Lot 147 - 1975 Aston Martin V8 Series III

The Aston Martin V8 engine had began development in the mid-sixties when it was first used in a Lola Sports racing car with a view to replacing the six cylinder unit which had been in production since the DB4 in 1958. Although always intended to house the new Tadek Marek-designed V8, the DBS first appeared with the 4-litre six of the concurrently produced DB6. Styled in-house by Bill Towns, the four-seater DBS employed a platform-type chassis with independent suspension all round: wishbone and coil-spring at the front, De Dion with Watts linkage at the rear. Bigger and more luxuriously appointed than the DB6, the heavier DBS disappointed some by virtue of its slightly reduced performance, but there were no complaints when the V8 arrived in 1969. With an estimated 345bhp available from its 5,340cc, quad camshaft engine, the DBS V8 could reach 100mph in less than 14 seconds, running on to a top speed of 160mph - a staggering performance in those days and one which fully justified the claim that it was the fastest production car in the world. Even in automatic transmission form the V8 could reach 100mph in around 15 seconds and an impressive 145mph flat-out. 

Originally registered on 26^th September 1975, this Aston Martin has been owned by the vendor for six years. Throughout his stewardship, the car has been used sparingly and always kept in a garage. Finished in red with beige leather trim, this Series III V8 is supplied with a V5C registration document and a number of invoices; the MoT test certificate expired on 18^th April 2018. We are advised by the vendor that he has run the engine regularly and driven the car locally recently. Probably best described as a ‘rolling restoration’, this Aston Martin appears to be a great project for an enthusiast and could well prove to be a shrewd investment.