1970 Aston Martin DBS Sports Saloon from "The Persuaders"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paying nearly 900.000$ for an Aston Martin DBS may be perceived as a successful attempt to bribe an ingenuous enthusiast, or probably as a feared sign that the classic car market has gone nuts over the past few months. Why would one spend all that money for a car that is valued by Hagerty at 160.000$ in top condition? Could it not just be another regular DBS? And why pay nearly five times more its market value for a car that even has incorrect "V8" markings on the bodywork? Not if the car in question is the very Aston Martin DBS that once starred in the 1970 "The Persuaders!" TV series.

As we may be accustomed to see in these occasions, movie-related cars always seem to be hitting the auction table with prices that appear far out and unreasonable compared to their actual model value in the market: Steve McQueen famous green 1970 Porsche 911S was hammered by RM for 1,375,000$ in 2011, were a standard mortal-driven one was rated at "just" 72.000USD!

But, as far as the story goes, the real interest in such wallet emptying objects may not rest within the actual car factor itself. It is, in fact that the importance these automobiles have over their regular model and make nameplates: they are icons, symbols, personifications of reference points of a generation of an era in film and car making.

Choosing to own one of these cars is a very passion driven choice: you really cannot rule your heart with your mind sometimes, especially if it is a very special Bahama Yellow Aston Martin DBS that you may have admired as a teenager, growing up in the '70ies.

The now past owner of the car, Ed Stratton, was keen enthusiast of "The Persuaders!" TV series during his youth and his car bug reasonably brought him to acquire the famed DBS from its past owner, Mike Sanders, in late 2010.

But let's start from the beginning. "The Persuaders!" TV series had it all: exotic cars, beautiful women and two elegant crime solving playboys, Brett Sinclair and Danny Wilde, (played respectively by Roger Moore and Tony Curtis) all set in some of the most beautiful locations in Europe. Besides this amusing set up, the show was a traditional crime solving format, which boasted some interesting cars, and gorgeous hitchhikers as well. As far as a true gentleman is concerned, his ride should fall right within the range of the very best available: the choice of the Ferrari and the Aston Martin was set to define the characters, by making a strong statement on their attitude and lifestyle. For this reason, the show was credited as the most expensive TV series ever produced up to that time, and the expenses took care of ordering both the DBS and the Dino 246GT new by the respective manufacturer.

While Tony Curtis' 246GT (still retaining its original Italian "MO221400" black license plates to this day) had probably two owners from new and it is jealousy kept in a private collection in Italy, Roger Moore's Aston was sold to its first private customer (the second owner in the car's history), with an approximate mileage of 5,000, all covered during the shooting of the episodes, beginning a longer journey to where it is now.

Ever since starring on the big screen, the DBS chassis #DBS/5636/R with engine no.400/4665/S was driven just as any other regular GT car for a total of 70,000 miles over the next two ownerships.

 

The fourth owner, Mike Sanders, is credited with the honorable mention to have saved the car from a much darker future, having it restored with no expense spared by Aston Martin itself in the mid nineties.

Mr. Sanders cherished and enjoyed the car over the next decade, even getting her trunk lid signed by Moore and Curtis themselves, thus enhancing the value of the car. At the end of his ownership, Mr. Sanders kept a low profile and decided to contact privately fellow Persuaders fan Ed Stratton, inviting him to become the car's fifth custodian, which happened in late 2010.

Since acquiring the car, Mr. Stratton took great care of his purchase by completing a series of minor repairs including chips markings underneath the car. As a statement of the passion and consideration of the car special attitude of Mr. Stratton, the car was kept in superb condition, with the only regret, according to the owner, to never have been able to track down the original bumper bracket fitted with the "GB" decal, which part of the car's original configuration. The car made a number of public appearances, including the famous partecipation at the prestigious 2013 Concorso d'Eleganza di Villa d'Este, where it was presented at the Aston Martin Centennial exhibition section, right next to the famous DB4 GT Zagato "2VEV", and other prestigious cars from the Marque.

As we all know, this beloved and special DBS was sold for the record price of 898.580 € on May 17th 2014 at the annual Aston Martin Auction, ready to be enjoyed by her new owner.

Aside from being Roger Moore's car, this Aston Martin has some other very peculiar features, which make her instantly recognizable to the watchful eye of any enthusiast: first, despite being fitted with a regular 3995cc straight six engine, it bears the nameplates and wheels of the newer V8 model which was launched in 1969. This may be regarded as the most distinguished and unique detail of the car: in fact it is a statement to the interest Aston martin had in providing good advertisement for its new high performance model, given the glamorous environment in which had to be fit in.

Second, it is regarded as the only right hand drive Bahama Yellow DBS in existence, as no other were made to her exact specifications: the contrast of the beautiful color combination between the bright exterior and the dark interior, only adorned by the wood of the steering wheel in rhd configuration, may only be found in this very car.

Other details include the famous license plates: the "fake" BS-1, i.e. Brett Sinclair-1 the personal plate of Roger Moore's character from the series, and the original PPP6H. Those who were there during the shooting reported that the BS-1 plates were held in place by Velcro stripes, in order to be removed when the car was used on public roads.

Other from these details, it is still a regular six cylinder DBS, as other were produced by the factory in Gaydon, between 1969 and 1972 with stock 282 hp and no other modification.

This DBS is and will remain a special car. It is a piece of history and will always be considered as one of the most iconic Aston Martins ever: the details featured on the bodywork are statements to the enjoyable and fascinating history of a car that stands as a testimony of a lifestyle long forgotten.