Description
Registration number:MJW 707E
Chassis number: DB6/ 3040/ R
Engine number: 400/ 3075
“Although clearly derived from the DB4 through the DB5, the new model announced at the London Motor Show in October 1965, the DB6, has quite a distinctive appearance. The most obvious difference is the redesigned flat tail with a spoiler to reduce drag and aerodynamic lift” Aston Martin Lagonda, a complete illustrated history of the marque published by AML.
The extra 5cm length and 4cm height from the DB5 gave the new model welcome extra headroom and legroom in both the front and back whilst only adding 4kg in overall weight.
MJW 707E was first registered to its first owner, Benjamin Felton of Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, on 28th July 1967. Mr Felton was the founder of a successful local building company, B. T. Felton and Sons which remains family owned to this day. He kept the car until July 1972 when he sold it to Group Captain Edwin Shipley of Egham who kept MJW 707E for 10 years before selling to David Thomas, the father of the current owner, Julian Thomas, the founder of Race Logic well known in the racing community for VBox. David Thomas kept the car until his passing in 1990 where it was sold in auction to Paul Ellis who kept the car until 2015 when it was bought by Julian Thomas at the Bonhams auction at the Aston Martin factory in Newport Pagnall.
“I tracked down my dad’s old Aston Martin DB6, which I helped him restore. My mum had to sell it when dad died 25 years ago. Last year a friend of mine asked me what car I’d buy if I could and I said it would be my dad’s old car. So I Googled it just to show him and it was in a Bonham’s auction two days later by pure coincidence and I just had to bid for it.” Julian Thomas in an interview about Julian, V Box and his cars Motorsport News 8th June 2016
An MOT certificate dated January 1972 recorded the mileage at 33, 075 miles and a letter on file from Smiths Industries shows the speedometer being replaced at 33, 296 in June 1972. The correspondence confirmed the original speedometer was found to be over reading by 8% and that the true mileage should have been 30, 632. When David Thomas’ estate sold the car, the mileage was recorded as 40, 734.
In 1990 the new owner sent the car to Aston Martin Works Service department for a full inspection and service (£10, 000 invoices on file). In 1996 a new Borg & Beck clutch was fitted by Car Care Works, Bovingdon and in 2015 new brake servos were fitted. From 1997 to its sale in 2015 the previous owner kept the car in a dehumidified garage. In 2000 the odometer stopped working at 53, 357 (mileage upto this point is supported by MOT certificates) and based on the minimal usage of the car it was estimated at the point of sale in 2015 that the correct mileage would have been in the region of 54, 000 which when added to the original mileage, gave an estimated total of 85, 000.
Since Julian brought MJW 707E back into the family, the car has been used sparingly, mostly for short journeys to Silverstone from Buckingham. The car has been regularly maintained with no cost spared by leading Aston Martin specialist Desmond Smail in nearby Olney since 2015 and recent work includes an engine overhaul.
Numerous invoices and letters between owners and Aston Martin’s then owner, Victor Gauntlett to David Thomas, are on file going back to 1970’s along with the previous history and older communication going back to 1972 as well as the original Lake & Elliot car jack. Full ownership history including a letter to the current owner's father back in 1985 from Victor Gauntlett, Chairman of Aston Martin personally thanking him for bringing the car to the AMOC Grand European Tour, letters between the second owner, Group Captain Edwin Shipley to David Thomas along with invoices going back to the early 1970's. A genuine UK RHD manual car with no sunroof. Looked after for the last 10 years by leading Aston Martin specialist.
