Many of us have spent time with a stalled restoration project under our care, but rarely do we forget about it to the point that it’s found languishing on a trailer 40 years later? Well, for one long-term caretaker of a desirable 1969 Aston Martin DBS, that’s exactly what happened. This specimen was stripped for restoration and that’s where it stopped, but not before its original inline-six was sold off because the owner planned on a V8 conversion. Now, it’s just a hulk that comes with barely anything besides its doors and some wheels stored in the cabin. The Aston Martin is profiled here on SiloDrome and located somewhere in Great Britain.
This is what’s known as a DBS Series 1, and despite its many years of outdoor storage, it looks reasonably sound in photos. It was the first new model after the iconic DB5 and DB6 cars, and when you compare those with a DBS like this one, it’s quite literally a night and day difference. It’s also a decidedly more modern-looking car, but not necessarily a classic like the earlier models. To this day, the DBS doesn’t seem to conjure up as much excitement at auction as a DB6, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less deserving of restoration. Aston Martins from this era are generally desirable cars, so this one will undoubtedly be restored.
Sadly, not much comes with the car aside from the door skins you see here and a set of wire wheels. The interior is stripped and gone along with the glass, and anything resembling trim like the headlights, taillights, and bumpers are also missing. The bodywork does look solid, so even with its less-than-ideal storage circumstances, it doesn’t appear to have rotted out in that time. The listing reports that the DBS does have a somewhat interesting history file, which indicates it previously resided in the south of France before coming back home to England. The original engine is missing, and the next owner will have to decide if they want to source a V8 conversion like the previous owner did or try and find a correct date-coded six cylinder.
While some of us have perfectly average cars and trucks awaiting restoration, it’s hard to imagine letting an exotic like this go to waste in a crummy tractor-trailer. Further, to get so far in stripping it down only to say “That’s enough” right when the body was finally ready for reassembly, suggests to me the previous owner lost interest in owning a project that required so much more work to be done before it was ready for a test drive, and/or the plans for a V8 conversion went south. Regardless, it’s ready for the re-assembly that should have happened eons ago, so fingers crossed the next owner is the one that puts it back together.
Sold for $13.3K USD
How does a car like that ever get in that condition?
Someone must have granaded the motor and left her for dead… I dont get it… A car like this in thid bad of condition really puzzles me
yes, truly a shame to see in this condition. Somebody bought it, good luck.
Cheers
GPC
Wheeler Dealer?
It appears to me that this car was bought, decades ago, as a parts car – not as a restoration project.
The desirable parts were removed and the carcass left to rot.
You guys still do not get it when it comes to finding, restoring cars. These cars are almost extinct, regardless of the NORMAL OPINION OF RUST! If you got 50k or more, go and find one restored if you are that lucky to buy one at 50K!
One of my customers sold restored one in Monterrey for $140k+
6cylinder manual, LHD.
He said he couldn’t drive it in town! It was only happy at 90 plus around a turn!
Funny, at one point this particular model was not very valuable. I am recalling prices in low teens, maybe even lower. It was not considered a traditional Aston look at the time. About 15 years ago I ran Pennsylvania hillclimbs with a guy who owned one. He had taken the drivetrain and running gear and built an Aston Martin DBR1 replica with it. Body/chassis kits used to be available in England, may still be. It was a very convincing replica, especially when you opened the bonnet and saw that massive Aston engine.
Now anything with the Aston name on it has value, but at the time, you could get a pristine car for the amount this shell sold for.
I think it is missing a few things.
Never seen a more perfect application for a Coyote crate motor. Build a modern Mustang that looks like an Aston.
That would be fitting, since Ford owned Aston Martin at one time.
my thought too. If all ya got is a shell, make what U want. It is a beautiful one. No adds, no searches, nor research. Just go. Mine?
soda blast,
351, 2100 (best 2v made), T5, 8 inch or 935-C LSD 3.73, good but also ‘available’ seats, no real interior but heat/sound deadening & a passenger’s seat, stang rack, tube arms/K member, five lugs @ 17inch X 10.5 BFG Advantage or other T tire, w/4 discs…
if the $ an Atomic efi (400+ HP) but other systems to up grade too?
James Bond has the parts call 541-sucker
Thinking that a customer of / or an Aston resto shop in Britain bought this, about right money wise, in a couple years when it is done, probably worth double current value, and the owner will have something that only appreciate in value.
Sure doesn’t have the “pizzazz” of other Astons, though lovely. In fact, the front end/grille looks much like European and American Fords (even the OSI built by Ghia for Ford) of that time period, without the other badging. Wonder how long it’s going to take to acquire all the parts to put it back on the road ?