Whether you call it a station wagon or a shooting brake, it doesn’t really matter. What really matters is that this 1965 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Shooting Brake is not only sporty, but spacious and far more practical than its DB6 coupe sibling. It is one of only six built by Harold Radford & Co. for Aston Martin. It has spent the majority of its life here in the States and has been in the collection of Ed Herbst for the past 20 years. It is now set to be auctioned off by Bonhams at their Boca Raton auction on February 23rd.

As cars began to shrink and become more pedestrian in the early 1900’s some drivers felt they still needed a car that could be used for a variety of “country” tasks, but was still civilized enough for the road, so the station wagon or shooting brake was born. Aston Martin’s first excursion into the world of shooting brakes was with the DB5, of which 12 were built. The company decided that the DB6 wagon needed to be even more exclusive than its predecessor, so only 6 were built. This one was ordered by a Mr. James Harrison through Aston Martin, which would have added an additional expense of $2,000 to the DB6’s price tag. It’s believed this one wasn’t converted until sometime around ’67 or ’68. It arrived shortly after its completion in New York City and has resided there since. It still wears its post conversion paint and the interior is also believed to be original.

Unlike some of the shooting brake conversions we’ve featured in the past, this is one of the highest quality one we’ve ever seen. It was done to the same high level of craftsmanship that was found in the Aston Martin factory. It is believed this was the highest optioned DB6 shooting brakes built, as it is a Vantage model with factory A/C. The Vantage engine option pushed power output to 325 hp and made this one mean wagon, even James Bond would be impressed with its prowess. If you have money to spare, are looking for a sports car that you can carry your rifle in, or just want one of the rarest wagons ever built, then don’t miss this one! Read more detailed history of this car here.