In 1958, Aston Martin introduced its beloved grand touring sports saloon, the DB4, which came of age in 1963, with the popular DB5. By 1965, the series had reached its ultimate evolution with the DB6, which was produced in Mk 1 form until 1969. In the uprated Vantage state of tune, the Tadek Marek-designed and race-developed inline six-cylinder motor was improved to produce 325 horsepower, while Touring of Milan’s celebrated coachwork design, now with its restyled rear section in folded steel rather than in the traditional superleggera method, was stretched to accommodate a wheelbase 3.75 inches longer than its predecessor. The addition of a Kamm-style tail crowned the DB6’s ravishing presence. Many enthusiasts reckon this last series of Touring-designed Aston Martins was the best of all, offering the most sublime combination of gentlemanly luxury, refined street manners, and straight-line performance.

According to a copy of the original factory build sheet, this immaculate DB6 was initially purchased by D.G. Lynall, of Warwickshire, England, through Bradbury’s Garage Limited, with a guarantee issued on May 30, 1966. Originally Oystershell and trimmed with red Connolly leather upholstery, 2719/R was factory-specified with a Vantage engine, chrome wire wheels, a heated rear screen, three-ear knock-offs, and a Motorola radio with a power antenna. Aston Martin records indicate a factory maintenance history through March 1968, and by the early-1980s, the car was in the possession of Laurence Kayne, of Berkeley Square Ltd.

On April 3, 1984, Mr. Kayne sold 2719/R to Scott Vincent, who imported the car to the United States. Eventually coming into the care of Arthur Wexler, of Larchmont, New York, the DB6 was purchased in 1990 by Peter Ungen and Marjan Kraljevic, a well-known Aston Martin expert who cut his teeth working on the race cars of famed championship driver Bob Grossman after escaping from communist Yugoslavia. Hired as a mechanic by Aston Martin North America in 1977, Mr. Kraljevic eventually became the chief mechanic of Aston Martin Vintage Racing Services during the 1980s, before founding his own dedicated Aston Martin repair and restoration facility, Vantage Motors, of Stamford, Connecticut, in 1990.

Mr. Kraljevic was obviously an ideal custodian for 2719/R, which he bought outright from his partner in 1991. Initially merely returning the car to a reliable running state, Mr. Kraljevic began a complete nut-and-bolt restoration in late-2004, which was nothing short of a true labor of love. Irrespective of cost, his well-conceived and carefully executed work reproduced the DB6 to its highly desirable current state.

With all the benefits of his decades of experience with vintage Aston Martin race cars, the owner undertook numerous tasteful and subtle upgrades, which principally consisted of increasing the engine’s original displacement, lightened and strengthened internals, along with an enlarged, lightweight stainless steel manifold and exhaust system and fitting larger Weber carburetors. As a result, Mr. Kraljevic estimates that these upgrades lift the engine’s power to almost 400 horsepower. Custom springs were fitted to the suspension, the radiator was re-cored without compromising the original appearance, and a modern electronic ignition system was concealed under the dash.

The DB6 has now been reborn with left-hand drive, utilizing a factory LHD dashboard, refining the powerful DB6 Vantage’s drivability for American roadways. The original right-hand drive dashboard panel and DCOE 45 Weber carburetors have been retained and are included, at the buyer’s shipping expense, from Connecticut, for the owner who might someday wish to return the car to its original configuration.

In addition to the thoughtful upgrades, more standard restoration measures were conducted, such as a rebuild of the brakes and original shocks and a general refurbishment of virtually every mechanical and cosmetic component, including a stunning refinish in Aston Martin Black Pearl with a new interior in caramel tan. Completed in the summer of 2006 and documented with a comprehensive account of invoices, this phenomenally restored DB6 Vantage soon received acclaim at numerous events, winning an Award of Excellence at the 2008 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, Best Aston Martin at the 2009 Americana Manhasset Concours d’Elegance, and Best Coachwork at the 2010 Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance.

Purchased within the last year by the consignor, 2719/R continues to display the amazing benefits of Mr. Kraljevic’s skilled work and dutiful care. The car retains its original matching-numbers engine and is accompanied by the aforementioned build sheet record, copious restoration invoices, owner’s manuals, and a tool roll and jack. Considering the sheer quality of the restoration, as well as the purposeful, upgraded specification, it will deliver great pleasure in the form of speed and comfort freshly wrapped in a timelessly elegant shape that will be almost as much fun to look at as it is to drive…almost.