What a beauty!
Yes, there really is something very elegant about the lines of this 1970 Aston Martin DB6 MkII Volante, isn't there? Looking through the gallery, it appears to be one of just 29 built to high-output Vantage specification, too.
Triple Weber carbs?! Oh my.
Ah, you may want to take a little more time scrutinising the images. Do that and you'll see the DB6 is parked in an electric vehicle bay and it appears to be plugged in, as well.
What?! It's an EV?!
Yes, but before you put your half-melted piston paper weight trophy through the screen, hear us out, as this could very well be the future of classic car ownership. You see, Aston reckons that there will come a day where driving classic cars won't be legal, at least in some places, and it wants a solution that changes that, allowing its heritage models to be drivable at all times. Hence the EV conversion.
Heresy!
Worry not, the most unique aspect of the DB6 conversion is the fact that it's completely reversible. At its heart is what's described as a 'cassette' that contains most of the electric vehicle bits in one self-contained enclosure. This supposedly bolts onto the same mountings as the original engine and gearbox use and the interior of the car is almost unchanged.
What has Aston Martin got to say for itself?
Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive Officer: "We are very aware of the environmental and social pressures that threaten to restrict the use of classic cars in the years to come. Our Second Century Plan not only encompasses our new and future models, but also protects our treasured heritage. I believe this not only makes Aston Martin unique, but a truly forward-thinking leader in this field."
Paul Spires, President Aston Martin Works: "We have been looking for some time to find a way of protecting our customers' long-term enjoyment of their cars. Driving a classic Aston Martin on pure EV power is a unique experience and one that will no doubt be extremely attractive to many owners, especially those who live in city centres. We also foresee collectors adding another dimension to their collection by commissioning EV-converted heritage cars."
Any performance stats or pricing?
I'm afraid not. Aston Martin is calling this DB6 a concept, but also mentioned that Aston Martin Works is likely to start work on conversions for customers next year, so if you're interested, it might be worth making an appointment to pop along to Newport Pagnell and have a word.
Shane O' Donoghue - 4 Dec 2018