The astonishing Aston Martin DB6 you’ve never heard of

The most stylish practical classic?

You know when something looks kind-of familiar, but you’re just not sure? In the world of classic cars, this is one such beast.

Your eyes don’t deceive you, this is an Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Shooting Brake – and, yes, it’s super rare.

And when this car goes under the hammer at Bonhams’ Quail Motorcar Auction on 14 August, it’s expected to fetch around $1-1.2m (£770-920,000).

Let’s find out more about it.

A familiar face

The DB6 needs no introduction to any classic car enthusiast, but this variant might raise a few eyebrows.

We said it’s rare and just six of these were built by British coachbuilders Harold Radford & Co, with a further two converted by FLM Panelcraft.

Family friendly?

It might be going a little far to describe this as spacious family transport – the long-limbed among you need not apply when it comes to rear-seat accommodation.

Still, those two, separate seats look as well-padded and inviting as possible, given the space constraints.

Space to spare?

And, as you can see, with the DB6’s body carefully extended, a useful amount of boot space is indeed revealed.

Even more if those rear seats are folded away.

Room for a little extra

This Aston Martin is even fitted with the utilitarian add-on of a roof rack. Finished in chrome, naturally.

The perfect, stylish conveyance for a weekend getaway or golfing trip, then.

Officially approved

This wasn’t the first time Radford had, with the blessing of Aston Martin, converted some of Newport Pagnell’s finest.

Indeed, 12 DB5s had received similar treatment, eight right-hand drive and four left.

That same beating heart

The good news is that under the bonnet, no changes were made.

Aston Martin’s 4.0-litre, double-overhead camshaft engine remains resplendent in standard triple-SU carburettor form, but the Vantage specification unit with a 9.4:1 compression ratio means it kicks out 325bhp.

Taking it easy

Now while the 3995cc ‘six’ could be mated to a ZF five-speed manual gearbox, there was also the option of a three-speed auto, which is what this car was fitted with when it left the factory.

But when you learn that this left-hand-drive example was commissioned by an American and was bound for Washington DC, perhaps that choice is less of a surprise.

Ticking all the boxes

This car was commissioned new as a shooting brake – or a ‘station wagon’ as its first owner in America might have called it – which is confirmed by the letters ‘SB’ in its chassis number.

And, according to the auction house, that first keeper, Middleton George Charles ‘Middy’ Train, asked for his DB6 estate to come with every available option.

Keeping cool

You’ve already seen the roof rack, but other options fitted to this DB6 wagon include seatbelts, a Bosch Köln radio with a powered aerial and Coolaire air-conditioning.

But that’s not all…

Comfort all the way

A rare, luxurious car deserves a cosseting cabin, so this Aston Martin’s interior was trimmed in blue-grey Connolly leather.

Plus, both front seats gained detachable – and, by the look of them, very supportive – headrests.

Look up!

There’s also an original Webasto sunroof, giving the option of fresh air as well as or instead of the power of the air-con.

Well, with the great expanses of glass, we imagine it could get rather toasty in there.

Colour correct

This DB6 also still wears its original paint colour.

After being built, for a short time it was registered for road use in the UK, one presumes for road testing, before being shipped Stateside to start its new life.

Numbers game

It’s the details that count, especially with such rare classics, and here’s where you can see some of this Aston Martin’s most important.

The ‘SB’ (shooting brake) letters in its chassis number are clear, then there is that engine number which matches that on the engine itself, proving that the six-cylinder engine beneath the bonnet is the same one fitted when it left the factory.

Smooth operator

And as well as the Vantage engine and three-speed Borg Warner automatic transmission, this shooting brake has a 3.54:1 limited-slip differential. 

It can definitely handle that power, then.

Elegant in profile

You have to admit that Radford did a fantastic job, that really is a sleek profile.

The whole car was redesigned from the windscreen back, although, as we’ve established, was mechanically unchanged.

Rear appeal

And given that each conversion started life as a completed Aston Martin DB6, already one of the most expensive cars you could buy at the time, the cost of the extra work on top of this might explain why so few were built.

Wagon wires

You’ll also see that the shooting brake variant retained the original car’s iconic wire – and very British – wheels.

It’s a smart, well-resolved package. No wonder Aston Martin gave it its blessing.

Beautiful booty

The shooting brake’s neat, single-piece tailgate is hinged at the top, while the aperture is as wide as it can be.

Well, if you’re going to build a car with practicality in mind, you ought to make that extra space easy to access.

An estate of mind

Not much is known about Mr Train, the gentleman who commissioned this car.

He worked in his family’s real-estate company and studied at Princeton University, of which he was a keen supporter his whole life.

Ducks and birdies?

In fact he had an office at Princeton and did fundraising work for the university, as well as managing alumni contacts.

When Mr Train passed away, the Princeton Alumni Weekly memorial stated that his two hobbies were duck hunting and golf, making a DB6 shooting brake a rather appropriate choice of vehicle.

Not the usual

You’d like to think that having commissioned such a rare and expensive car, you’d keep it in the manner it deserves.

And although service records exist only for the first year of ownership, from 29 October 1966, when it was covered by the factory guarantee, there is no reason to suggest that this car has been anything other than loved all its life.

Time to say goodbye

How long Mr Train kept his eye-catching DB6 is not known.

What is known, however, is that on 6 October 1976, David L Van Schaick of Malvern, Pennsylvania, took ownership.

Much loved

And what’s pretty amazing is that when this car is sold by Bonhams at its Quail Motorcar Auction on 14 August, it will be sold from Mr Schaick’s collection.

That’s over four decades with the same custodian.

The chance of a lifetime?

This means, therefore, that Bonhams’ August auction marks the first time this car has ever been offered publicly for sale.

Not only is this DB6 rare, but buying it is a rare opportunity, too.

A true connoisseur

It will come as little surprise, perhaps, to learn that Mr Schaick was an Aston Martin aficionado, who took great care of his Radford-converted DB6.

Use was limited and today the odometer has fewer than 50,000 miles on it, which is understood to be its mileage from new.

Ready to move on

Since Mr Schaick’s passing, the car has been checked over and cared for by classic specialists.

It is not ready for the manicured lawns of Pebble Beach, for example, having been used and showing light signs of this, including a few paint chips and wear to the interior.

What’s next?

But then this is a 54-year-old classic and one designed to work for a living.

It is up to its next owner to decide if its rarity means it needs preservation, or whether it will be carefully maintained but also enjoyed.

Still got it!

Pleasingly, a test drive in this car ahead of its auction proved that it runs well.

It also demonstrated that it still has the power to attract a huge amount of attention wherever it goes!

Nearly hammer time

Sadly, we don’t have a spare $1-1.2m (£770-920,000) lying about.

Aston Martin might have recently launched its V8-powered DBX SUV, but this delicately styled, handbuilt classic shows that the marque, in limited numbers, has been providing practical transport for far longer.

It will cross the block with Bonhams at its Quail Motorcar Auction on 14 August. Find out more here.