Guide: Aston Martin DB6
Background
By the mid 1960s, Aston Martin had made tentative plans for a new V8-powered model that would serve the firm for the next couple of decades.
However, this next generation platform (the DBS) would not arrive until October 1967 which meant one last iteration of the DB4 / DB5 series was needed.
The resultant DB6 was a direct replacement for the DB5 which, thanks to appearances in the James Bond capers Goldfinger and Thunderball, had become arguably the most famous car in the world.
The DB6 was launched in Coupe form in October 1965. It first starred at the Paris Motor Show and then appeared at the London Motor Show a week later.
An open top DB6 Volante followed twelve months later. Before the DB6 Volante arrived, Aston Martin offered what they called the Short-Chassis Volante; a series of 37 cars that used up the leftover short wheelbase DB5 Convertible bodyshells.
The DB6 was built with a 95mm longer wheelbase than the DB5 in order to provide more interior space.
The new car was also more expensive than its predecessor. During production, the DB6 Volante retailed at the same price as the Coupe and a three-speed automatic gearbox was a no-cost option on both body styles.
In addition to its larger cockpit, the DB6 offered improved stability and further refined aerodynamics; its most obvious visual upgrade was a reworked Kamm tail complete with discrete spoiler.
The Kamm tail had been trialled on Aston Martin’s DP 212, DP 214 and DP 215 experimental GT Prototypes built to race at the Le Mans 24 Hours between 1962 and 1963. Such a configuration offered reduced lift, better traction and more predictable high speed handling.
In addition to the DP racing cars, a couple of DB6 mules had also been produced: chassis DP/200/1 was a DB4-based car and chassis MP219 was built on a lengthened DB5 platform complete with DB6-style Kamm tail. MP219 used a de Dion rear axle arrangement but Aston Martin reverted to a live axle for the production DB6 on cost grounds.
Chassis
The steel platform bodyshells of the DB4 and DB5 had been practically the same. Both used Touring’s Superleggera construction method for their bonnet surround, windscreen, roof, rear wings and tail. This technique saw aluminium body panels skinned over a skeletal frame of small diameter steel tubes that conformed to the body shape.
The DB6 abandoned Touring’s Superleggera approach altogether.
For the new car, Aston Martin wanted a stronger, more rigid arrangement and switched fully to a unitary type construction.
The DB5 wheelbase of 2490mm was extended to 2585mm for the DB6. The chassis was extended ahead of the rear wheelarches which allowed the DB6 roofline to be raised by an inch.
Independent front suspension was via double wishbones, Armstrong shocks, coil springs and an anti-roll bar. The live rear axle used parallel trailing links, coil springs and a Watt’s linkage.
Girling disc brakes had an 11.5-inch diameter at the front and 10.8-inch diameter at the rear. Servo-assistance was provided for both axles.
15-inch diameter Borrani wire wheels measured 6.5-inches wide all round and were originally shod with Avon tyres.
Fuel tanks with a combined 19 gallon capacity were mounted in the rear wings.
Engine & Gearbox
The DB5 had ushered in a four-litre version of the Aston Martin straight six engine; it was another example of the reworked Tadek Marek motor which had debuted as a 3.7-litre unit in the DB4.
The engine used in the DB6 was nearly identical to that of the DB5. It registered the same 282bhp at 5500rpm but was quoted with fractionally more torque (295lb-ft at 4500rpm compared to 288lb-ft at 3850rpm).
Displacement stayed at 3995cc by virtue of a 96mm bore and 92mm stroke. The engine retained an 8.9:1 compression ratio and three SU HD8 carburettors.
Like all Tadek Marek versions of the dual overhead camshaft Aston straight six, the DB6 used an alloy block and head.
To complement the standard 282bhp engine, Aston Martin offered a tuned Vantage unit. It came with bigger Weber 45 DCOE carburettors, revised camshaft profiles and higher 9.4:1 compression ratio. As per the DB5 Vantage, peak output was 325bhp at 5500rpm and 290lb-ft at 5750rpm.
The choice of gearbox was a five-speed ZF manual or three-speed Borg-Warner automatic. Both types used a Borg & Beck clutch. A limited-slip differential was optional.
Bodywork
In addition to its be-spoilered Kamm tail and longer wheelbase, the DB6 body differed from that of the DB5 on account of its higher roofline, more upright windscreen, bigger windows and two-piece bumpers.
Quarterlights were added along with new one-piece tail light clusters.
The re-profiled front apron now housed a larger intake scoop for the oil cooler.
Overall, the DB6 was 50mm longer and 14mm taller than the outgoing DB5.
Those customers with sufficiently deep pockets could request their DB6 be sent to Harold Radford Coachbuilders in London for conversion to Shooting-break trim.
Interior
As per the exterior, a series of subtle interior updates were made that help differentiate the DB6 cockpit from earlier models.
Redesigned seats had a new squab pattern, provided better support and gave an extra inch of headroom. Together with the raised roofline and extended wheelbase they combined to provide a much more spacious cabin. This was perhaps most noticeable in the back where head, leg and shoulder space was significantly improved.
Two large read outs for engine and road speed were mounted directly behind the steering wheel with an ammeter in between. Either side were pairs of additional instruments. Fuel level and water temperature gauges were off to the left and to the right were oil pressure and oil temperature dials.
A clock was mounted centrally on the dash and various toggle switches were scattered elsewhere.
Leather was used to upholster the well-padded reclining seats, the side panels and gear gaiter.
By this time, dashboards were almost exclusively black instead of body coloured.
Electric windows and an electric antenna were standard equipment but customers chose their radio and were charged extra for it.
Options
In addition to a choice of body styles, engines and gearboxes, Aston Martin offered a selection of optional extras. They included a Powr-Lok limited-slip differential, chrome wire wheels, power steering and air conditioning. If air-conditioning was installed, the fuel tank was reduced in size from 19 to 16 gallons for reasons of space.
Weight / Performance
Although the DB6 was bigger than the DB5, it weighed in at just 6kg more (1474kg).
In standard non-Vantage tune, Aston Martin quoted a top speed of 150mph and 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds (a slight improvement on its predecessor).
Production
Production started in October 1965.
In October 1966, the DB6 Volante was launched and replaced the aforementioned Short Chassis Volante.
A new model, the DBS, arrived in October 1967. The DBS was designed to accommodate Aston Martin’s new V8 engine which wasn’t on stream until January 1970. A six cylinder DBS was temporarily sold alongside the DB6 prior to the V8’s arrival.
Production of the DB6 Coupe, Volante and Radford Shooting-break was discontinued in July 1969 to make way for a new Mark 2 variant.
By this time, 1327 DB6s had been built. 1187 were Coupes (268 with the Vantage engine) and 140 were Volantes (29 with the Vantage engine). Four Coupes were converted by Radford to Shooting-break configuration.
Three Coupes were also converted to Shooting-break trim by FLM Panelcraft.
DB6 Mk2
The DB6 Mark 2 offered from July 1969 was a further refined iteration of the original theme.
Power steering became standard and half-inch wider wheels were fitted along with DBS hubs.
The original 9.5-inch Borg & Beck clutch was replaced with a bigger 10.5-inch item.
Visually, the Mk2 was easily identifiable by way of its flared wheelarches.
Inside, pleated front and rear seats replaced the original type and matched those of the DBS.
At the same time, Aston Martin introduced the option of a fuel-injected engine. The electronic fuel-injection system was supplied by AE Brico and cars equipped as such came with a higher compression ratio. 46 examples were built (all with a special DB6Mk2FI chassis number prefix).
The DB6 Mark 2 was produced until November 1970 by which time the DBS V8 had been around for the best part of a year.
In total 240 Mk2 DB6s were built of which 202 were Coupes (62 with the Vantage engine). The remaining 38 were Volantes (of which nine had the Vantage engine).
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Aston Martin - https://www.astonmartin.com
