Aston Martin DBS
Grand Tourer transition model — luxury, presence, and the dawn of a new era
The 1967 DBS marked a real transition in the brand's history, gradually replacing the DB4/DB5/DB6 line with a larger, more modern 2+2 coupe with a more imposing design. Designed as a fast and versatile luxury GT, it was based on the DB6 but featured an entirely new body by William Towns, with a wider grille, four headlights, and more muscular lines that already evoked the GTs of the 1970s. Originally powered by the 4.0-liter twin-cam inline six-cylinder engine from the DB, in standard version producing around 280 HP, it embodied the perfect bridge between the classic elegance of the early DBs and the more raw and powerful styling of the later Aston. It became famous for its appearance in George Lazenby’s James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Highlights
Technical sheet
- Layout: front-engine / rear-wheel drive
- Hand-built body by Touring-influenced design team
- Four-wheel disc brakes, independent front suspension
- Originally engineered to receive Aston Martin’s future V8
Values based on 1967 factory specifications.
Services
VARIANTS & LIMITED EDITION
DBS Vantage
Aston Martin DBS Vantage
High-performance evolution — sharper dynamics and enhanced straight-six power
The 1967 DBS Vantage is the most refined version of the first generation DBS, designed as a large, luxury 2+2 GT but with a clear emphasis on performance. It features the more modern, muscular styling designed by William Towns, with the wide grille and four characteristic headlights, but combines this with a more sporty engine and chassis setup. Under the long hood, the 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine was fitted with specific camshafts and fuel injection (three twin-barrel carburetors, increased compression), to achieve around 325 HP and over 241 km/Nh, making it one of the fastest six-cylinder Astons of its time, while retaining the comfort and high-end presentation characteristic of the brand.
DBS V8
Aston Martin DBS V8
The birth of the V8 era — power, refinement, and modern grand touring
The 1969 DBS V8 was the first production Aston Martin to feature the famous 5.3-liter V8 engine, transforming the DBS into a true British muscle GT capable of rivaling the supercars of its day. A direct evolution of the six-cylinder DBS, it retained the wide, taut silhouette designed by William Towns, but gained alloy wheels, ventilated brakes, and an even more luxurious presentation, heralding the future line of Aston Martin V8s of the 1970s. Under the hood, the fuel-injected V8 designed by Tadek Marek developed around 320 HP, making it one of the fastest four-seaters in the world at the time, while remaining a refined grand tourer, available with a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission.
DBS C Touring
Aston Martin DBS C Touring
Grand Tourer transition model — luxury, presence, and the dawn of a new era
The 1967 DBS C Touring is a highly confidential prototype that foreshadowed what the future DBS would be like before the project was finally taken over and redesigned by William Towns. Built by Italian coachbuilder Touring on the basis of the Aston Martin DB6, it adopted a more fluid and Latin-inspired 2+2 coupe silhouette, much closer to the elegance of the Italian GTs of the time than the production DBS that was ultimately produced. Equipped with the DB's 4.0-liter twin-cam inline six-cylinder engine, this Touring-designed “DBSC” remains a very rare styling exercise, but it perfectly illustrates the more European and fastback direction that Aston Martin could have taken in the late 1960s.
DBS Shooting Brake
Aston Martin DBS Shooting Brake
Grand Tourer transition model — luxury, presence, and the dawn of a new era
The 1967 DBS Shooting Brake is an extremely rare conversion of the DBS into a true shooting brake, created at the time to meet the very specific demands of enthusiastic customers who wanted to retain the performance and luxury of the GT while gaining versatility. It is based on the six-cylinder DBS, but features an extended rear section with a tailgate and increased cargo space, while retaining the muscular front end designed by William Towns and the high-end interior typical of Aston Martin. Built as a one-off by a specialist coachbuilder in the early 1970s, this “DBS Estate” combines the elegance of a British GT, the mechanical nobility of the 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, and the practicality of a shooting brake, making it a unique piece that is highly sought after by collectors today.
