Key Takeaways at a Glance

• The 1970 Aston Martin DBS is a landmark grand tourer — its 5.3-litre straight-six produced 282 brake horsepower, making it one of the fastest production cars of its era with a top speed of approximately 147 mph.
• Only 830 DBS models were built between 1967 and 1972, with early 1970 examples (pre-V8) being particularly sought after by collectors due to their originality and historical significance.
• Ownership is rewarding but expensive — periodic maintenance, rust remediation, and parts availability are genuine concerns; budget £15,000–£30,000 annually for maintenance on a well-used example.
• Market values have strengthened significantly — a genuine, matching-numbers 1970 DBS in good condition typically commands £150,000–£250,000, with Concours-quality examples exceeding £300,000 at auction.
• The DBS earned iconic status as James Bond's car in Diamonds Are Forever (1971), cementing its place in automotive and pop culture history.

Historical Background: The DBS Mission

Why Aston Martin Built the DBS

In the mid-1960s, Aston Martin faced an existential challenge. The legendary DB4, DB5, and DB6 had established the brand's reputation for Grand Touring excellence, but competition was intensifying. Jaguar's E-Type continued to dominate headlines, and Italian manufacturers like Maserati and Ferrari were pushing the grand tourer concept into new territory. Meanwhile, Aston Martin's parent company, David Brown Corporation, was spiralling into financial crisis — a situation that would culminate in the company's takeover by Company Developments (Context) Ltd in 1972.

The DBS was conceived as a flagship model to reassert Aston Martin's position at the forefront of British automotive engineering. Phil Cooper, Aston Martin's chief engineer, led the design effort with a clear mandate: produce a car that was faster, more luxurious, and more modern than the DB6 it replaced, while retaining the character and build quality that defined the marque.

Development and Engineering Philosophy

The DBS shared much of its architecture with the preceding DB6, including the reinforced chassis, independent rear suspension, and the distinctive body styling cues. However, the most significant change was the introduction of a new engine: the 5.3-litre (5,340 cc) Tadek Marek-designed straight-six. This was not a completely new unit — it was essentially the 4.0-litre DB engine stretched and bored, a pragmatic approach that saved development time and cost during a financially precarious period.

The inline-six was fitted with twin Zenith-Stromberg carburettors and produced 282 bhp at 5,500 rpm — figures that were genuinely competitive for 1967. The engine was mated to a four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive as an option, and power was delivered to the rear wheels through a robust live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear and double wishbone suspension at the front.

The 1970 Model Year Context

The year 1970 occupies a pivotal position in DBS production history. By this point, the model had been in production for three years, and several refinements had been incorporated. The early "DBS" designation (before the 1971 introduction of the V8 engine) applied to all examples built through 1970. These pre-V8 1970 models are what collectors now refer to as "DBS 6" or simply "DBS," and they represent the purest expression of the original design brief.

Notably, 1970 also saw the DBS featured in James Bond's Diamonds Are Forever, with Sean Connery driving an Aston Martin DBS Volante (the drop-head coupé variant). While the film was released in 1971, production shots were taken in 1970, and the association has dramatically enhanced the model's cultural profile ever since.

Technical Specifications: 1970 Aston Martin DBS

Performance Analysis: Raw British