Ringbrothers reimagine, reengineer classic Aston Martin DBS
Meet Octavia: Aston Martin DBS Restomod by Ringbrothers
Renowned for winning prestigious car awards with their bespoke custom builds, Mike and Jim Ring of the Ringbrothers have once again impressed the automotive world with their latest custom creation. Known for transforming classic American muscle cars into high-performance machines that not only accelerate and corner, but also turn heads. The duo has delivered standout builds such as the “Invdr” Buick Grand National, “Coyogar” Mercury Cougar, and more.
For this year’s prestigious Monterey Car Week, they showcased their craftsmanship skills once again by unveiling a bold new project that hails from across the pond. Aptly named “Octavia,” it’s a meticulously reimagined and reengineered 1971 Aston Martin DBS.
Like all their resto-mod builds, the bodywork of the Aston Martin DBS stands as the highlight. Noted designer Gary Ragle helped the Ringbrothers in reshaping the custom bodywork. Using neither steel nor aluminum, this one is entirely made from carbon fiber. Made in collaboration with Gemini Technology Systems, the custom carbon-fiber body took 3,900 hours to design in CAD, followed by another 8,200 hours of hands-on development.
It might not be obvious, but the wheelbase has been extended by 3.0 inches, the track widened by 8.0 inches, and the rear width stretched by another 10.0 inches. Evidenced by how it looks, the design emphasizes the long hood and the integrated rear decklid spoiler to create a more dramatic fastback silhouette. To conceal all that carbon fiber, it is finished in custom Double-0 Silver paint with Nuclear Olive Green accents.
Most classic Aston Martins utilize a body-on-frame construction, but being a resto-mod, the stock frame has been swapped in favor of a custom Roadster Shop Fast Track Stage III chassis. It comes with a fully independent rear suspension with RS SV Fox Racing fixed-valve coil-overs at all four corners.
The custom HRE wheels incorporate a center lock mechanism and measure 19 inches up front and 20 inches at the rear. Design-wise, it strongly adopts style influences taken from the original Aston Martin wheel. Providing traction are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, while massive 14-inch Brembo brakes ensure stopping power.
For propulsion, there’s a 5.0L, Ford Coyote V8 engine that’s anything but stock. Fully built by Wegner Motorsports, it utilizes a custom, roots-type, TVS 2650 Harrop supercharger. The fabricated and color-matched engine panels make it look like it came from the factory. Power-wise, the modified mill makes a tire shredding 805 horsepower.
A far cry from the 320 PS that the original Aston Martin V8 engine made back in the day. No automatics here, as it utilizes a six-speed, clickety-click, manual transmission to allow the gears to be rowed. Paying homage to the secret agent theme, the engine bay features “Aston Martini” valve covers and a martini-glass dipstick handle.
Inside, the custom interior resembles anything of an Aston Martin DBS as everything has been redone and reupholstered. What’s great about it is that it seamlessly blends modern luxury features with handcrafted artistry. The caramel-colored leather with black piping on the custom seats and the rest of the interior is coupled with lots of carbon fiber trim. This sets off nicely with 3D printed stainless steel polished accents that impart an elegant look. A liberal helping of "Octavia" and Aston Martin badges can also be found throughout the cabin, which personalizes this one-off build.
Ringbrothers co-owner Mike Ring sums up their latest undertaking, "It’s nearly impossible to convey all the intricacies that went into engineering this car. It pushed us to innovate beyond our comfort zone and create a moving mechanical work of art," and adds, “We’ve combined the ferocity of American muscle with the stiff upper lip of English sophistication and motoring. ‘Octavia’ is beyond anything we’ve built before and a celebration of the hot-rodding spirit, unveiled in Monterey on the grandest stage of them all."
Endowed with such levels of craftsmanship and unique creative vision, the Ringbrothers have added another statement build to their list of accomplishments. The Octavia perfectly exemplifies bespoke automotive customization while keeping the spirit of the classic Aston Martin DBS alive and elevating it to another level.
