This sale proves that a rare car can be slightly modified from original with nary a complaint from a qualified and educated buyer
This quite exceptional DB6 Mk II Volante comes with what is surely every Aston enthusiast’s dream provenance-a complete, illustrated record of its total restoration at Works Service.
Prepared by the Aston Martin Heritage Center, this report runs to more than 80 pages and is thus far too lengthy to reproduce here. Included within it are details of every phase of the restoration, from the accident damage found after stripping, to the dynamometer reading of the engine on the test bed.
A team of eight people-among them possessing 105 years of Aston Martin experience-were hand-picked to carry out this restoration. Records have been produced tracking every item on this Mk II Volante, from being stripped to being reworked to being refitted.
During this process many photographs were taken, not only to aid restoration but also to build up an in-depth provenance record. The intention of this restoration was to return DB6/3768/R to its original condition in keeping with the “car for life” program of the Heritage Center Aston Martin Works Service department, whereby knowledge of the past and benefits of the future are brought together to enhance the ownership of the car.
A further objective was to bring the DB6 Mk IIinto the 21st century, modifying and updating where possible without spoiling its original appearance. Thus the restoration was carried out using modern techniques and materials such as “E” coating the chassis to bring it up to present day standards of corrosion prevention.
In total, there were 750 individual items needing some kind of attention in order to complete this restoration.
The DB6 Mk II was fully stripped down to the bare chassis and sand blasted to reveal any hidden corrosion. Once the chassis had been fully restored it was then “E” coated. Wherever possible, the exterior body panels were chemically dipped to remove any surface corrosion and then reworked on the original body jigs to the correct shape, grafting in new aluminum as required.
With the hand-formed panels fully covering the chassis, the car was given its exterior color using a modern painting system, and then the paintwork was flatted and polished to give a high gloss finish to the coachwork.
The car was now ready for the installation of its entire complement of fully refurbished items that had been removed many months previously. Once all the mechanical and trim items had been carefully reinstalled, the car underwent an extensive inspection and road test program before customer hand-over.
Specification highlights of this wonderful Mk II Volante include Goodwood Green livery, classic grain, hide upholstery in Warm Beige, black mohair hood with beige backing, 4.2-liter engine converted to accept unleaded fuel, stainless steel exhaust system, SU electric fuel pump, Optronic electronic ignition, 5-speed ZF gearbox, 3.77:1 rear axle with limited-slip differential, 15-inch Turrino wire wheels shod with 205HR/15 radial tires, negative earth electrics, vehicle tracker, and CD stereo system.
Completed in July 2005, DB6/3768/R is offered with restoration invoices, current MoT and Swansea V5 registration document, and represents a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a virtually “as-new” example of one of the most desirable of all Aston Martins, restored at the factory to better-than-new specification and possessing impeccable provenance.