Designed as a four-seat grand tourer, the DBS was the rightful successor of the DB6. Still, the carmaker was somehow afraid to let it drive the brand alone on the market, and the two GT cars were offered side by side for three years.
By the mid-60s, Aston Martin's victory in Le Mans was not yet forgotten, and rich people still asked for a British grand tourer. Thus, the carmaker felt obliged to deliver something unique, with more appeal for those who asked for more comfort. The DB6 was good but not good enough for some people's tastes. And here came the DBS, a car that was more luxurious and more expensive than the nimble DB6.
With the DBS, the carmaker installed the four headlights design instead of its already traditional two-headlights layout. Moreover, the grille didn't sport that obvious shell shape as on its DB6 sibling. Also, unlike its brother, the DBS showed more clear lines and a squared front fascia. Yet, the extended wheelbase allowed for longer doors and wider side windows. The sloped rear end with a flat trunk lid created the image of the perfect GT of the late '60s.
Inside, the carmaker was able to fit four full-size seats. The front bucket ones featured headrests and mild side bolstering, while the rear ones were just good enough to travel shorter distances. Since it was a car designed for spirited drivers, the DBS sported a new dashboard design and a three-spoke steering wheel. The center stack hosted the sound system and the ventilation controls.
Under the hood, the DBS was gifted with a 4.0-liter inline-six powerplant that produced 280 hp (286 PS). In 1969, the carmaker added a 5.3-liter V8 that could pump up to 320 hp (324 PS).