Ringbrothers Unveils 1971 Aston Martin DBS ‘OCTAVIA’
Ringbrothers, the world-renowned custom car builder and parts manufacturer, unveiled its 1971 Aston Martin DBS “OCTAVIA” at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on Friday. The fully bespoke commission marks Ringbrothers’ most advanced and striking build to date, as well as the brand’s first Aston Martin and debut at Monterey Car Week. Enthusiasts discovered a meticulously reimagined British motoring icon crafted for modern road and show use.
The team engineered “OCTAVIA” to act as a game changer, rendering an Aston Martin DBS in carbon fibre with contemporary performance and technology. Starting with a donor 1971 DBS, Ringbrothers executed extensive modifications that showcase its signature automotive design, production and artistry. The finished car represents over 12,000 combined hours of meticulous engineering and craft.
“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,” said Ringbrothers co-owner Mike Ring. “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.”
Every aspect of the Aston Martin features bespoke components that highlight Ringbrothers’ attention to detail and extreme build quality. The carbon-fibre bodywork echoes the original silhouette penned by William Townsend, while the curves and contours appear more chiselled and pronounced. Designer Gary Ragle played a pivotal role in shaping countless details, from the engine bay to the complete interior and a multitude of bespoke components, honing the Aston’s curvature.
Engineers widened the track by 8 inches at the front and 10 inches at the rear to create a distinctive, muscular Coke-bottle profile reminiscent of later Aston Martins. Beneath the clamshell bonnet sits a Ford Performance 5.0-litre V8 topped with a specially engineered 2.65-litre Harrop Performance supercharger. In street tune, the supercharged V8 produces a potent 805 horsepower, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox for authentic driver engagement.
Ringbrothers extended the wheelbase and moved the front wheels forward by 3 inches, then integrated a structural cage seamlessly into the artfully adjusted body to maximise rigidity. One-off three-piece centre-lock wheels, created with Ragle Design and HRE as an homage to the original DBS, complete the stance. Braking comes from custom 14-inch Brembo brake discs with six-piston front callipers and four-piston rears. Fox RS SV fixed-valve coilovers mount at all four corners, while Ringbrothers-designed and machined front upright arms sharpen response. A custom Roadster Shop FAST TRACK chassis underpins the build to deliver a menacing stance and dramatically improved handling.
The body wears BASF Glasurit Double-0 Silver with accents in Nuclear Olive Green. Craftspeople milled accompanying trim and brightwork from billet aluminium and 3D-printed stainless steel using additive manufacturing. The interior follows the same theme, with a carbon-fibre dashboard, 3D-printed stainless-steel accents and brass-machined door handles that tie into stainless detail work throughout the cabin, alongside pleated leather and abundant carbon-fibre touches. “OCTAVIA” also debuts Gentex Corporation’s auto-dimming visors in a road car and integrates a suite of cameras worthy of Q-Branch.
Additional flourishes include custom valve covers machined to accept the original Aston Martin emblems, with the tongue-in-cheek addition of an extra “i” to read “Aston Martini”. The dipstick handle was machined into the likeness of a martini glass to complete the theme.
“OCTAVIA is a combination of state-of-the-art fabrication and imagination. We asked ourselves, ‘What would an MI6 agent drive on holiday?’ This was the result,” added Ringbrothers co-owner Jim Ring. “The engineering and attention to detail that went into this project are unlike anything we’ve done before. We’re honoured and incredibly grateful for our partners, including Gentex, HRE Wheels, BASF, Ragle Design, and more, who worked alongside us to create something we are decidedly proud to present.”
