Aston Martin DBS

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Information about Aston Martin DBS

The Aston Martin DBS is a GT car produced by the British manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. Originally produced from 1967-72, it featured in the 1969 (43 years ago) James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service. A new version, based heavily on the Aston Martin DB9, is featured in the 2006 (6 years ago) movie Casino Royale (4 walls) and the 2008 (4 years ago) movie Quantum of Solace (4 walls) (see Aston Martin DBS V12).

Original DBS (1967-72)

The DBS was intended as the successor to the Aston Martin DB6, although the two ran concurrently for three years. Powered by a straight-6 engine, it was produced from 1967 (45 years ago) until 1972 (40 years ago), eventually being phased out in favour of the DBS V8 and the Aston Martin Vantage.

It was a larger coupé than the DB6, with four full sized seats, but was powered by the same 4.0 L engine as the previous car. The engine normally produced 282 bhp (210 kW; 286 PS), but a no-cost vantage spec engine option substituted Italian made Weber carburettors for the DBS' original SU units, thereby upping output to an advertised 325 bhp (242 kW; 330 PS).

The DBS was intended to have a more "modern" look than the previous series of Aston models (the DB4 through DB6), and it incorporated a fastback style rear end and squared off front grille, atypical of Astons, but very much then in vogue in automotive design circles of the late sixties. Trademark Aston design features, such as a bonnet scoop, knock off wire wheels, and side air vents with stainless steel brightwork were however retained.

Specifications (1972, 40 years ago)

Weight: 3,760 lb (1,706 kg)
Engine: 4.0L DOHC straight-6
Power: 283 bhp (211 kW; 287 PS) at 5500 rpm
Torque: 390.5 N·m (288.0 lb·ft) at 3850 rpm

In popular culture

The DBS was used by George Lazenby's James Bond in the 1969 (43 years ago) movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Unlike Bond's previous car, the Aston Martin DB5, no gadgets were seen in this car, other than a mounting for a telescopic-sight rifle in the glove compartment. In the final scenes of the film, Bond's wife, Tracy, is shot and killed while sitting in the car. The DBS also appears in a single scene in the next Bond film, "Diamonds are Forever". It can be seen in the background (being fitted with some sort of small missiles) when Bond is talking to Q on the telephone. The DBS will be forever imprinted in the Bond series for its sleek and stylish look.

An Aston Martin DBS was later used in the short-lived TV series The Persuaders! (1971-1972), in which Roger Moore's character Lord Brett Sinclair drove a distinctive orange/gold tinted 6-cylinder DBS (note: the official color was 'Bahama Yellow'), which, through the use of alloy wheels and different badges, had been made to look like the later a DBSV8 model.

The new DBS V12 (2007, 5 years ago)

The new DBS is based on the DB9, more specifically the DBR9 race car. Built on the VH Platform the car shares its roof, sidescreens and wheelbase with the DB9, but sits lower (by 25 mm) and wider (by 40 mm) than the DB9. Visually, the front end is dominated by air scoops and cooling ducts which help cool the six-litre V12 engine which has reportedly been uprated to produce 510 bhp (380 kW; 517 PS) , 420 lb·ft (569 N·m) of torque & a top speed of 191 mph (307 km/h). At the rear are a carbon diffuser and an integrated rear lip spoiler. Other details include a six-speed manual transmission and a removable stopwatch. A special helmet pod behind the driver's seat is present for Casino Royale (4 walls) but will not feature in the production version. The Aston Martin DBS also features an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system with 13 active loudspeakers including 2 tweeters with ALT (Acoustic Lens Technology).

Source: en.wikipedia.org

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