Footnotes

• All Aston Martin enthusiasts will be familiar with the estate car conversions made by coachbuilder Harold Radford on the DB5 and DB6 chassis, and some may know that FLM Panelcraft built three DB6 station wagons, but few will be acquainted with FLM's unique DBS estate, the car offered here. Chassis number '5730', an automatic transmission model, was ordered new via H R Owen by a Scottish laird who wanted a car to use for fishing trips that could accommodate his fishing gear and, with a bit of luck, a sizeable catch. The generously sized roof rack is an original feature but the leaping salmon mascot that the first owner had fixed to the bonnet is long gone.
  FLM Panelcraft had been founded in the early 1950s and employed many craftsmen from the declining coachbuilding industry, most notably from the firm of James Young, which is where this car's designer, John Trowell, acquired his skills. Based in Battersea, South London, FLM took its initials from the company founders, Messrs Fry, Lee and McNally, and started out restoring and converting pre-war Rolls-Royce's and Bentleys. The company then embarked on a series of successful estate car conversions of contemporary saloons, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz models for Crayford and the Rover P6 for H R Owen. The H R Owen connection got them the commission for the Aston Martin DBS.
  Trowell's conversion contrasts the estate's flat roof with the existing 'Coke bottle' wing line, necessitating the bespoke manufacture not just of the large rear side windows but the door window frames and glass as well. Blending into the Hillman Hunter tailgate, the result is particularly neat and 'seamless' in appearance, while inside there is a split rear seat that folds flat to create a most spacious luggage platform. In its original incarnation the DBS estate was finished in green metallic, which was soon changed to red. The laird did not keep it long though, and in August 1975 the DBS, at that time registered 'GGT 13J', was sold via Brian Classic to the current vendor. By 1980 the colour had been changed from red to the current dark blue metallic, which goes much better with the tan leather upholstery.
  Many years later, in the 1990s, the car was despatched to marque specialists Chris Shenton and Roger Bailey for rebuilding. Further work carried out by Chris Shenton includes an unleaded conversion for the cylinder head, repairs to the fuel tank and fitting new door seals, fuel pump, radiator and wheels. In 2004 the car was treated to a complete repaint at Mercedes Road Range in Chester. Chris Shenton Engineering has continued to maintain the DBS, as evidenced by bills on file totalling several thousand pounds. Also on file is an almost complete run of expired MoTs dating back to 1982; a letter dated 2nd December 1975 from Aston Martin Lagonda; technical details concerning the ride height, etc; the 1975 sales invoice; sundry bills; and copies of articles featuring the DBS estate published in AM Magazine (Spring 2000) and Octane (January 2008). Taxed, MoT'd and offered with Swansea V5, this most stylish DBS estate represent a wonderful opportunity to acquire a unique piece of Aston Martin history.
  It should be noted that the vendor is retaining the registration number '77 EJB', the car will have a new registration number issued by the DVLA in time for the Sale.

Auction Notices

• The registration number for this car is AVV 277J.

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Category: Motoring / Motor Cars

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