manual DBS Volante

[jonby]

I'll post my pics, thoughts, etc from Le Mans later when I've had chance to get back up to speed !

In the meantime, does anyone know, as the title suggests, if there were any manual DBS volantes (RHD) ever made and if so, how many. I think the volante came out at a similar time to DBS coming with the TT option and there were certainly very few manual coupes made once TT was available, so I'm guessing there will have been very few indeed, but I don't recall ever seeing even one

Have a mate who is interested and I wondered if finding a used one was a realistic possibility

And before the obvious happens, please no 'get a manual DB9 volante and have it converted by BR to DBS performance levels' replies - this is specifically about finding a manual DBS volante

cheers in advance

[George29]

I've seen 2 for sale in the classifieds in total. One was the silver press car as used on Top Gear. Other was black with red I think. Either way, very rare (especially in RHD).

Perhaps Works Service could do some sort of conversion like the original Vanquish... but I can't see it being cheap.

[yeti]

jonby said:

And before the obvious happens, please no 'get a manual DB9 volante and have it converted by BR to DBS performance levels' replies - this is specifically about finding a manual DBS volante

Why not get a DB9 and then... oh right...

I have heard of two Jonby; the AML press car as driven by Clarkson in Romania (silver with red leather) and a black one with red leather that has popped up in the classifieds on here twice. Was there also a glacial blue one with Caspian interior that Shmee liked..?

So they exist... but are pretty damed rare!

[George29]

yeti said:

Was there also a glacial blue one with Caspian interior that Shmee liked..?

That was Mako blue with Caspian interior, and was TT2. Was up for sale again not too long ago.

Eta link: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

[Jockman]

Rocking...horse...doo-doo

[AMDBSNick]

George29 said:

That was Mako blue with Caspian interior, and was TT2. Was up for sale again not too long ago.

Eta link: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

Rumour has it an ex PDC car which would not bother me one bit but does others

[yeti]

George29 said:

Perhaps Works Service could do some sort of conversion like the original Vanquish... but I can't see it being cheap.

Anything is theoretically possible, but Vanq was robotic manual to 3-pedal manual, DBS would be full auto to manual. Not feasible.

Seems we've we've seen the same two cars

[jonby]

thanks - confirmed what I thought but good to know

My friend is looking to get back into AM ownership - definitely wants manual, definitely the 2+2 (not for the rear room, but prefers the look of the longer models) and was going to definitely be a coupe

Having driven a TT DB9 volante to le mans in our convoy, he's suddenly converted to soft tops but I thought it was a non-starter. For a variety of reasons, he prefers the DBS (he had a manual DB9 coupe when they first came out) to the DB9 and he's not the type to be interested in modifying - apart from liking the look of DBS more ( and yes I know he can buy some of the parts) he's the type that just wants to buy and drive, not interested in any further work other than servicing

Looks like he will have to stick to coupe though....if anyone hears of one coming up for sale, please let me know

cheers again for the info

[DB9VolanteDriver]

yeti said:

George29 said:

Perhaps Works Service could do some sort of conversion like the original Vanquish... but I can't see it being cheap.

Anything is theoretically possible, but Vanq was robotic manual to 3-pedal manual, DBS would be full auto to manual. Not feasible.

I don't understand this statement. Since the DBS has been made with a manual, converting a TT2 to manual is entirely feasible; far easier than converting the Vanquish to 3-pedal from robotized manual.

[George29]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

I don't understand this statement. Since the DBS has been made with a manual, converting a TT2 to manual is entirely feasible; far easier than converting the Vanquish to 3-pedal from robotized manual.

I guess the only difference is it would require a complete new gearbox whereas the Vanquish used the existing gearbox with a different method of controlling it?

The new gearbox would definitely fit though, so must be possible. Won't be cheap I bet!

[jonby]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

yeti said:

George29 said:

Perhaps Works Service could do some sort of conversion like the original Vanquish... but I can't see it being cheap.

Anything is theoretically possible, but Vanq was robotic manual to 3-pedal manual, DBS would be full auto to manual. Not feasible.

I don't understand this statement. Since the DBS has been made with a manual, converting a TT2 to manual is entirely feasible; far easier than converting the Vanquish to 3-pedal from robotized manual.

Not that simple. A manual and 'robotized' (automated single clutch) flappy paddle use the same actual physical gearbox, ratios, software, etc as each other. Hence the vanquish conversion not being that difficult

In V8 Vantage for instance, the actual gearbox itself is therefore in the same place, same weight, sae cooler, etc.

To change from torque convertor to 3 pedal in DBS - yes the parts themselves exist but the whole gearbox needs replacing and potentially fitting quite differently - can't imagine it's easy or cheap

[yeti]

jonby said:

can't imagine it's easy or cheap

That's my only point. Anything is possible, but this would require massive engineering; bell housing, gerbox mountings, software, interior, dashboard, ECUs, pedal box, huge.