Glovebox: Lunaz says 'Happy Birthday DB6', rewards it with new 5.0-litre engine
Plus, some Ferraris for sale and 10 years of Black Badge.
Some months ago, I wisely wrote an article about how ‘those that know’ believe the Aston Martin DB6 to be the real Newport Pagnell classic, and that the DB5 is for little boys (and girls) still obsessed with James Bond. It seems my opinions have echoed through the classic car community and beyond, as it was announced earlier this week that Lunaz, the electric restomodders out of Silverstone, were celebrating their 50th commission by producing a DB6, itself celebrating its 60th anniversary.
‘Oh great,’ I hear you grumble. ‘Another electrified classic.’ Incorrect. The people who brought you electric icons from Bentley, Range Rover, Jaguar and Rolls-Royce, will bring you 350bhp 5.0-litre DB6. Woke is dead, long live smoke. Or as Lunaz puts it, slightly more eloquently, a ‘return to raw theatre, hand-built engines, and the sound and engagement that truly stir the soul’.
The car above and below was commissioned by a long-standing Lunaz client who challenged the firm to ‘reimagine the original expression of this icon with elevated performance and luxury unlike anything else on the market’. ‘We founded Lunaz to preserve, enhance and reimagine the world’s most celebrated cars, allowing them to be driven and cherished for generations,’ says David Lorenz, Lunaz founder.
‘This DB, our 50th commission and the first petrol project leveraging our Formula One derived expertise, is a watershed moment. That the first comes from a returning client underscores the trust and enduring relationships at the heart of our brand. Together, we are creating a DB that honours its heritage, while expressing the pinnacle of bespoke automotive craftsmanship.’
As well as the upgraded engine, every aspect of the steering, suspension and braking has been re-engineered, meaning that the Lunaz DB6 is that rarest of rare things — a vintage Aston Martin that you might enjoy driving.
The interiors are equally improved, creating a cabin that’s a ‘sanctuary of tactile luxury’ that’s intended to resemble the world’s finest residences. I think it looks a bit like a ‘World of Tomorrow’ kitchen from the 1960s, but that is absolutely a compliment. All car interiors should resemble something from The Jetsons.
The car, should you wish to see it (and you surely do), will make its debut in the summer, following recent successful launches of the firm’s Rolls-Royces and Range Rovers at Goodwood last year. Lunaz is crafting a limited number of these historic DB6s, so best get on the phone pronto.
For sale: very cool Ferraris from Fritz
A day without a good vintage Ferrari auction is like a day without sunshine, and goodness me the sun is indeed shining. Or rather it will be on March 15, for that is the day that the collection of Fritz Neuser goes up for sale with Artcurial Motorcars of Paris.
Neuser was a former cyclist turned Ferrari dealer based in Nuremberg who, alongside forging friendships and client lists that included Enzo Ferrari, Luciano Pavarotti and Michael Schumacher, amassed a collection of 30 classic cars (including 10 Ferraris) and hundreds of automobilia items. These will be exhibited from tomorrow (March 13), with a sale on March 15.
Highlights from the auction include, but are very much not limited to, a Ferrari 365 GT4BB from 1975, a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' from 1970 and a Ferrari 1977 Ferrari 308GTB ‘Vetroresina’. My personal highlight and, indeed, one of my favourite ever cars, is the superb 575 'Superamerica' from 2006.
Also on sale are a variety of vintage Alfa Romeos, Sbarros, Porsches and much more. The full catalogue can be viewed here.
10 years of Black Badge, the Rolls-Royce 'Skunkworks'
The beginning of March saw Rolls-Royce celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Black Badge — the ‘transformative alter ego’ of Britain’s most famous automotive brand. If Rolls-Royce is Dr Jekyll, then Black Badge is Mr Hyde.
The story began in the early 2010s, when a new and younger generation of entrepreneurs approached the firm. Yes they loved Rolls-Royce, but could it be made a little darker, a little more powerful, a little more cutting edge? A disruptive Rolls-Royce for the disruptors, if you will (and you will). The answer from Rolls-Royce, after careful debate, was yes, and the Black Badge was born.
These new cars introduced new colours, new technical materials, upgraded and tuned powertrains focused on the driver rather than the driven. The most precious assets of the brand — the Spirit of Ecstasy, Pantheon grille and double-R badge — would now be shrouded in black. All cars completely customisable, of course. Some things at Rolls-Royce are non-negotiable. Customer service is one of them.
The past 10 years has seen plenty of success for Black Badge, which has appealed to a much younger market of buyers, helping drive sales alongside the brand’s more established customers. The brand’s most recent offering is arguably its finest: the Black Badge Spectre, revealed in 2025, which remains the most powerful Rolls-Royce motor car ever made.
