The Aston Martin DB6 doesn’t get the love it deserves. In some ways, that’s because it succeeded the Aston Martin DB5, considered as the most iconic Aston Martin model ever made. When you’re a model that’s following a model as legendary as the DB5, expectations can be unreasonably high.

The DB6 was a great Aston Martin; it just wasn’t the DB5. Still, the DB6’s collectible status has increased over the years, in part because of how rare they are. Only 1,788 units were built over a five-year stretch, and of those 1,788 units, one unit is now available through British classic car restorer Bell Sport & Classic.

This particular model is a DB6 Volante, the drop-top version of the standard DB6. It’s more than 12 times rarer — only 140 units were ever made — than the standard coupe DB6, and while it has undergone several restorations in its lifetime, it remains in top-quality condition. Bell Sport & Classic didn’t reveal a price tag for this DB6 Volante, but prepare to spend six figures for a chance to bring home one of the rarest Aston Martin models in history.

What makes the 1968 Aston Martin DB6 Volante so special?

The Aston Martin DB6 is the British automaker’s follow up to the Aston Martin DB5. Big shoes to fill, right? Judging by how the DB6’s development went, Aston Martin went through the wringer in creating the DB6. It rejected proposals from Touring of Milan to replace the DB5 and the actual development of the car included plenty of setbacks. It didn’t help that when the DB6 hit the market, the sentiment was lukewarm on the model, specifically from Aston’s traditionalist clientele, a lot of whom didn’t take to the DB6’s fashionable design.

It took the DB6 around 8.4 seconds to cover 60 mph from a standstill position while its top speed peaked at 150 mph.

Aston Martin DB6 specifications

It’s difficult for a car like the DB6 — and, in this case, the convertible DB6 Volante — to follow in the footsteps of what’s considered as the most iconic Aston Martin model of all time. But give credit where it’s due. The limited production volume of the DB6 (only 1,788 units were made) and the even more limited DB6 Volante (only 140 units) has turned the DB6 into a legitimate classic Aston Martin.

What’s the provenance of this particular Aston Martin DB6 Volante

The ownership history of this particular Aston Martin DB6 Volante goes all the way back to 1968 when a certain I.M. Stellor of London bought the car from dealership H.R. Owen. The DB6 Volante originally wore a Platinum White paint finish to go with a Dark Blue leather interior and a matching convertible roof. While no documentation is available, it is believed that Stoller exported the DB6 Volante out of the U.K. where it was eventually sold to Philip Hatulja, who, in turn, brought the car back to the U.K. in 1979 before selling it to Graham Wilkins, who owned the car for seven years. It was under Wilkins’ ownership that the DB6 Volante was resprayed in a dark blue finish.

Shortly after that, Wilkins sold to DB6 Volante to Aston Martin specialists R.S. Williams who then sold it to Giles Swarbeck. In 1994, the DB6 Volante once again switched hands, this time going to Mogens Skjelmore, a well-known participant in historic motorsport racing. Five years after that, the DB6 Volante’s new owner lister the car with famous Aston Martin specialist Desmond J. Smail. The latter facilitated the sale of the convertible to Mark Ellis, who owned the car until selling it to Timothy James Barker in 2008.

Barker spent well over £100,000 essentially modernizing some of the sports car’s mechanicals. The original Borg-Warner automatic transmission, for example, was replaced with a ZF 5-speed transmission supplied by Aston London Service. The DB6 Volante also received new wire wheels Pirelli P4000 tires, and new silencers. The interior of the car also received important upgrades, most notably the new paintwork, leatherwork, and the addition of new wilton deep pile blue carpets.

By 2013, the Aston Martin DB6 Volante was already under the ownership of Bell Classics. The dealership also made significant modifications, including rebuilding the gearbox, replacing the clutch, and overhauling the carburetors.

How much should we expect this Aston Martin DB6 Volante to cost?

Bell Sport & Classic didn’t indicate the selling price of this fine piece of British automotive history, but with all the upgrades that have been done on the DB6 Volante, don’t expect this model to come cheap. Expect a six-figure price tag in the event you’re interested in buying a piece of Aston Martin history.