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Bond’s Wagon: 1965 Aston Martin DB6 Brake

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Whether you call it a station wagon or a shooting brake, it doesn’t really matter. What really matters is that this 1965 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Shooting Brake is not only sporty, but spacious and far more practical than its DB6 coupe sibling. It is one of only six built by Harold Radford & Co. for Aston Martin. It has spent the majority of its life here in the States and has been in the collection of Ed Herbst for the past 20 years. It is now set to be auctioned off by Bonhams at their Boca Raton auction on February 23rd.

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As cars began to shrink and become more pedestrian in the early 1900’s some drivers felt they still needed a car that could be used for a variety of “country” tasks, but was still civilized enough for the road, so the station wagon or shooting brake was born. Aston Martin’s first excursion into the world of shooting brakes was with the DB5, of which 12 were built. The company decided that the DB6 wagon needed to be even more exclusive than its predecessor, so only 6 were built. This one was ordered by a Mr. James Harrison through Aston Martin, which would have added an additional expense of $2,000 to the DB6’s price tag. It’s believed this one wasn’t converted until sometime around ’67 or ’68. It arrived shortly after its completion in New York City and has resided there since. It still wears its post conversion paint and the interior is also believed to be original.

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Unlike some of the shooting brake conversions we’ve featured in the past, this is one of the highest quality one we’ve ever seen. It was done to the same high level of craftsmanship that was found in the Aston Martin factory. It is believed this was the highest optioned DB6 shooting brakes built, as it is a Vantage model with factory A/C. The Vantage engine option pushed power output to 325 hp and made this one mean wagon, even James Bond would be impressed with its prowess. If you have money to spare, are looking for a sports car that you can carry your rifle in, or just want one of the rarest wagons ever built, then don’t miss this one! Read more detailed history of this car here.

Comments

  1. Avatar Peter R

    I’m not sure why this is on Barn Finds but really enjoy seeing it. Now valued at more than most houses but worth it for those with the bucks – just not me

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  2. Avatar David

    I know why they only made 6! Yuck.

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  3. Avatar Human Dumpster

    Looks like someone glued the door on. If that is quality, I would hate to see shoddy workmanship.

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  4. Avatar Dolphin Member

    The Shooting Brakes / Tourings are among the rarest and most interesting of the ‘ordinary’ Euro cars, as opposed to the exotic Euro sportscars. For me, the DB5 / 6 Shooting Brakes and the BMW M5 Tourings are at the top of the list—fast, stylish, and even practical. Carry your guns, or groceries, or camping gear, plus the family. In the pre-megabuck days of racing, BMW used their M5 Touring to make fast Autobahn runs back to Munich for racing parts as the need arose on race weekends. I have never heard of anyone hauling game home in a Shooting Brake. I expect the hired man would do that in the Land Rover that he was provided with for that purpose.

    I used to have a brochure from Radford for the DB5 Shooting Brake. Imagine: a brochure for…what? a production run of a dozen cars in all? With six DB6 Shooting Brakes I think this one will sell at least within the range of a Volante, which is where Bonhams has it estimated. The history is known, its a LHD No American car in very good original condition…..original, since the A.M. factory sanctioned the Radford versions. I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t sell at or near the high estimate.

    The only thing I can’t figure is how Bonhams got the car to drive itself for the on-the-road photo. I guess that’s why they get the big bucks for the cars they auction to rich guys.

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    • Avatar paul

      Ditto on all your points, oh & for the record, when you spend this much the cars always drive by themselves during road going photo shoots.

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      • Avatar paul

        I hope to see this one , I won’t be at the auction, but will be at the concourse.

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      • Avatar luap

        *concours d’elegance

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    • Avatar Just Brits

      I wish I could even approach thinking of what the studio would have done to make her a “Bond Car” ? ! ? !

      Truly wish I could afford her ! ! !

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  5. Avatar scot

    ~ i do like this and when i saw it Monday i compared it with others to remind myself the DBS Estate is more attractive to me.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2140784/Aston-Martin-DBS-Estate-goes-sale.html

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  6. Avatar Chris H.

    I’d love to be a billionaire and use this as a surf wagon. Oh well.

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  7. Avatar Larry

    Now don’t everyone get upset with me, but doesn’t it kind of look like Vega station wagon from the windshield back, at least the door fit does :-)

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  8. Avatar Rancho Bella

    I do like it, a bunch. And being a Mikey………I hate everything

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  9. Avatar Brent

    From a design execution standpoint, the side glass doesn’t flow in the way it should, and looks kinda chunky and broken up.

    Reminds me of same design flaw of the Volvo station wagons from the 70’s where they cheaped-out and used the rear doors from a 4 door for the wagons, as opposed to a wagon specific door, and the roof line got interrupted as a result.

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    • Avatar Dolphin Member

      @Brent,
      You’re certainly right—a clean-sheet design would have turned out better. And on top of that, 2 doors on a wagon is also a major compromise.

      But Radford was a small scale coachbuilder, and there was no possibility that they could produce enough Aston Martin Shooting Brakes to amortize the tooling for special bodywork on large numbers of DB5s or DB6s, and that assumes that Aston Martin could actually provide the required number of chassis and drivetrains, which is doubtful.

      The fact that 18 Shooting Brake DB5s and 6s got produced at all is remarkable, but that’s what made the small-scale British specialists so important in the history of automobiles back then.

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      • Avatar paul

        Funny i thought they made more of these I think I remember seeing a DB 5 or 6 shooting brake on the cover of a Road & Track years ago.
        I think it’s elegant as a 2 door & would loose a lot as a 4 dr.

        Like 0

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