1967 Aston Martin DB6 Shooting Brake

The history of the Aston Martin 'shooting Brake' station wagon begins with a story involving David Brown, chairman of Aston, who entered a board meeting one day with his hunting dogs. With several of his engineers in attendance, Mr. Brown said 'Build me something for him to sit in.' The result of the request was a DB5 built by the factory with an extended cargo compartment suitable for the hunt, which the Brown family used for many years. The vehicle proved to be popular with Mr. Brown's gentlemen friends and a limited run of cars were produced by special customer order, with similar coachwork that cost more than 50 percent more than a factory DB5. It is believed that just 12 examples were built on the DB5 chassis, followed by an additional six - four by Radford and two by HLM Panelcraft, on DB6 chassis.

The particular example is an original DB6 Shooting Brake that was ordered by the current caretaker's father, William E. Weiss Jr., at the 1966 New York Automobile Show. The car was finished in Goodwood Green over Natural Connolly leather and came luxuriously equipped, including a Borg-Warner automatic transmission, chrome wheels, radio with power antenna, Marchal fog lights, Fiam horns, a detachable front-passenger headrest, front Britax safety belts, a Bray immersion heater, and factory Coolaire air conditioning. The car has Triumph taillights which are correct equipment.

Before the car was delivered, it was tested by the new owner and David Brown at Silverstone. Upon arrival in the United States, it was used to carry Mr. Weiss's luggage and guns to the Rolling Rock Club for hunts. The car was kept primarily in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, until Mr. Weiss's passing in 1985. Ownership then passed to his son at his home in Wyoming, where it has remained since. In the early 1990s, the car was completely disassembled, all the components checked, it was repainted in its original color, and the rubber seals and gaskets were replaced. The engine was tuned and some of the chrome trim was re-plated.

The engine is a 3995cc dual overhead cam six-cylinder unit fitted with triple SU side-draft carburetors and delivers 282 horsepower. There is a three-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission with power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2015