MATRIX MX40108-152 Aston Martin DBS Banham 1970 %

Matrix — MX40108-152 | Aston Martin DBS Banham (1970)

A rare and bespoke coachbuilt British creation, the Aston Martin DBS Banham represents a high-end open-top conversion executed by specialist coachbuilder Paul Banham (Banham Conversions). Because Aston Martin did not offer an official factory DBS Volante convertible variant at the time of the six-cylinder model's launch—producing only William Towns’ muscular fastback coupe until the later introduction of the V8 Volante—specialist craftsmen stepped in to satisfy client demand for bespoke open-air grand tourers. Banham’s conversion preserved the distinctive quad-headlamp full-width front grille and chiseled Towns styling, while incorporating substantial chassis strengthening, a beautifully integrated folding soft top, a modified rear deck, and a sumptuous Connolly leather cabin.

Beneath the hand-finished aluminum bonnet sits Tadek Marek’s celebrated 4.0-liter (3,995 cc) twin-cam (DOHC) all-aluminum straight-six engine. Fed by triple SU carburetors (or triple twin-choke Webers in high-output Vantage tune), it generated 282 horsepower (325 hp in Vantage specification) at 5,500 rpm. Paired with either a 5-speed ZF manual gearbox or a 3-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission, this coachbuilt luxury convertible combined robust performance with open-air elegance, sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in roughly 7 seconds and reaching a top speed close to 145 mph (235 km/h).