1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Vantage - Her Majesty's Finest

It is almost 50 years to the day the DB6 Mk2 was unveiled. We headed to the UK to drive a pristine example from the company’s heritage department

- Wilhelm Lutjeharms

There are few things more British than driving a Racing Green classic Aston Martin from the company’s original headquarters in Newport Pagnell. Disappointingly, I had forgotten my late father’s tweed jacket and cap in South Africa but the weather was playing along and I was nevertheless quite comfortable at the wheel of a DB6 Mk2 Vantage.

The interior is an intoxicating combination of solid materials and Smiths Instruments dials behind the large steering wheel crafted from wood and metal. That vintage smell entices you into the appropriately aged leather seats to absorb what one of the most illustrious British manufacturers has to offer. The plush environment is highlighted by the comfortable leather upholstery, matching colored carpets and the wide transmission tunnel separating you from your passenger.

The keyhole is to the left of the steering wheel next to the clock, while the view over the long bonnet includes sight of the center air intake. As with other British cars from the same era, there are two fuelling caps, one at each C-pillar for the single fuel tank. This is very practical for customers who take their cars across the channel to the continent, where pumps are on the other side.

There is even enough headroom in the driver’s and passenger seats; not always the case with these 50-year-old cars. The luxurious trim is also evident in the rear: the comfortable seats are sculpted to offer your body the necessary support with wide armrests on the outside.