1969 Aston Martin DBS
Road & Track concluded its road test of the DB6 with the sentiment that “we look forward to the introduction of the DB7.” As it turned out, the immediate successor to the DB6 would be called the DBS and in many ways, it was not the clean break that the enthusiast publications had been hoping for.
Most six-cylinder DBSs came with 72-spoke chrome knock-off wire wheels while the V-8 cars had the alloy wheels of the later Aston Martin V8, which the V8 morphed into for 1973.
The DBS V-8 is recognized as the last of the David Brown Astons and as such has become more interesting to collectors in the last several years.
The interior was wider with more shoulder room and more comfortable seats.
Carried over from the DB6 was the Tadek Marek DOHC six-cylinder. In normal tune it produced around 280 hp and when the vantage option was selected, this figure was closer to 325 hp. Still, the notion of the same engine in a heavier car excited few people and the answer was the Marek-designed V8 engine that the car was intended to have from the start. Performance was impressive with a 160-mph top speed and 0-60 in less than six seconds.
Aston claims the V8-equipped car was briefly the world’s fastest four-seater. The engine formed the basis of Aston’s V8s for years to come.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=1969+Aston+Martin+DBS
https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-tools/aston_martin/dbs/1969/1969-aston_martin-dbs
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/g6615/aston-db-history-db11/