The esteemed journalist Simon de Burton argues that this autumn, we should all contemplate the virtues of the Aston Martin DB6 Volante, a vintage car that exudes regal elegance, using this gorgeous dark blue example to support our position.
In terms of value, perceived attractiveness, and cinematic fame, Aston Martin’s DB6 may not be as popular as the DB5, but it has managed to gain royal approbation in a manner that its predecessor was never able to.
Of course, we’re talking about His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales’s renowned Seychelles Blue DB6 Volante, which is frequently mentioned as a present from his mother on his 21st birthday. But Prince Charles purchased the 1969 drop-top personally sometime in 1970, according to Clarence House.
The Prince obviously fell in love with his DB6, regardless of how he got to acquire it. The fact that a number of other Aston Martins have left the Royal family and that the term “POW Specification” has since gained recognition as a means of designating specific Aston models with unique features indicate that this year marked 50 years of devotion to both the car and the brand.
Coincidentally, the Royal DB6 also sports an odd specification. Twelve years ago, the Tadek Marek-designed straight-six’s lack of fame as being “eco-friendly” prompted the Prince to threaten to quit driving it. Specialist in marque R.S. Williams succeeded in his mission, converting the vehicle to run on leftover wine and whey from HRH’s Gloucestershire estate, Highgrove.
The Prince asserts that the alteration has increased the car’s power and, amazingly, made it more environmentally friendly. And it still makes frequent appearances in public, as seen by the times he attended Prince William’s 2011 wedding as the “going away” car and the official inauguration of Aston’s St. Athan facility in February of this year as the guest of honor.
The Bond DB5s are sometimes referred to as “the most famous cars in the world,” and the millions of dollars that have been bid for them when they have gone up for sale. However, we can’t help but wonder how much Prince Charles’ DB6 would bring at auction. After all, how many other 72 manual DB6 Volantes have been owned by a single royal family for more than 50 years? We assume that there is no answer.
If the Prince of Wales’ example is making you want to drive a DB6 Volante in a stately manner and opens your eyes to a different perspective, it’s worth looking at the 1967 model that London dealer Taylor & Crawley is offering. It is quite similar to Prince Charles’ car, not only because it is one of only 68 vehicles with an automatic transmission and because it is finished in a slightly different shade of blue.
The Volante version of the DB6 is particularly noteworthy in the annals of Aston Martin history. The DB6 was the first Aston to be granted the ‘Volante’ appellation in addition to being the first model to be engineered at the renowned Newport Pagnell Works. It was quicker and more maneuverable than its predecessor thanks to its extended wheelbase, repositioned rear axle, and Kamm tail, which was influenced by the Ferrari.