DB6

[The Pits]

An opportunity has come up to buy a DB6. Lots of sentimental reasons behind the purchase of this particular car so I was hoping for some pointers from people who know about or have owned older Astons.

For starters it's an auto. I know manual cars are worth more but can it and should it be converted? I know I'd enjoy driving a manual more but would it be worth more as it is or does the market tolerate changes to original specification and modern updates like power steering?

I am a fastidious owner and would love to restore the car to pristine condition. It's in excellent original condition currently and I know the entire history of the car. However would such a car be worth more in 'original' condition or restored to as new condition? And if so who is a recommended specialist to do the work?

any help much appreciated

[Murph7355]

You might be better on the AMOC site - it has more input on the classic cars...

(Would be a DB4 or DB5 for me. Which doesn't help much!).

[RichB]

Firstly if you are restoring this car for sentimental reasons then I guess you will be keeping it so future value is almost inconsequential, more important is to restore it to how you will enjoy it the most. A common 'upgrade' is to replace the auto with a modern 5 speed box which can sourced for about £2.5k - As regards power steering this could be of the electric type so removable. Depending on what you mean by restore the costs can easily overtake the value, particularly as the 6 is the cheapest of the DB4/5/6 series. Personally I'd do careful restoration/renovation and modification to your standard and drive and enjoy the car. There are lots of specialists through to Works Service depending on what you want to spend Good luck with the car. p.s. the AMOC forum is open to guests, look under the David Brown section.

Edited by RichB on Monday 22 March 20:34

[The Pits]

many thanks

[geoffd]

I converted my DB6 from auto to manual, and it's made a huge difference - much more fun to drive. I used a Toyota gearbox (the "proper" ZF boxes are hard to find and very expensive). You can also fit a more modern four speed auto, I've heard good things about this.

Automatic DB6s usually have power steering.

Geoff

[The Pits]

Crossplys or radials? What's the story there? I have crossplys on my caterham so I figure they're fine right?

[RichB]

No absolutly not. The DB6 runs best on radials - Plenty of choice Pirelli or Avon if you want something period

[where's my cash!]

With regards to restoration I doubt you'll get back what you put in.
If you plan to sell the car on you can't really do any of the work yourself {even servicing}
because any perspective buyer will want to see a comprehensive history record with work carried
out by a marked specialist.

This rule doesn't only apply to old Astons but any upmarket brand from the 60's.
The market is still buoyant enough for you to get your money back and probably a bit more.
You'll have to have 5k per year to run it and at least 5K 'just in case money'.

I'd just enjoy the car for what it is and just use it for pleasure until something big needs doing.
Whilst you think 25000 is ok for an engine rebuild you'll need another 10 to take the wife on a nice
Caribbean holiday as compensation.

Giving that you say the car is fairly original I suspect you will still pay a good few pennies for it,
getting it to show standard will cost you upwards of 100K.

Great cars and have fun with it, they're wonderful machines.

Edited by where's my cash! on Sunday 28th March 10:04

[The Pits]

I think the beauty of the DB6 is (and there are many) it's still undervalued. Top cars can fetch £150k but that's still peanuts compared to a decent DB5. I'm not saying the 6 will ever be worth what a 5 fetches but I do think there's more value to be found, even though less than ten years ago a nice example could be bought for nearer £30k! As the years go buy they look more and more similar which makes the 6 look better and better value. I used to get hung up on the small styling differences as the DB5 will forever be one of the greatest shapes ever put on the road but actually I've grown to really like the kamm tail on the 6. Just as well because a db5 is just too big a stretch for me whereas I can enjoy driving, polishing and photographing my very own db6 to my heart's content. I've never thought about owning a classic before and wouldn't without the family history of this particular car, I like going fast too much, but for sheer beauty, noise and character they just don't make em like they used to. I'm really excited even though I know I'll spend more than I should on it. But I'm not planning to sell it and think good examples will still continue to rise in value for some time to come.

Edited by The Pits on Monday 29th March 10:49

[RichB]

I've never driven either a DB5 or a DB6 but I know the purists prefer the slightly lighter DB5. That said I still remember when I was a boy in the 60's being excited by the DB5 and then the launch of the DB6. My brother had the DB4GT Scalextric car and a Ferrari 250GT which we loved but the 'Kamm' tail on the 6 was revolutionary and made the car look like the DP212/4/6 project cars. So it had that frisson of excitement to it and I see no reason for it to be any different now... Personally I like the looks of the early DB4 but that's just me

[Ray f]

I went through this routine when I bought my DB6 in 03. It was a nice auto, with power steering, but far from perfect: it had slightly rusty chrome and micro-blisters all over the roof and front wings. Car cost £25k to buy. My plan was to just enjoy it and only do big cost jobs when necessary; instead I wound up spending lots (another £25k)and turning it into a beauty that I then had to sell to recoup costs. I put a proper ZF 5-speed box in, as I couldn't tolerate the high revs the archaic 3-speed auto needed to cruise at 70mph and really slow acceleration. Then I had the chrome re-plated as the rust got too bad for such a car. This made the paint defects really annoy, so it was repainted. Then, when the engine mounts collapsed, crushing the hydraulic brake and power steering lines,I wound up having the engine bay refurbished, etc etc.

The moral of the story, for me anyway, is to get what you really want, or accept what you get for what it is - turning it into something else will cost you, large.

If you decide to upgrade auto to modern 4-speed one, but retain selector, then it may be a less pain free option, but anything non-AM on those older DBs will undoubtedly, and significantly, count against it when it is up for sale.

Regards, Ray.

[dbsdave]

The car will be worth more or the same with a modern auto.
It is seen as a very good upgrade between owners.

Edited by dbsdave on Wednesday 27th October 18:18

[dbsdave]

The car will be worth more or the same with a modern auto.
It is seen as a very good upgrade by owners.

Edited by dbsdave on Wednesday 27th October 18:20

[cardigankid]

The Pits said:

I think the beauty of the DB6 is (and there are many) it's still undervalued. Top cars can fetch £150k but that's still peanuts compared to a decent DB5...I used to get hung up on the small styling differences as the DB5 will forever be one of the greatest shapes ever put on the road but actually I've grown to really like the kamm tail on the 6. Just as well because a db5 is just too big a stretch for me whereas I can enjoy driving, polishing and photographing my very own db6 to my heart's content...I like going fast too much, but for sheer beauty, noise and character they just don't make em like they used to.... But I'm not planning to sell it and think good examples will still continue to rise in value for some time to come.

Hear hear! A fantastic thing as long as the costs don't run away. Keep it safe. A friend had his DB6 Mk.II nicked which must have been heartbreaking. I hope the American guy who just bought the Bond DB5 is a good sleeper.

[cardigankid]

PS - Saw a dark blue 67 DB6 at a petrol station today. The 6 has a charisma all of its own.