1967 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: DB6/2955/R.

Engine No: 400/2943.

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, this 1967 RHD manual Aston Martin DB6 comes with little paperwork beyond whatever photocopied documents are shown in the gallery section.

It does, however, have a copy of an old Swedish registration document and various bits of paperwork to put a little meat on the otherwise rather bare bones of its provenance.

The car takes power to the dashboard but does not currently turn over or start, although the fan moves when rocked.

There are a few AMOC records with the car and, importantly, some information courtesy of well-know Aston aficionado Philip Jones at Byron International (www.allastonmartin.com) who, we believe, sold the car to the vendor in 2012 – when the following piece was written.

“After nearly 40 years in Scandinavia, 2955/R has returned to the UK and offers an enthusiast or collector and opportunity to own a wonderful DB6. Cherished by its two Swedish owners, it is presented in Primrose with a gentle patina of age to the interior where the blue leather trim compliments [sic] the sense of period that this car evokes so well.

Converted to manual by that doyen of the Aston marque, Richard Williams, this is a car that will not be on the market for long before finding a new home.

Copies of original factory records show that the car was originally delivered through HR Owen of London in its originally described colour of Mink that was unfairly translated to Beige on the log book! By 1974, this colour had changed to Blue matching the original interior trim - a colour that remains to this day.

Those same factory records show that the original specification of the car was Automatic. This was changed in 1978 when Richard Williams changed the Automatic box for the more interesting and responsive 5 speed ZF manual gearbox. The engine was retained and the numbers match the original records.

The car was bought by Claes Grebell from Sweden in November 1974 who is shown to have been a regular visitor to the UK with service visits to Robin Hamilton and Richard Williams.

Bought by the current owner in the early 1990s, the car remained in Sweden and has been subject to a complete renovation of the brakes, front and rear suspension, new door sills, all three SU carburettors. It was repainted 10 years ago in Primrose, an original Aston Martin colour, has a new exhaust system and all four chrome bumpers replaced with new ones and the car comes with the Webasto suproof that formed part of its original specification.”

So, we know that it left the factory with an auto box, has variously been ‘Mink’ and blue before turning ‘Primrose’ in 2002, and that its conversion to manual configuration was carried out by Richard Williams, who is widely considered to be the foremost Aston whisperer of the modern era.

Its mileage was recorded as being 33,973 on the occasion of its 2012 MoT test.

Today, the mileage is 33,984.

So, it’s safe to say that it’s had a fairly quiet life over the last 11 years.

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

OK – let’s get the negative stuff out of the way.

The boot doesn’t close, the passenger door won’t open from the outside, and the n/s/f indicator is missing.

That’s it.

Everything else, as far as we can see, is really very good indeed.

The bodywork is unmarred by dents, dinks or creases.

The paintwork is shiny and bright.

The Webasto roof (which works), wire wheels, chrome, badging, trim and other exterior bits and pieces are all fine.

All other cosmetic faults come under the general heading of entirely expected (and commensurate with age and use) ‘wear and tear’.

So, there are a few scuffs and patches of missing paint at the base of the front valance, and a paint chip on the o/s/f wing.

There is a scuff above the driver’s door handle, a paint chip on top of the n/s/r wing, and another just above the o/s/r light cluster.

There is also some light streaking on both sills in two or three places and what looks like a little nascent blistering around the o/s/f headlamp.

Finally, the edge of the bodywork forward of the driver’s door has a few signs of previous repair/touch-up work.

Apart from that, this car is a vision of lemony loveliness and looks pretty fabulous from every angle at any distance.

The good news continues virtually unabated on the interior.

The blue leather upholstery is in fine fettle, front and back, and aside from one or two marks of the sort that look like they’d hastily capitulate if threatened with a damp cloth, there’s really nothing to prompt a raised eyebrow or a shake of the head.

The door cards are good, as are the carpets, dashboard, steering wheel and gear lever.

The headlining is OK but a little grubby.

The boot, which doesn’t contain a spare wheel, is fine.

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 clean, dry engine and engine bay look to be in good order and everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The undersides of the car look to us to have a good deal of structural integrity.

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 hand-built pedigree Aston Martin DB6 looks absolutely splendid and, we think, has all the underlying quality and character to match its glorious aesthetics - provided, of course, that the engine, electrics and mechanicals prove to be amenable to recommissioning and as good as the rest of it.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £100,000 - £140,000.

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