1966 Aston Martin DB6

This motor car is being sold as part of a private overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams’ temporary admission customs bond. In addition to the ‘hammer’ price, the winning bidder must pay a bond release fee (£350) and also import tax/duty.

In the UK, cars over 30 years old are subject to the lower rate of 5% import tax on the final selling price if purchased by a private individual. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT. A company buying this car will always pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT on the ‘hammer’ price.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable upon proof of customs/tax payment in the other country.

The bond release fee (£350 payable direct, post-auction, to the CARS shipping company) will produce a NOVA from HMRC, this document is formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK. The vehicle is not registered anywhere. You must register the vehicle with the DVLA. Upon request, The Market can suggest some companies who can help with this process.

This vehicle has been on static display in the Middle East for a number of years, and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section. In all cases, the documents shown are photocopies, unless otherwise stated. We do not have the originals.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is strictly sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for viewing by appointment weekdays 9am-5pm, and we advise you (or your appointed engineer) to inspect it at our HQ near Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

VIN: DB6/2712/R.

Engine No: 400/2711.

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, this 1966 RHD manual Aston Martin DB6 comes with no paperwork beyond whatever photocopied documents are shown in the gallery section.

It has, however, experienced a previous Bonhams live auction in 2011, on the occasion of which the following auction listing notes were written.

“Previously owned (from 2003 onwards) by one James Phillips of Carnforth, Lancashire, this DB6 sports saloon was purchased by the current vendor in May 2007 from The Aston Workshop, having had £25,000 worth of refurbishment undertaken by them in preparation for sale (invoice available). Works carried out included an engine bottom-end rebuild plus crankshaft regrind, new rear seal, new piston rings and new unleaded cylinder head conversion. In addition, the brakes were overhauled and upgraded, a Monte Carlo suspension handling kit fitted, the entire fuel system overhauled including carburettors, water pump overhauled, radiator re-cored, a new stainless steel exhaust system installed, and all brake callipers and servos overhauled.

Since coming to France with the current vendor the DB6 has had various other works carried out, bills for which are on file. Finished in blue with grey leather interior, the latter equipped with a modern (retro-styled) Becker Mexico sound system, the car is described by the vendor as in generally good condition and offered with the aforementioned bills, a quantity of expired MoTs (most recent April 2008), Swansea V5 registration document and manufacturer's dating letter confirming matching chassis/engine numbers.”

A handwritten note on the copy of the auction listing states that, prior to its ownership by James Phillips, the car was in ‘long-term German ownership’.

The minimal paperwork with the car includes copies of old UK registration documents, MoT certificates, and a proof of purchase document (between Bonhams and the vendor).

The car takes power to the dashboard and the engine turns over.

Today, the mileage on the five-digit odometer reads 11,569.

When the vehicle last faced an MoT test (in 2007), the odometer read 8,199 miles.

It was bought for the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles in 2011.

We haven’t tried to start or drive the car, so our appraisal of it is limited to its cosmetic appearance.

Overall, this blue DB6 is a very fine-looking car.

The wire wheels and chrome-work are in fine fettle, as are the car’s badging, lights, lenses and most of the other exterior fixtures and fittings.

The bodywork is free of any dinks or dents worth mentioning, and the panel gaps and shut lines are consistent and even.

But it is not without faults.

The boot is stubbornly refusing to close at present (a trait we have come to recognise and even expect in DB6s), and there are some deep scratches and scrapes on the passenger door.

Move a little closer and you’ll begin to see some crazing and spidery cracks to the paint – particularly on the bonnet and roof.

There’s some bubbling at the base of the n/s/f wing and the door on the same side, with some streaking running down the sills beneath.

There are a few scratches, scuffs and marks beneath the windscreen and also on the driver’s door.

Further bubbling can be seen on top of the n/s/f wing where it meets the bonnet and, on top of the other front wing, there’s some cracked paint in evidence.

The car’s interior is rather grubby and tired but appears to us to be fundamentally serviceable and intact.

The grey leather upholstery is cracked and split in a couple of places on the driver’s seat, but is rather better preserved on the passenger and rear seats.

The carpets are decent, as are the door cards and headlining.

Everything needs to be shown some soap, water and vigorous elbow-action but it’s otherwise OK.

The passenger door armrest is very worn and frayed.

The boot, which contains a spare wire wheel, looks decent.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t started or driven the car.

The engine and engine bay seem clean, dry and intact – aside from an unattached air hose.

The undersides of the car look to have a good deal of structural integrity – clearly, though, you’ll want to take a look yourself.

Unless otherwise stated, this car comes with no history or service records beyond whatever photocopied documents are shown in the gallery.

No documents shown in the gallery in any way constitute any kind of current licensing or registration certification.

It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this.

This splendid, hand-built, pedigree Aston Martin DB6 isn’t perfect but we think it’s pretty good and won’t take too much coaxing to reclaim some, most or all of its former glory - provided, of course, that the engine, electrics and mechanicals prove to be amenable to recommissioning.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £80,000 - £120,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.