OHMSS Aston Martin DBS Further Projects
Gebruder Gumbold
San FranciscoPosts: 549MI6 Agent
Cheers All,
Thought some of you may be interested in some of the technical and continued saga of Her Majesty's DBS...
Finally (6 year search), located the correct, factory Bolognese produced, period correct Webers. Needed a total rebuild and go thru...so I brought them to the very best rebuilder, who just happens to have the entire Bolognese Weber old showcase of carbs, tools, and memorabilia in his showroom! He is south of San Jose, Pierce Manifolds. There is a 1 year wait for a full concours rebuild! I saw some Ferrari 250 carbs there, and a set for a DB5, and a DB4Gt Zagato. Wow! So, as Mike is a customer of mine, I got the on the "rush" list, and considered myself lucky if I get them back in 6 months.
So... we now turn to the exhaust leak that began to get worse.
Traced it to warped manifolds, which turned out to be too thin, vertically, so we are going to have a different flange made, that more closely resembles the dimensions of the special JMB gaskets whown. DBS cars are notorious for cracking the standard supplied, cast manifold- as a matter of fact, the entire exhaust system is a weak spot, and requires additional mounts, which we fabricated, and a re-hanging and fitting every so often. Our fix should really seal this weak spot, and I will be Jet Coating the manifolds, which were made to closely resemble the standard, cast units. Fooled even a few concours judges!
Then a few months later, I get a phone call to come and get the carbs. I was handed a large box which seemed to be a bit light, but what do I know? I open the box to find the most lovely set of DB4 Vantage (two only) carburettors, with gorgeous linkage, ready to go. They were so beautiful...but not mine! Heart racing, blood pressure up, I calmly let them know the error, and trusted that all would be right. After all, some poor DB4 Vantage owner just received three DBS carbs, right?
Turns out he is in the UK.... So, Mr. Thomas Carmichael turns out to be an honest chap, and, after returning home from another month long holiday, sent to me my carburettors, in excellent condition. These carbs now went from Italy to the UK, to a DB6 in Australia, back to the UK to Rikki Kann, to me in San Francisco, to Pierce in San Jose, back to the UK by mistake, and then, and finally, to me again!
Back to the Webers, pics show the new, correct ones in the foreground, and the ones that I had to use, the later Spanish produced carbs in back. Note the gaudy, garish gold (cad) INCORRECT plated jet cover supplied now by Weber.
Thankfully, Pierce knows his business, and at my request, the correct set of nickel plated covers were sourced.
The all brass, and period correct banjo fuel bolts were also sourced, instead of the later cad plated steel ones. Just one of those touches that I am sure our Bond collecting brethren can appreciate. Lat pic is of a factory Aston Martin "prayer pad." Though not period correct, I find myself on my knees, praying to the Aston gods for inspiration. (In reality, laying in a fetal position sobbing and trying to find a "happy place!")
DBS should be back on the road by September, as we have a booking for her at a charity event at a winery in the Napa Valley International Film Festival. She will also be used in a TV commercial, and will be seen by notable film folks such as Francis Coppola, etc.
Since the event is indoors, we plan to show her in full Wedding livery, and dress the part, as we will be hosting a special Q&A that evening.
(Pics will follow.)
Also working on the AR-7 and tray to make even more film seen correct, photo journal will follow.
Cheers!
Thomas Not Charmichael
Thought some of you may be interested in some of the technical and continued saga of Her Majesty's DBS...
Finally (6 year search), located the correct, factory Bolognese produced, period correct Webers. Needed a total rebuild and go thru...so I brought them to the very best rebuilder, who just happens to have the entire Bolognese Weber old showcase of carbs, tools, and memorabilia in his showroom! He is south of San Jose, Pierce Manifolds. There is a 1 year wait for a full concours rebuild! I saw some Ferrari 250 carbs there, and a set for a DB5, and a DB4Gt Zagato. Wow! So, as Mike is a customer of mine, I got the on the "rush" list, and considered myself lucky if I get them back in 6 months.
So... we now turn to the exhaust leak that began to get worse.
Traced it to warped manifolds, which turned out to be too thin, vertically, so we are going to have a different flange made, that more closely resembles the dimensions of the special JMB gaskets whown. DBS cars are notorious for cracking the standard supplied, cast manifold- as a matter of fact, the entire exhaust system is a weak spot, and requires additional mounts, which we fabricated, and a re-hanging and fitting every so often. Our fix should really seal this weak spot, and I will be Jet Coating the manifolds, which were made to closely resemble the standard, cast units. Fooled even a few concours judges!
Then a few months later, I get a phone call to come and get the carbs. I was handed a large box which seemed to be a bit light, but what do I know? I open the box to find the most lovely set of DB4 Vantage (two only) carburettors, with gorgeous linkage, ready to go. They were so beautiful...but not mine! Heart racing, blood pressure up, I calmly let them know the error, and trusted that all would be right. After all, some poor DB4 Vantage owner just received three DBS carbs, right?
Turns out he is in the UK.... So, Mr. Thomas Carmichael turns out to be an honest chap, and, after returning home from another month long holiday, sent to me my carburettors, in excellent condition. These carbs now went from Italy to the UK, to a DB6 in Australia, back to the UK to Rikki Kann, to me in San Francisco, to Pierce in San Jose, back to the UK by mistake, and then, and finally, to me again!
Back to the Webers, pics show the new, correct ones in the foreground, and the ones that I had to use, the later Spanish produced carbs in back. Note the gaudy, garish gold (cad) INCORRECT plated jet cover supplied now by Weber.
Thankfully, Pierce knows his business, and at my request, the correct set of nickel plated covers were sourced.
The all brass, and period correct banjo fuel bolts were also sourced, instead of the later cad plated steel ones. Just one of those touches that I am sure our Bond collecting brethren can appreciate. Lat pic is of a factory Aston Martin "prayer pad." Though not period correct, I find myself on my knees, praying to the Aston gods for inspiration. (In reality, laying in a fetal position sobbing and trying to find a "happy place!")
DBS should be back on the road by September, as we have a booking for her at a charity event at a winery in the Napa Valley International Film Festival. She will also be used in a TV commercial, and will be seen by notable film folks such as Francis Coppola, etc.
Since the event is indoors, we plan to show her in full Wedding livery, and dress the part, as we will be hosting a special Q&A that evening.
(Pics will follow.)
Also working on the AR-7 and tray to make even more film seen correct, photo journal will follow.
Cheers!
Thomas Not Charmichael
Comments
It's amazing the lengths you will end up going too ! I hope you have deep pockets ! Good luck with this -{
It all boils down really to the never ending passion that I am blessed with for this car.
I fell in love with her at age 10 at a drive in movie, and even sometimes when I walk twords her, or away (backwards), I still feel emotion, of the evocative design, and, after watching 40 years of OHMSS, I still get that reaction.
Owning a David Brown era Aston is a real challenge, and it may not be as you thought it would. I prepared myself as best I could, and yet still can be a maddening, frustrating, and horrid experience...yet I wouldn't have it any other way!
The smell of oil, English leather, petrol, and the sounds of creaking, exhaust, gearbox whine from the ZF, back axle hum, and those Webers are a concert, not noise!
I rarely play the radio whilst driving, except the OHMSS soundtrack, that we have looped and plays at concours events, so that when people get close to the car, they hear John Barry's work over the car sound system.
Thank you all, and it's back to work...you've ni idea how its piling up...