Discussion
Prototype DB5 V8. What a cool car, and I was also completely ignorant of Tadek Marek’s amazing story too....
Doesn’t it look absolutely sexy in dark blue and with the removal of the chrome bumpers
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=69WlGUp-D0c
Doesn’t it look absolutely sexy in dark blue and with the removal of the chrome bumpers
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=69WlGUp-D0c
DB4DM said:
The commentary has plenty of errors about the car's history. Lazy
Well, Collins wrote a pretty thorough and well researched book on AM, including this car. Found here https://www.amazon.com/Aston-Martin-Made-in-Britai...Can you elaborate on what he got wrong and how he was lazy?
Good vid, but agree on the music.
Interesting car that I had no idea existed. Wonder what the total weight and weight distribution of it is vs a 6 cyl. Probably worth a pretty penny due to uniqueness.
Recently saw this:
https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/aston-martin/...
wonder if the "conversion" makes it worth less, vs the v8 db5 above is clearly raised in value by the in period engine swap/history etc
Interesting car that I had no idea existed. Wonder what the total weight and weight distribution of it is vs a 6 cyl. Probably worth a pretty penny due to uniqueness.
Recently saw this:
https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/aston-martin/...
wonder if the "conversion" makes it worth less, vs the v8 db5 above is clearly raised in value by the in period engine swap/history etc
DB4DM said:
The commentary has plenty of errors about the car's history.
Many of us don't have the period knowledge to be aware of errors.
Would be interested in what points are involved.
I believe the model that I generalise with the name DBS, was intended to have this V8 from launch, but there was a long delay before that engine was introduced. As the V8 was fairly extensively tested in this DB5 prototype, why was it not ready for the DBS launch ?
Jon39 said:
DB4DM said:
The commentary has plenty of errors about the car's history.
Many of us don't have the period knowledge to be aware of errors.
Would be interested in what points are involved.
I believe the model that I generalise with the name DBS, was intended to have this V8 from launch, but there was a long delay before that engine was introduced. As the V8 was fairly extensively tested in this DB5 prototype, why was it not ready for the DBS launch ?
williamp said:
...because then they went racing in it. Lola chassis, Team Surtees, Aston V8 engine and... back to the preverbial drawing board!
Thank you William.
After reading your post, I looked for related information. Yes, the racing might have been worthwhile because at Le Mans, it apparently revealed engine weaknesses, which were then corrected before production of the engine began.
Of course mine was a flippant comment, but the excellent Dudley Gershon book talks about this car- and its engine development. Its well worth reading to see what it toom to develop and build a car back in the 60s. He also drove this car- in the days before the speed limits, he would drive this car from Hythe to the factory twice a week….and how a customer complained about their underpowered Db5- they’d see this can blast them away up Wrotham Hill, and thought theirs was down on power.
There was more than 1 V8 development car, and the early problems included block distortion which wasn’t sorted in time for the Le Mans race. Their amendments enabled the engine to from 4.8 litre, to 5 litre (three engines were enlarged to 5 litre ready for the le Mans race) and finally 5.3 litre which, eventually could give 460bhp with racing cams etc “for hours”.
They had other decisions of course: the DB6 could be fitted with SU carbs, Weber carbs, or AE-Brico fuel injection. What did they choose?? A fourth: Bosch mechanical fuel injection!
I’ts worth also remembering that Aston was a very small company doing a lot of things. The V8 engine didn’t really fit in the DB5 chassis without adversely affecting the front suspension and steering lock, so they needed a whole new car- the DBS. Which takes time…
The Boss wanted the new engine (V8), and two new cars: the DBS and the Lagonda. And at that time, they had only 14 engineering staff- the boss, the engine designer, engineering director, 4 senior designers, 7 junior designers/ draghtsperson. The development side- who built the prototypes etc numbered 8. Less than 30 people, a tight timescale, tight budget... and they produced a masterpiece.
There was more than 1 V8 development car, and the early problems included block distortion which wasn’t sorted in time for the Le Mans race. Their amendments enabled the engine to from 4.8 litre, to 5 litre (three engines were enlarged to 5 litre ready for the le Mans race) and finally 5.3 litre which, eventually could give 460bhp with racing cams etc “for hours”.
They had other decisions of course: the DB6 could be fitted with SU carbs, Weber carbs, or AE-Brico fuel injection. What did they choose?? A fourth: Bosch mechanical fuel injection!
I’ts worth also remembering that Aston was a very small company doing a lot of things. The V8 engine didn’t really fit in the DB5 chassis without adversely affecting the front suspension and steering lock, so they needed a whole new car- the DBS. Which takes time…
The Boss wanted the new engine (V8), and two new cars: the DBS and the Lagonda. And at that time, they had only 14 engineering staff- the boss, the engine designer, engineering director, 4 senior designers, 7 junior designers/ draghtsperson. The development side- who built the prototypes etc numbered 8. Less than 30 people, a tight timescale, tight budget... and they produced a masterpiece.
We were privileged to sell this car, on behalf of its previous long term owner, to a life long Aston Martin enhusiast, who grew up 10 miles from Newport Pagnell, last year.
It was sold before we had the opportunity to market the car but we did produce a video which includes an interview with the then 83 year old, Bill Bannard, who was the engineer in charge of the DB5 V8 Factory Prototype project, which was fascinating and one of the most memorable days we have had. We even learned something!
You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJV2sZPrHxE
It was sold before we had the opportunity to market the car but we did produce a video which includes an interview with the then 83 year old, Bill Bannard, who was the engineer in charge of the DB5 V8 Factory Prototype project, which was fascinating and one of the most memorable days we have had. We even learned something!
You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJV2sZPrHxE
AMV8KING said:
You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJV2sZPrHxE
Thank you very much for posting.
Thank you to Nicholas Mee for posting this lovely video of the car, its history, and the gentle conversation with Bill Bannard. A wonderful story - and a pleasure to also learn it has been bought by a collector who will cherish the unique car, and its pivotal history.
I, for one, could listen to Bill Bannard for hours. His quiet pride speaks volumes about what was achieved with such limited resource.
I'm reminded of my neighbour here in Auckland - very much a gentleman similar to Bill - he was a senior experimental engineer for Jaguar in the day. He accompanied me on a run in the Aston a couple of months ago, and he sat there reminiscing just as Bill did in the video - in his quiet and unassuming manner he described being offered an opportunity to join Lamborghini in a senior experimental engineering capacity. He laughed about the difficult logistics of getting to Italy and back to meet the family, testing guru Bob Wallace and others, and how he found such great common ground, only to find on his return his other half couldn't countenance a move to Italy .... we were both a bit thoughtful after that.
I, for one, could listen to Bill Bannard for hours. His quiet pride speaks volumes about what was achieved with such limited resource.
I'm reminded of my neighbour here in Auckland - very much a gentleman similar to Bill - he was a senior experimental engineer for Jaguar in the day. He accompanied me on a run in the Aston a couple of months ago, and he sat there reminiscing just as Bill did in the video - in his quiet and unassuming manner he described being offered an opportunity to join Lamborghini in a senior experimental engineering capacity. He laughed about the difficult logistics of getting to Italy and back to meet the family, testing guru Bob Wallace and others, and how he found such great common ground, only to find on his return his other half couldn't countenance a move to Italy .... we were both a bit thoughtful after that.
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