Aston Martin is the manufacturer that is associated with its timeless and class design with all the performance you may ever need. It follows a legacy of making some of the best cars that you can buy, one of them being the DB6 which came into production in 1965 and became an instant favorite among enthusiasts for its alluring design and great driving dynamics. The interior of the car was also quite comfortable which made it a perfect car for someone who likes to cover long distances going fast.
However, if you want to add one to your garage, there are certain things that you want to know before you get your hands on it. These instructions will help you to inspect the car in a better way and get the best value for your money spent.
10. Body corrosion
The thing you need to check about the Aston Martin DB6 will be rusting and corrosion, because of the Superleggera construction the car is made out of steel and aluminum, therefore you are two types of corrosion that you need to look for. Since these cars are 58 years old the common problem is rusting in the steel foot of the bulkhead, jacking points, the box section around the wheels, and watt linkages behind the back seats. For the aluminum body make sure to check, that there should be no bubbling because it can be a sign of a potential electrolytic reaction occurring with the steel. Also, look out for fillers on the body, you can identify them by looking closely at patches of paint with slightly different colors. This indicates that the car has suffered an accident or damage which is always a red flag.
09. It is expensive
Between 1965 and 1970, Aston Martin DB6 only had 1788 examples ever to be produced and since it helped in building the legacy of the car manufacturer, many people want to add them to their collection. The price of the DB6 is well over 6 figures and an average example can easily set you off between $350,000 to $400,000. One more important aspect will be the maintenance cost of the car, since these cars are more than 50 years old the maintenance cost is going to be huge, also only specific mechanics are capable of working on them which is also going to add to the cost.
08. Things are bound to go wrong
Yes, it is an old car and even if you have purchased even the best example in the world there will be things that are going to be damaged. At the end of the day, it is a car that is made out of different metals that car combine to produce energy and move forward. And considering the age no metal can escape the test of time and nature and even if you take the utmost care, things will break.
07. Check the engine
The heart in the Aston Martin DB6 is a 4.0 liter straight-6 engine that is capable of producing a peak output of 282 hp and 288 lb-feet of torque, which allowed the DB6 to reach the top speed of 180 mph. There are some common heating issues with the engine due to blocked-up waterways in the iron cylinder heads. Also, there was a fuel injector AE Brico injector which was quite unreliable. Therefore while checking make sure that the engine is not heating up very quickly and also it is not fitted with the wrong fuel injector.
06. A transmission check is a must
The Aston Martin DB6 came with both manual and automatic gearboxes, Although there are no major issues with them. However, you need to check them because the repair cost of repair can be on the higher side. Therefore you can check how the clutch feels, the gear changes are not particularly rough and there are no issues in the synchronization. If there is an issue you can negotiate the price based on the problem.
05. Make sure the Interior looks good
Back in the day, Aston Martin made sure that the occupants were comfortable while going triple-digit numbers. Therefore the interior of the DB6 with Conolly leather ages well if you take proper care. Also check the switches and buttons, Although they don’t pose any issues if you break one it is very hard to source. Look for any damage because the interior is not cheap to fix and can take thousands of dollars out of your pockets.
04. Suspension and steering
These are some of the exhaustible components of the car and there is nothing wrong with them wearing out. However, if you are buying the DB6, look closely at the front suspension trailing arm mounting as it can rust and detach, also check the sockets where the suspension is attached. In general, the steering of the car is precise and offers a little play, therefore if the suspension is wandering off the chances are the bushes have been worn out.
03. A test ride is a must
A test ride is one of the important aspects of any car inspection because it will let you assess the vehicle as a whole and identify issues that are not visible to the naked eye. We recommend you push the vehicle hard to check there is no such thing as lag, also check and make sure the shifts are smooth and the car goes where you direct it to go. If the owner is not allowed to test drive the vehicle there are chances the car has big issues and stay away from such deals unless you don’t want to burn your money.
02. Take expert advice
Consulting someone who is an expert in this field will be a wise decision because there won’t be everything that you know about the car. The professional will help you inspect the car better and save you from future hassles that will cost you both time and money. You can also take your friend’s help who owns one, or have a good idea about the issues of the car.
01. Check the maintenance and service records
Make sure the car comes with complete paperwork, with all the service records. Service records are a great way to know about the past issues of the car and also tell you about how well the car is maintained. For context, the owner needs to get the engine oil changed every 2,500 miles for the DB6, check these factors, and also look for any major issues to understand the future potential causes in the car.
