DBS & DBSV8

DBS & DBSV8

DBS (1967-1972)
Production Dates: October 1967 – May 1972

Unveiled at Blenheim Palace on September 25, 1967, the William Towns designed DBS was originally only intended for limited production.

In its original guise the DBS retained the six-cylinder, 3,995 cc engine, available in Standard or Vantage form as used in the DB6. However, after an announcement on 27 September, 1969 the DBS was also made available with a V8 engine, with the car being known as the DBSV8 – a four-seat grand touring car, capable of 160 mph. As with the straight six, the design of the new V8 engine was the work of Tadek Marek.

Apart from the change of engine, notable visual differences between the two variants included, on the DBSV8, the use of specially designed 15’’ light weight alloy wheels (as opposed to the distinctive wire wheels employed on the DBS), with ventilated brake discs for the first time on an Aston Martin production car.
A distinguishing feature of both the DBS and DBSV8 are the four quartz iodine headlights set into an alternative version of the iconic Aston Martin grille.

The DBS and the DBSV8 were produced concurrently until May 1972.

DBS

Engine: Six cylinder, 3995cc

Power: 282 bhp @ 5,500 rpm

Top speed: 140 mph

0-60mph: 7.1 seconds

Transmission: ZF five-speed manual gearbox or Borg Warner 3 speed automatic transmission. Limited slip differential.

DBSV8 (in production from April 1970 – May 1972):

Engine: V8, 5340cc

Power: 320bhp @ 5,000 rpm

Top speed: 160 mph

0-60mph: 6.0 seconds

Transmission: ZF five-speed manual gearbox or Chrysler 3 speed automatic transmission. Limited slip differential.

Final drive ratio: 3.73:1 (manual) or 3:54:1 (automatic)

Length: 458 cm

Height: 133cm

Width: 183 cm

Wheelbase: 261 cm

Kerb weight: 1,588 kg (1,727 kg for DBSV8)

Price at launch: £4,473 (1967 – DBS) and £5,281 (1969 – DBSV8)