Aston Martin DBS
Encyclopedia
The Aston Martin DBS is a GT car produced by the British manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
. Originally produced from 1967–72, it featured in the 1969 James Bond
film On Her Majesty's Secret Service
. A new version, based heavily on the Aston Martin DB9
, is featured in the 2006 film Casino Royale
and the 2008 film Quantum of Solace (see Aston Martin DBS V12
).
, although the two ran concurrently for three years. Powered by a straight-6
engine
, it was produced from 1967 until 1972, eventually being phased out in favor of the DBS V8
and the Aston Martin Vantage
.
It was a larger coupé than the DB6, with four full sized seats, but was powered by the same 4.0 L engine as the previous car. Claimed engine output was 282 bhp, but a no-cost vantage spec engine option substituted Italian made Weber carburettors for the DBS' original SU units, thereby upping output to an advertised 325 bhp.
The DBS was intended to have a more "modern" look than the previous series of Aston models (the DB4 through DB6), and it incorporated a fastback style rear end and squared off front grille, atypical of Astons, but very much then in vogue in automotive design circles of the late sixties. Trademark Aston design features, such as a bonnet scoop, knock off wire wheels, and side air vents with stainless steel brightwork were however retained. The DBS was the last of the David Brown
Aston Martins.
's James Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service
. Unlike Bond's previous car, the Aston Martin DB5
, no gadgets were seen in this car, other than a mounting for a telescopic-sight rifle in the glove compartment.
In the final scenes of the film, Bond's wife, Tracy
, is shot and killed while sitting in the car.
The DBS also appears in a single scene in the next Bond film, Diamonds are Forever
. It can be seen in the background (being fitted with some sort of small missiles) when Bond is talking to Q on the telephone.
An Aston Martin DBS was later used in the short-lived TV series The Persuaders!
(1971–1972), in which Roger Moore
's character Lord Brett Sinclair drove a distinctive orange/gold tinted 6-cylinder DBS (note: the official color was "Bahama Yellow"), which, through the use of alloy wheels and different badges, had been made to look like the later DBSV8 model.
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The new DBS is based on the DB9
, more specifically the DBR9
race car. Built on the VH Platform
the car shares its roof, sidescreens and wheelbase with the DB9, but sits lower (by 25 mm) and wider (by 40 mm) than the DB9. Visually, the front end is dominated by air scoops and cooling ducts which help cool the six-litre V12 engine
which has reportedly been uprated to produce 510 bhp, 420 lbft of torque and a top speed of 191 mi/h. The rear is equipped with a carbon fibre diffuser and an integrated rear lip spoiler. Other details include a six-speed manual transmission and a removable stopwatch. A special helmet pod behind the driver's seat is present for Casino Royale but will not feature in the production version. The Aston Martin DBS also features an optional Bang & Olufsen
sound system with 13 active loudspeakers including two tweeters with ALT (Acoustic Lens Technology).
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
. Originally produced from 1967–72, it featured in the 1969 James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film On Her Majesty's Secret Service
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the sixth spy film in the James Bond series, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. Following the decision of Sean Connery to retire from the role after You Only Live Twice, Eon Productions selected an unknown actor and model, George Lazenby...
. A new version, based heavily on the Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin DB9
-DB9 Volante:The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the convertible version of the DB9 coupe. It is built by hand in limited numbers and has enhanced styling. It is powered by the same 6.0 litre, DOHC 48 valve V12 as the DB9 and is completed with 470 bhp and a top speed of 186 mph...
, is featured in the 2006 film Casino Royale
Casino Royale (2006 film)
Casino Royale is the twenty-first film in the James Bond film series and the first to star Daniel Craig as fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
and the 2008 film Quantum of Solace (see Aston Martin DBS V12
Aston Martin DBS V12
The modern Aston Martin DBS is a high performance GT sports car from the UK manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston has used the DBS name once before on their 1967–72 grand tourer coupe...
).
Original DBS (1967–72)
The DBS was intended as the successor to the Aston Martin DB6Aston Martin DB6
The Aston Martin DB6 is a grand tourer made by British car manufacturer Aston Martin. Produced from September 1965 to January 1971, the DB6 had the longest production run up to that date of any Aston Martin model...
, although the two ran concurrently for three years. Powered by a straight-6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
, it was produced from 1967 until 1972, eventually being phased out in favor of the DBS V8
Aston Martin V8
The Aston Martin V8 is a two-door coupé automobile manufactured in the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1989.Aston Martin's customers had been clamouring for an eight-cylinder car for years, so Aston Martin designed a larger 2-door saloon for V8 applications. The engine was not ready, however, so in...
and the Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin has used the Vantage name on a number of vehicles, normally indicating a high-performance version of another model. In one case, during 1972–1973, the Vantage was a distinct model, being a straight-6 powered version of the DBS, a car that had been launched as a straight-6 but was by...
.
It was a larger coupé than the DB6, with four full sized seats, but was powered by the same 4.0 L engine as the previous car. Claimed engine output was 282 bhp, but a no-cost vantage spec engine option substituted Italian made Weber carburettors for the DBS' original SU units, thereby upping output to an advertised 325 bhp.
The DBS was intended to have a more "modern" look than the previous series of Aston models (the DB4 through DB6), and it incorporated a fastback style rear end and squared off front grille, atypical of Astons, but very much then in vogue in automotive design circles of the late sixties. Trademark Aston design features, such as a bonnet scoop, knock off wire wheels, and side air vents with stainless steel brightwork were however retained. The DBS was the last of the David Brown
David Brown (entrepreneur)
Sir David Brown was an English entrepreneur, managing director of his family firm David Brown Limited and one time owner of shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft and automobile manufacturer Aston Martin....
Aston Martins.
Specifications (1972)
- Weight: 3760 lb (1,706 kg)
- Engine: 4.0L DOHC straight-6Straight-6The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
- Power: 283 bhp at 5500 rpm
- Torque: 390.5 newton metre at 3850 rpm
In popular culture
The DBS was used by George LazenbyGeorge Lazenby
George Robert Lazenby is an Australian actor and former model, best known for portraying James Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.-Early life:...
's James Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the tenth novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series, first published in the UK by Jonathan Cape on 1 April 1963, where the initial and secondary print runs sold out, with over 60,000 books sold in the first month. Fleming wrote the book whilst the first film in the...
. Unlike Bond's previous car, the Aston Martin DB5
Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 is a luxury grand tourer that was made by Aston Martin. Released in 1963, it was an evolution of the final series of DB4. The DB series was named honouring David Brown ....
, no gadgets were seen in this car, other than a mounting for a telescopic-sight rifle in the glove compartment.
In the final scenes of the film, Bond's wife, Tracy
Tracy Bond
Teresa "Tracy" Bond is a fictional character and the main Bond girl in the James Bond film and novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service...
, is shot and killed while sitting in the car.
The DBS also appears in a single scene in the next Bond film, Diamonds are Forever
Diamonds Are Forever (film)
Diamonds Are Forever is the seventh spy film in the Eon Productions James Bond series, and the sixth and final Eon Productions film to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film is based on Ian Fleming's 1956 novel of the same name, and is the second of four James Bond films...
. It can be seen in the background (being fitted with some sort of small missiles) when Bond is talking to Q on the telephone.
An Aston Martin DBS was later used in the short-lived TV series The Persuaders!
The Persuaders!
The Persuaders! is a 1971 action/adventure series, produced by ITC Entertainment for initial broadcast on ITV and ABC. It has been called "the last major entry in the cycle of adventure series that had begun eleven years earlier with Danger Man in 1960", as well as "the most ambitious and most...
(1971–1972), in which Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
's character Lord Brett Sinclair drove a distinctive orange/gold tinted 6-cylinder DBS (note: the official color was "Bahama Yellow"), which, through the use of alloy wheels and different badges, had been made to look like the later DBSV8 model.
The new DBS V12 (2007)
The new DBS is based on the DB9
Aston Martin DB9
-DB9 Volante:The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the convertible version of the DB9 coupe. It is built by hand in limited numbers and has enhanced styling. It is powered by the same 6.0 litre, DOHC 48 valve V12 as the DB9 and is completed with 470 bhp and a top speed of 186 mph...
, more specifically the DBR9
Aston Martin DBR9
The Aston Martin DBR9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing, debuting in 2005. The name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car, named for then-owner David Brown, which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title.-Development:Based...
race car. Built on the VH Platform
Ford VH platform
The VH Platform is Aston Martin's new sports car automobile platform. It is used in the Aston Martin DB9, V8 Vantage, DBS, and Rapide....
the car shares its roof, sidescreens and wheelbase with the DB9, but sits lower (by 25 mm) and wider (by 40 mm) than the DB9. Visually, the front end is dominated by air scoops and cooling ducts which help cool the six-litre V12 engine
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
which has reportedly been uprated to produce 510 bhp, 420 lbft of torque and a top speed of 191 mi/h. The rear is equipped with a carbon fibre diffuser and an integrated rear lip spoiler. Other details include a six-speed manual transmission and a removable stopwatch. A special helmet pod behind the driver's seat is present for Casino Royale but will not feature in the production version. The Aston Martin DBS also features an optional Bang & Olufsen
Bang & Olufsen
Bang & Olufsen is a Danish company that designs and manufactures audio products, television sets and telephones. It was founded in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, whose first significant product was a radio that worked with alternating current, when most radios were run from batteries...
sound system with 13 active loudspeakers including two tweeters with ALT (Acoustic Lens Technology).
External links
- Official Aston Martin Site
- Aston Martin Flash Site
- Official Aston Martin Used Car Locator
- Newport Pagnell 6 Cylinder Cars
- Top Gear.com article: Now pay attention 007
- Original Aston Martin brochures - Original sales literature for Aston Martin viewable online, including the DBS