Formerly called the ‘Series II’ by the Aston Martin Owners Club, the Aston Martin V8 replaced the DBSV8 in 1972 upon the sale of the company. Although work on the new vehicle had begun under Sir David Brown’s ownership, the ‘DBS’ name was dropped in favour of ‘V8 Saloon’. It is believed that approximately 34 early Series II V8s were produced with DBS badging to avoid having to re-homologate the AM V8 in certain territories.
As seen on this model, the new V8 had subtle cosmetic changes from its predecessor. The Bosch fuel injection was retained from the DBS V8 engine – necessitating an open-air bonnet lower in height than later V8s fitted with Webers. Most noticeably the headlamps were replaced by twin headlights with a separate grille, recalling the shape that is so familiar to Aston Martin fans.
Story by RM Sotheby’s
