Volante .

Italian for “flying,” it is a word that means so much more to devotees of Aston Martin.

Applied to open-topped variants of the marque’s grand tourers, it evokes carefree drives up sunny coasts and down winding back roads—and it is with the DB Short-Chassis Volante, a compelling example of which is offered here, that the enduring Volante legend began.

In 1965, as Aston Martin transitioned from production of the iconic DB5 to the refined DB6, it found itself with a surplus of DB5 chassis on hand.

These had a shorter, 98-inch wheelbase, rather than the 101.5 inches underpinning the DB6, making them unsuitable for the new model.

Instead, Aston Martin used them to create a special “interim” convertible that it dubbed the Volante.

Combining the compact, sporting proportions of the DB5 with elements of the DB6’s refreshed style, including split front bumpers and DB6-type taillamps, these convertibles represented the best of old and new.

Extreme exclusivity was also part of th...