Aston Martin had always planned that the 1967 DBS would be powered by its new V8 engine, that had first been seen in 5.0 litre form in the Lola-Aston Martin sports-racing cars. Production problems, however, intervened and the DBS used the 4.0 litre, twin overhead camshaft, straight six of the concurrently produced DB6. After several delays, the production started in April 1970. A mere 404 DBS V8 were build, the production ended in May 1972.

The DBS V8 was a special Aston Martin crossover model. It was available briefly alongside the six-cylinder DBS. With the DBS V8, the chrome-plated spoked wheels from the DBS were changed into the more modern light-alloy wheels, but the special 4 “quartz iodine” headlights still adorn the scarce DBS V8.

The handling was excellent with independent suspension, coil spring/wishbones at the front and de Dion tube at the rear with Watt’s linkage and twin radius arms. All this combined to create a perfect platform for Tadek Marek’s all-alloy V8. It boasted four overhead camshafts and Bosch electronic fuel injection. The 5.340 cc V8 produced an impressive 320bhp at 5.000 rpm; the resultant 160 mph plus performance was nothing short of staggering in 1970.

This Aston Martin DBS V8 is an early chassis number delivered on 17 July 1970 to her first owner in UK. The RHD Aston Martin was fitted with an automatic gearbox.

Included in the history file for the car is the original owner’s handbook along with various receipts dating from the late 1990s to early 2000’s. In 1999 there is a substantial bill of £2,124 for the rebuild of the gearbox. There is also an invoice from 2001 for £5,896 along with images for extensive bodywork repairs, which included new doorsills, repairs to the floor pan, A & B pillars and cross members. Also included in the history file are MOT certificates from 1997 until 2005.