England, it is fitting that by far the finest examples have emerged from British shores. These were the DB5 and DB6 Aston Martins converted with factory blessing by Harold Radford Coachbuilders in London.
The coachbuilding business was added to Harold Radford’s long-standing Rolls-Royce and Bentley dealership in the late 1940s. Radford famously offered ‘Countryman’ conversions on Rolls-Royce and Bentleys that enabled owners to upgrade their cars with a dizzying array of modifications.
A similar customisation programme was later offered to Mini owners and Radford’s luxurious ‘Mini de Ville’ became popular with rock stars, actors and industrialists.
DB5 Shooting-break
Radford’s first DB5 Shooting-break was converted for Aston Martin company owner, David Brown.
Brown wanted a car to accommodate his gun dog, Candy. He took delivery of the specially commissioned creation in April 1965.
Radford were chosen for their coachbuilding expertise and so as not to disrupt production at the Newport Pagnell factory which was operating at full capacity.
Inevitably, some customers who saw David Brown’s new car in the press and at the factory requested their own example. Radford subsequently created a further eleven DB5 Shooting-breaks followed by four DB6s.
Just about the most expensive new car available at the time, the Radford conversion increased the list price of a standard-bodied DB5 or DB6 by around 50%.
Part of the reason for such an enormous price was that each example started life as a completed car. They were then extensively modified from the windscreen back.
The mechanical specification remained unchanged.
A single piece tailgate was hinged at the top and the rear seat could be folded down for additional luggage space.
Other Examples
In addition to those examples created by Radford, three DB6 conversions were carried out by FLM Panelcraft who also did one conversion on a DBS.
The Shooting-break body style was then revisited in the early 1990s when the Aston Martin factory created a small number on the Virage platform. Most of these were commissions from the Brunei Royal Family.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Roy Smith Archive
