Serial number DBS5139R Beautifully restored condition Fitted with Vantage engine Important invoice file Retention of the original registration document French collector title At the end of the 1960s, Aston Martin's flagship DB6 was suffering from the effects of the years in the face of modern, high-performance competition from Italy. Indeed, the British GT was still largely based on the 1968 DB4, so the range had to evolve towards greater performance and modernity, both aesthetically and technically. Initially Touring was called in to bring the DB series' offspring to life, the prototypes presented in 1966, although aesthetically successful, could not reach series production for technical and practical reasons. 50 Touring then went bankrupt and the task was given to in-house designer William Towens and engine builder Tadek Marek to develop the new Aston Martin. A V8 was initially on the agenda, but deadlines could not be met, so the inline six was initially retained, producing between 282bhp in the basic versions and 325bhp via the Vantage option with three twin Weber carburettors. The new Aston Martin, known as the DBS, was launched in 1967. It was fitted with a V8 from 1970, alongside the six-cylinder engine still available, but the power was not much better, as the 5.3 litre V8 only developed 320 horsepower, less than the 325 horsepower 4.0 litre six-cylinder engine in the Vantage version. Above all, the weight is affected and increases by 200 kilograms. Where the DBS completely renews the Aston Martin range is in its design, much more modern, much more Latin, even American via the fastback line. If it had difficulty in seducing the brand's aficionados, it was a great media success as it was driven by 007 in Her Majesty's Secret Service, but above all by Roger Moore as Lord Brett Sinclair in Amicalement vôtre! In total, only 1259 DBS cars were built, including 857 six-cylinder cars and 402 V8 cars. The present example was delivered new in England on 30 September 1968 to Mr Wyatt in Hampshire in its original Red colour and "Natural Connoly" NOITCELLOC ED SELIBOMOTUA 1202 TELLIUJ 40 EHCNAMID