Tag Archives: Aston Martin

Restomod

Ringbrothers Reinvents the Aston Martin DBS as a Supercharged Hot Rod

The Aston Martin DBS has long been celebrated as a gentleman’s GT—sleek, refined, and forever tied to James Bond’s suave image. But American restomod legends Ringbrothers have asked a very different question: What if 007’s weekend car wasn’t shaken, but seriously stirred? The result is Octavia, a wildly reimagined DBS that trades its British heart for American muscle.

A Mustang Heart, Supercharged to 805 HP

Under the carbon-fiber hood, the DBS no longer hums with an Aston inline-six or V8. Instead, it roars with a 5.0-liter Ford Coyote V8, familiar from the Mustang GT, but here it’s been thoroughly overhauled and force-fed by a 2.65-liter supercharger. The combination delivers a staggering 805 horsepower—nearly triple what the original DBS ever dreamed of.

To handle that power, Ringbrothers swapped in a Tremec six-speed manual transmission, the same heavy-duty unit found in machines like the C6 Corvette, Dodge Challenger Hellcat, and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. In other words, this is no fragile Bond prop car—it’s engineered to take a beating.

Rebuilt From the Ground Up

Ringbrothers didn’t just stuff a big engine into an old British chassis and call it a day. The car’s structure has been completely transformed thanks to a bespoke Roadster Shop chassis. Wheelbase has been stretched by three inches, the front track widened by eight inches, and the rear track by ten.

Suspension duties fall to Fox coilovers at all four corners, while braking comes from massive 380mm Brembo discs hidden behind custom HRE center-lock wheels. The stance is aggressive, the geometry modern, and the capability well beyond anything the stock DBS could ever deliver.

Bond Style, With a Twist

The body may look familiar, but every panel is carbon fiber. Finished in Double-0 Silver—a nod to Aston Martin’s cinematic ties—the DBS looks like it belongs on a movie poster. Inside, the cabin blends tan leather, brass door handles, and a carbon-fiber dash with stainless accents. It’s equal parts classic British luxury and hot-rod theater.

The Bond connection doesn’t stop there. The engine’s valve covers read “Aston Martini”, and the oil dipstick is shaped like a martini glass. As Ringbrothers co-owner Jim Ring put it: “We asked ourselves, what would an MI6 agent drive on his holiday?”

Octavia Takes the Stage

Nicknamed Octavia, this one-off restomod makes its public debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week. With its outrageous mix of British elegance and American brute force, it’s less an homage to Aston Martin tradition and more a Bond villain’s fever dream.

One thing’s for certain: if Q Branch ever got its hands on it, James Bond might never return it to the garage.

Source: Ringbrothers

News

Aston Martin and Glenfiddich Toast to a New Era of Luxury

At Monterey Car Week—where the air is thick with the scent of octane, leather, and old money—Aston Martin announced a partnership that extends beyond horsepower and into heritage. The marque has officially joined forces with Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, in what both brands are calling a “shared pursuit of excellence.”

For Aston Martin, partnerships are nothing new. Formula One fans will recognize the Glenfiddich name already adorning its F1 team’s paddock. But this new collaboration takes things further: Glenfiddich is now the official whisky partner of Aston Martin, and the tie-up will manifest in exclusive events, sensory experiences, and limited-edition releases designed to blur the line between performance engineering and liquid craftsmanship.

“We are united by a deep respect for heritage and a commitment to craftsmanship,” said Stefano Saporetti, Aston Martin’s Director of Brand Diversification. “This partnership allows us to bring our shared story to life through immersive, sensory, and emotional experiences that resonate with our customers.”

To commemorate the occasion, Glenfiddich unveiled a jewel from its archives: a rare 1976 Single Malt, matured for 48 years and finished in a European oak sherry cask hand-selected by Malt Master Brian Kinsman. Only 50 bottles exist worldwide. On the nose, it offers red berries, butter pastry, and subtle sherbet; the palate reveals oak tannin and stewed fruit, finishing with sweet oak spice.

The year 1976 wasn’t chosen at random. It was a defining moment for both brands: Glenfiddich modernized its still house and introduced the stag emblem that still graces its bottles, while Aston Martin was busy shaping design language and performance innovations that continue to influence its lineup today.

Claudia Falcone, Glenfiddich’s Global Brand Director, highlighted how the collaboration extends beyond F1 and into Aston Martin’s road cars. At The House of Aston Martin in Monterey, guests are experiencing curated whisky tastings alongside the public debut of Valhalla, Aston Martin’s first plug-in hybrid supercar. With its twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain and 937 horsepower, the Valhalla is as forward-thinking as Glenfiddich’s 1976 Vintage is nostalgic—yet both embody precision, rarity, and ambition.

The Glenfiddich 1976 Vintage (ABV 48.8%) will be available exclusively through The Distillers Library and at Glenfiddich’s Speyside distillery. With just 50 bottles available, its scarcity is rivaled only by Aston Martin’s limited-run hypercars.

Both brands emphasized a responsible approach: toast the craftsmanship, but never drink and drive.

At Monterey, where champagne is often the celebratory pour, it feels fitting that two British icons instead raised a dram of nearly half-century-old whisky to salute their shared future.

Source: Aston Martin

News

Aston Martin Marks 75 Years in the Americas with Monterey Takeover and Thrillseeker Collection

Aston Martin is heading to Monterey Car Week 2025 with a celebration befitting its 75th anniversary in the Americas. The British marque has promised one of the most commanding presences on the peninsula this August, anchored by the global debut of the Thrillseeker Collection—a trio of bespoke open-top sports cars—and the long-awaited production reveal of the Valhalla, Aston’s first mid-engined series-production supercar.

The Thrillseeker Collection: Dawn to Dusk in Metal

The star attraction at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering will be the Thrillseeker Collection, a limited run of just nine bespoke convertibles from Q by Aston Martin, the brand’s personalization division. Each car in the trio is finished in a hue inspired by the shifting light over California’s Carmel Bay.

  • Vantage Roadster in Mako Blue mirrors the cool tones of dawn skies and fog rolling off the Pacific.
  • DB12 Volante in Seychelles Blue channels the bright energy of midday sun.
  • Vanquish Volante in Ultramarine Black embodies the mystery and drama of twilight.

Bronze accents unify the trio—wheels, side strakes, and a center dial all echoing the amber hues of the coastal sun—paired with a bespoke luggage set to underline the GT ethos. Each Thrillseeker has already been spoken for, with deliveries set to begin in Q4 2025.

Valhalla: From Concept to Carbon Reality

While the Thrillseekers will be eye candy for collectors, the headline reveal is the Valhalla. First teased as a concept in 2019, the production version makes its U.S. debut at both The Quail and the Pebble Beach Concept Car Lawn.

The Valhalla is not just another Aston: it’s the company’s first series-production mid-engined supercar, first plug-in hybrid, and the first to offer dedicated EV range capability. Its development has been heavily informed by Aston Martin Performance Technologies and the brand’s Formula 1 program, meaning lightweight construction, aerodynamics born from motorsport, and powertrain sophistication that signals a new era for Gaydon.

The House of Aston Martin

Beyond the show lawn, Aston Martin is building a full Monterey ecosystem. At The House of Aston Martin, a private villa adjacent to Pebble Beach’s Spyglass Hill Golf Course, invited guests will engage in specification sessions for upcoming models, sip Glenfiddich as part of a new brand partnership, and mingle with Aston executives. The villa will host displays of the Thrillseeker Collection, the Valhalla, and the refreshed DBX S and Vantage S, marking the revival of the “S” performance badge.

Guests will also be treated to drive experiences out of Carmel Valley’s Bernardus Lodge, with the brand’s current portfolio—from the DBX707 super-SUV to the DB12 Super Tourer and flagship Vanquish V12—available to sample on California’s most engaging canyon and coastal roads.

Culmination at Pebble Beach

The celebrations culminate on the Sunday stage of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where Aston Martin will host VIPs from the crack-of-dawn “Dawn Patrol” through Best in Show. The brand positions this as a once-in-a-lifetime vantage point at the world’s most revered Concours.

A Word from Gaydon

“Monterey Car Week is the perfect backdrop to celebrate Aston Martin’s 75th anniversary in the Americas,” said Jolyon Nash, Chief Commercial Officer. “From bespoke creations such as the stunning Thrillseeker Collection, to the array of new sports cars and derivatives on display, alongside the much-anticipated Valhalla, this week exemplifies our commitment to craftsmanship, performance, and prestige.”

With nine sold-out convertibles, a first-of-its-kind supercar, and a fortified presence across the peninsula, Aston Martin isn’t just celebrating its past in Monterey—it’s signaling its future.

Source: Aston Martin