Aston Martin DBS V8

The DBS V8 was Aston Martin's flagship at the end of the David Brown era, and this is one of the cars to have: a ZF five-speed manual in a model where most were automatics. Only 402 DBS V8s were built before production ended in 1972, and the dealer puts manual cars at around 140.

Chassis DBSV8/10220/R was supplied through Aston Martin Lagonda to Miller Bros. of Johannesburg in June 1971, so it began life in South Africa. It keeps its original Bosch fuel-injected 5,340cc V8, numbered V540/203, which matches factory records. It also keeps its Azzuro Blue Metallic paint over dark blue hide, and was ordered with factory air conditioning. The page reports about 50,000 miles from new.

The history file holds original documentation, the owner's handbook, South African licensing and tax records, and a run of service invoices. Recent work by Nicholas Mee & Company covers the mechanical systems, ignition, air conditioning, electrics and interior.