Premiered at the 1965 London Motor Show, the DB6 Volante marked the first occasion the evocative 'Volante' name had been applied to a soft top Aston Martin.

After 37 convertibles had been completed on the DB5 short-wheelbase chassis, the model adopted the longer DB6 chassis in October 1966.

By 1969 however, Aston was winding down production of the DB6 which was now over a decade old and, as attention turned towards the newer, more modern-looking DBS, Aston Martin unveiled a final swan song, the DB6 Mk2.

Distinguishable by its flared wheel arches and DBS wheels, the Mk2 was fitted with power-assisted steering as standard and could be ordered with AE Brico electronic fuel injection.

When DB6 production ceased in 1970, a total of 1,575 saloons had been made, plus 178 of the long-wheelbase Volante convertibles (140 Mk1 versions and only 38 Mk2s) with one of these later cars being allocated to Her Majesty the Queen who gave it to Prince Charles on his 21st Birthday.

The Royal DB6 undo...