Buy an Aston Martin DB6 on chassis integrity and engine paperwork first. Aluminium skin can hide rotten sills and jacking points, and a tired 4.0-litre six with low hot oil pressure is a six-figure problem, not a tidy detail.
For this November 5, 2026 guide I read Prestige & Performance Car: Aston Martin DB6 buyer's guide and Goodwood Classic Solutions: Aston Martin DB6 review and checklist. The mechanical cautions below come from those pages; the order of checks and the questions for the seller are my practical recommendations. Any price examples in those sources are market snapshots, not a valuation of the car in front of you. So, compare it with recent sales of the same specification and condition.
Look past the aluminium for steel rot
Prestige & Performance Car says rust hits the bulkhead foot, jacking points, side members and box-section sills clothed in aluminium, so sagging around jacking points is a warning. Goodwood likewise flags steel chassis traps under carpets and trim. Lift mats and inspect from below. Bubbles in the aluminium often mean worse metal underneath.
Check boot, impact-bar mounts and hinges
Prestige & Performance Car lists boot water pooling around wheelarches, impact-bar mounts, door hinge mountings and the pedal box. It also tells you to lift the spare. Goodwood wants documented restoration quality when major work is claimed. Photograph soft areas. A shiny respray without invoices is not proof.
Read warm oil pressure and cooling habits
Prestige & Performance Car cites about 100 psi warm under way as healthy and treats roughly 50 psi as a problem if the gauge is trusted. It links quick heat-soak at idle to silt around iron liners and flags oil mixing with coolant at liner O-rings. Goodwood also warns on overheating and low pressure once warm. Write the gauge readings down.
Ask about chains, oil intervals and injection
Prestige & Performance Car advises oil changes around every 2,500 miles and timing-chain work around 60,000 miles, plus alloy-friendly coolant. It notes AE Brico injection on only 46 Mk2 cars and says many were converted back to carbs. Confirm what the car runs today. A poorly running injected Mk2 is a walk-away for many buyers.
Test gearbox, diff and suspension mounts
Prestige & Performance Car says the ZF five-speed is tough but noisy or jumping gears need a rebuild, and some diff whine is common. It also flags rusty front trailing-arm mounts and worn rack bushes. Goodwood mentions Selectaride rear dampers that must still work. Note each symptom for the inspector.
Know Volante, Vantage and Mk2 differences
Goodwood separates short-chassis early Volantes, later full DB6 convertibles, Vantage Weber cars and Mk2 flared arches with optional injection. Prestige & Performance Car adds that interiors and electric windows are costly to fix. Confirm the body and engine story against the chassis file. Values are six-figure either way, so originality claims need paper.
Prove the identity before a deposit
Match the chassis number on the DB6 to the title, any import papers and the plate on the car before you order a history report. Our VIN verification guide walks through that match, and imported-car report coverage sets expectations for cars that spent years overseas. Older chassis numbers may sit outside modern report databases, so confirm coverage before paying. NMVTIS covers U.S. title history only; it cannot replace foreign records or a physical inspection.
Get the repair scope in writing first
If jacking points sag or hot oil pressure is weak, stop until an Aston specialist has scoped the chassis and engine. Look, a seller PDF or a folder of photos is a starting document, not independent proof of condition. Ask the inspector for written findings with local estimates, split into safety work and cosmetic wishes. The NYC consumer-agency used-car guidance tells buyers to have an independent mechanic check the car, and our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps you set the scope.
We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Guest reports have been about $5.50, member reports about $4.50 and a two-report bundle about $6.75; confirm the price at checkout because it can change. A report can miss unreported work, so keep the inspection appointment even when the history looks quiet.
Volante hoods deserve a separate moisture check at the rear cabin floor, because water that enters through a tired top often shows up there first. Ask permission to lift carpets in that area even when the outer aluminium looks calm.
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