Vehicle Description
-Fiesta Red with Black leather interior and Black carpeting,
5-speed manual ZF, Extensive factory history, Full ownership and
service history, Recent major service, Coolaire air conditioning, A
Very special and historically significant Aston.
This DBSV8 was the first LHD example for the Unites States. It was
used by AML King of Prussia, Pennsylvania at the time to certify
the model for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.
It then remained one of Rex Woodgate's demonstrators until 1974.
Rex Woodgate was known as "Mr. Aston Martin in the United States."
I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Woodgate, there was no other in
the Aston Martin world who carried himself in such a gentlemanly
fashion while all the time helping to further the parent company's
interests in the Unites States. Rex Woodgate...
https://drives.today/news/331/memory/rex-woodgate-2-july-1926-15-june-2021/elliott-roberts.html
After its company duties were fulfilled, this DBS V8 passed through
the ownership of many well-known and respected AMOC members.
Ownership history...
- Aston Martin Lagonda, King of Prussia, PA 1970-1974
- Charlie Turner, AMOC, Georgia 1974-1978
-Ken Boyd, AMOC, California 1978-1980
-Charles H. Stegmeyer, California 1980-1981
-Mark Meschendorf, California 1982-1984
-Mark Marino, California 1984-1990
-Chet Floyd, AMOC, California 1990-2020 (30 years ownership)
-Most recent custodian - collector owner
This DBS V8 was originally delivered in standard specification with
Bosch mechanical fuel injection as well as an automatic
transmission. The 5340cc V8 engine fitted with Bosch mechanical
fuel injection was powerful enough to propel the car to 160mph with
a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. At the time this was one of the
fastest production cars in the world.
The total mileage is approximately 100,000 on the chassis and
40,000 on the engine due to the engine replacement needed and
requested for its original EPA testing and subsequent approval.
Original EPA testing documents as well as complete service records
and logbook recording mileage accompany the car.
Once EPA testing was concluded, the DBS V8 was relieved of all
emission equipment and fitted with European exhaust manifolds and
system. In the late 1980's, the automatic transmission was replaced
in favor of a factory 5-speed ZF manual gearbox which it retains to
this day.
In highly original condition, it has enjoyed 50 years of California
ownerships and thus remains in excellent structural condition,
never having been in inclement weather, but rather dry California
weather conditions. It was last resprayed in its original color of
Fiesta Red in 1980, there is no evidence of any body damage and it
has always been serviced, when and where needed.
Most recently, Spring of 2022, over $30,000 has been spent for
service and maintenance with well-known and respected marque
specialist Steel Wings.
Work included: A full service maintenance, filters fluids, spark
plugs, Gearbox service, Differential service, Brake fluid flush and
system service, Cooling system service-flush, Power steering
service, Various oil lines, Fuel system service, Ignition system
service and Steel Wings upgrade, Rebuild and calibration of Bosch
mechanical fuel injection, Repair of various small oil leaks,
repair of windshield washer mechanism, Sorting and renewal of
various wiring to bring to spec., Complete air conditioning service
throughout to include a new compressor and finally the Suspension
was overhauled including a conversion to late style telescopic
shock replacing the original lever arms as well as a Steel Wings
handling package.
Notable facts...
-This DBS V8 car featured in the TV Documentary "The James Bond
Story" driven by George Lazenby available on YouTube at -
https://youtu.be/Fh4KtI-Ay48 the DBS V8 first appears around 6
minutes in.
-From AMOC Registrar Tim Cottingham: 404 were built - 10001 to
10405, though 10263 was
not built. 10380 and 10381 were also DBSV8 but had Ogle bodies.
Last but not least is the following letter from Mr. Bob Barton a
client of Aston. It was about a particular chauffeur driven ride
from the Bridgehampton race circuit where this DBS V8 was used as
the pace car for the Can Am race series to King of Prussia to
collect Bob's DB 2/4 that was serviced and ready for
collection.
"While I don't recall the year... probably sometime between 1970
and 1972, it was quite an adventure. I was at Bridgehampton for
what I think was a race in the Can Am series. Your DBS V8 was the
pace car. After the race was over, Rex Woodgate came to me and
suggested that I ride back to King of Prussia that evening as my
DB2/4 Mk III was ready to be picked up. That would save me a trip
Monday morning from NYC. I took him up on his offer. The memory
fades... but I think we made it from the tunnel heading out of NYC
to King of Prussia in little over an hour. On the big sweeping
right-hand bend from the Jersey Pike to the Pennsylvania Turnpike,
we were going so fast you could really feel the G-forces. A Pontiac
Bonneville that was trying to keep up... wheels a bouncing... just
gracefully slid off the left side of the road. Tires and driver
weren't up to the task. And yes, Stirling Moss was at the wheel.
Never to be forgotten.
Best,
Bob"
What a cool moment in time to be chauffeur driven by Sir Stirling
Moss!
A historically significant Aston Martin with excellent provenance
and condition, this is quite possibly the best original DBS V8 in
the world.
